| Who | Plus | Minus |
|---|---|---|
| A club coach | explains simply, knows the players | may be busy with their own students at the board |
| A strong player who is not playing | sees the variations | cannot always talk for beginners |
| An event host who plays chess | holds the room | less depth of analysis |
| Two people: a chess player and a host | the best combination | costs more and needs teamwork |
The commentator's main quality is not their rating but the ability to explain a position to someone who only knows how the pieces move. A host for the evening can also be invited separately: a host and an arbiter for a tournament.
The players must not hear the commentary - neither an assessment of the position nor a hint like "there is mate in two here". So the commentator works in the fan zone, in a separate room or online. If there is only one hall, the commentary is quiet, into spectators' headphones or as text.
How to set up a place for spectators - a fan zone at a chess tournament.
| Moment | What to talk about |
|---|---|
| Start of the round | who plays whom on the top boards, what is at stake, interesting pairings |
| Opening | which opening they chose, briefly - what it is known for |
| Middlegame | both sides' plans, threats, "what would you play?" - a question to the audience |
| A sharp moment | switch to that board, show variations on the demonstration board |
| End of the game | the result, why it happened, how it changes the standings |
| Between rounds | the best game of the round, questions from spectators, a preview of the next pairings |
| Format | What you need |
|---|---|
| Commentary in the hall | a microphone and a speaker in the fan zone, a screen with the broadcast, a demonstration board |
| An online stream | a laptop, a microphone, capturing the broadcast window in streaming software, a stream link |
| Text commentary | the tournament channel or chat, short messages as the games go on |
If the games are recorded by phone cameras, the commentator needs no electronic boards: every game with its moves in real time is already on the broadcast page. It goes on the fan zone screen, and for an online stream the browser window is captured and the commentator's voice is added on top.
A separate page for your tournament only, the boards you need shown large and a delay - by arrangement: live online chess tournament broadcasts.
A coach, a strong player or a host who plays chess. What matters is the ability to explain a position simply to amateurs, not the rating.
In the fan zone, a separate room or online - so the players cannot hear the commentary.
About people and plans rather than variations: who is taking risks, who is defending, what is at stake in this game.
No, if the games are broadcast from phone cameras through Vibe Chess: the boards and moves are already on the broadcast page.
Capture the broadcast window in streaming software and add the commentator's voice. At a tournament with prizes - with a broadcast delay.
The Vibe Chess app opens from a link and needs no installation. Setting up a tournament takes a minute: pick the system, set the date, the venue and the time control - the app handles the rest.
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 broadcasting: a fan zone, how to watch a broadcast, how to prepare for a broadcast and a host and an arbiter for a tournament.
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 →
