The whole setup is a six-step chat. After the /create_tournament command the bot asks one question at a time - you reply with a message or tap a button:
A half-finished tournament is saved as a draft - you can pause and come back to it.
Players reported different results. The bot flags the game as disputed and sends it to you. You set the correct outcome with a button - white wins, black wins or draw.
An opponent did not show up. The result buttons include 'opponent no-show' - the bot scores it by the rules, and the round does not stall.
Odd number of players. One player gets a BYE (a bye with a point) each round. The bot picks who and avoids giving it to the same person twice while others remain.
Someone has no smartphone. Add them as a guest by name - they play in the common draw, and you enter their results. That makes the tournament open to absolutely everyone.
Nothing but Telegram. Open the bot at t.me/vibechessbot, set your city in the profile and send /create_tournament. No installs, no sign-ups, no payment - the bot is free.
The bot sends each player their opponent and table number privately. The /my_pairing command shows the current pairing at any time. No need to announce pairings out loud.
Players do, with a button (win, loss, draw, opponent no-show). If only one of the pair reports, the other gets a confirmation request; on silence the bot accepts it automatically. If they disagree, the dispute goes to you.
Nothing - the bot gives one player a BYE (a bye with a point), as in the Swiss system. Next round someone else gets it. No manual tracking needed.
Yes. The organizer adds them as a guest by name - they play in the common draw just like everyone else, and you enter their results. Handy at schools, camps and factories.
By the Buchholz coefficient - the sum of your opponents' scores: the player who faced stronger opponents ranks higher. The bot computes it automatically after every round.
The Vibe Chess app is built for an evening over the board, not for online play: it keeps the sign-up list, the pairings and the table while you deal with people and the venue. All of it free.
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.
The general prep guide - how to organize a chess tournament. The player's side - how to join a tournament. Whole tournament in a messenger - run a tournament in Telegram. Timing games - online chess clock.
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 →
