ChessHost: Free Chess Tournament App & Software
Chess Tournament, Sorted.
ChessHost is a free chess tournament app (and software) for running
small, casual, in-person chess tournaments at schools, pubs, cafes,
libraries, and local clubs. It runs in any browser, on a laptop,
desktop, tablet or phone, with no download. It is built for non-experts:
set up an event in under two minutes, players self-register by scanning
a QR code (no account, no install), and pairings and standings are
calculated automatically. Show the live event on a venue TV or classroom
projector. One event a month of up to 12 players is free forever, no credit card
needed. ChessHost Pro removes both limits for $7 a month or $18 for 3 months,
and you can cancel any time. There are no hidden fees. Typically used for
events of 4 to 20+ players.
What ChessHost does
- Automated Swiss pairings (everyone plays every round, nobody is knocked out), plus Round Robin and Knockout formats.
- QR code player self-registration, with no accounts or downloads.
- Live TV and projector display with four visual themes (Casual, Esports, Kids, Modern).
- Shareable read-only spectator link for players' phones.
- Printable participation certificates and diplomas, one per player, as a PNG, a single print-ready PDF for the whole field, or a ZIP.
- My Club: a free public club page at chesshost.app/clubs/your-club that lists the club's open, live and finished tournaments automatically, carries a pinned announcement, and collects followers by name and email (exportable as CSV). Club pages are also indexed in the public ChessHost chess club directory.
- Member register: a private club member list with name, email, phone, rating, notes and a membership expiry date, with automatic Active, Expiring soon and Expired status, bulk expiry updates, and CSV import and export. The register is never shown on the public club page.
- Team Battle mode: split the room into two teams (Team A vs Team B), everyone plays the other team and never a teammate, with automatic combined team scoring. Great for class vs class, office vs office, or pub team nights.
- Entry fee tracking for cash-at-the-door events, and a break timer shown on the venue screen.
- Mobile-first: run the whole event from a phone.
Best for
School chess clubs and after-school programs, inter-school team matches,
pub and cafe chess nights, casual local clubs, and corporate
team-building events.
Learn more
Free chess software
Free chess tools
Common questions
Is ChessHost free?
Yes, for most events. Every account gets one free event a month, up to 12 players, forever, with no credit card needed. Bigger or more frequent events need ChessHost Pro, which is $7 a month or $18 for 3 months. You can cancel any time and there are no hidden fees.
What is Swiss Pairing?
A beginner-friendly format where nobody gets knocked out. Everyone plays every round. Winners play winners, beginners play beginners. It runs itself once you press Go.
Do I need to know chess to run a tournament?
Not at all. ChessHost handles all the pairings automatically. You just tap in results as games finish. Anyone can run it.
Do players need accounts or downloads?
No. Players just type their name when they arrive, or scan a QR code to self-register. No app, no account, no email.
How do players join a ChessHost tournament?
You share one link or show a QR code. A player opens it on their phone, types their name, and you approve them with one tap. Turn on auto-approve and they land straight in the tournament without waiting for you.
How many players can I have?
One event a month of up to 12 players is free forever. ChessHost Pro removes both limits: unlimited events a month and unlimited players in one event, from $6 a month. ChessHost works great for friendly pub nights, school clubs, and informal competitions.
Can I create a free page for my chess club?
Yes. My Club gives your club its own page at chesshost.app/clubs/your-club. Type your club name and the page exists. It lists your open, live and finished tournaments automatically, carries a pinned announcement, and lets visitors follow the club with their name and email. It costs nothing.
Can I manage my chess club members in ChessHost?
Yes. The Member Register keeps a private list of your members with name, email, phone, rating, notes and a membership expiry date. Status works itself out as Active, Expiring soon or Expired, and you can import and export the whole list as CSV. The register is private to you and never appears on your public club page.
Will my club page show up on Google?
Yes, if you want it to. Club pages are real web pages rather than app screens, so Google can read and rank them, and they also appear in the ChessHost club directory. One switch in club settings keeps the page unlisted if you would rather it stayed private.
Does ChessHost work on a desktop or PC?
Yes. ChessHost runs in any browser on a laptop, desktop, tablet or phone, with nothing to install. Most organisers set the event up on a laptop and tap in results from their phone during the round.
What do I need for TV Display?
Just any device with a browser. A smart TV, a laptop on a projector or a tablet. Open the link and it auto-updates live. Pick one of four looks: Casual, Esports, Kids or Modern.
Can I use ChessHost for a school chess club?
Absolutely. It is free for one event a month of up to 12 players, requires no accounts for students, and works perfectly for a classroom or after-school session. Students scan a QR code to join, you show live brackets on the projector, and everyone gets a printed certificate at the end.
Can I generate certificates or diplomas for players?
Yes. After any tournament open the Diplomas tool to generate personalised certificates for every participant. Save one as a PNG, or the whole set as a single print-ready PDF or a ZIP. Great for school events and club nights.
Can I run a team chess tournament (Team A vs Team B)?
Yes. Turn on Team Battle and ChessHost splits players into two teams. Everyone plays the other team every round, never a teammate. Team scores add up automatically, with simple tie breakers. Perfect for class vs class, office vs office, or a pub team night.