The main rule of a charity tournament: the organiser never holds the money. Players donate themselves - via the charity's link or QR code. That way the charity receives the whole amount and reports on it itself, and nobody asks the organiser where the money went.
| Format | How it works | Why it is good |
|---|---|---|
| A tournament with a donation entry fee | each player donates a fixed amount or "what they can" | a familiar format any chess player understands |
| A simultaneous exhibition | a strong player plays 10-30 opponents at once, a seat at the board is a donation | a striking event, good for social media |
| A marathon | 12 hours of chess, a donation for taking part or for each game | long-lasting attention to the appeal, you can come for an hour |
| A corporate tournament | the company donates per employee or per win | large sums, a clear occasion for a company |
A marathon in support of a charity - a chess marathon, a tournament for a company - corporate chess tournaments.
| Step | What to do |
|---|---|
| Choose a charity | a trusted charity with open reporting; agree that the tournament raises money for it |
| Get a donation link | the charity's page or QR code, where players donate themselves |
| Set a goal | a specific amount and what it will go to: "$600 for a chess club at a children's centre" |
| Find a venue | many venues agree to give a room for free for a cause like this |
| Spread the word | an announcement with the fundraising goal, the charity and the link |
| Report back | how much was raised - in the tournament results and a month later, when the charity has spent the money |
Ready announcement texts - chess tournament announcement templates.
Agree with a charity, get its donation link, set a fundraising goal, choose a format and after the tournament tell people how much was raised and what the money went to.
Ideally the charity itself: players donate via its link or QR code. Then the organiser has no reporting questions.
A tournament with a donation entry fee - for chess players, a simultaneous exhibition - for a striking event, a marathon - for a long appeal, a corporate tournament - for large sums.
Often yes: for cafés and clubs a charity tournament is a good cause and guests in the room. Still write down the terms.
No, there are no payments in the app. The charity's link goes in the event description and rules, and players donate straight to the charity.
There are no club or arbiter roles in the app: the create button is available to everyone. You can announce a tournament today and run it this weekend.
The bot is constantly improved based on real tournaments. If you need a feature that isn't there yet, message the developers right inside the bot with the /support command. Many features appeared exactly because organizers asked for them, and useful ideas get added quickly.
More about special tournaments: a chess marathon, chess tournament sponsorship, a venue agreement and a report for sponsors and grant makers.
At the board since childhood: hazy about his rating, precise about every rook he has blundered. Counts an evening as a good one if the opponent stayed to talk afterwards instead of rushing off to check with an engine. Message →
