The phone you need depends on what you are going to do in the app. The further down the list, the more demanding the task:
| Task | What you need | Phone | Internet |
|---|---|---|---|
| App, tournament sign-up, standings | any smartphone with an up-to-date Safari, Chrome or Telegram | any | needed |
| Trainers | any smartphone | any | needed for the leaderboard |
| Chess clock: blitz, rapid | any smartphone | any | not needed |
| Chess clock: bullet 1+0, 1+1 | a responsive screen, the phone not overloaded | mid-range and above | not needed |
| Notifications on iPhone | the installed app, iOS 16.4 or later | any | needed |
| Camera recording and broadcast | a recent iPhone or Android, the main camera | strong | needed, stable |
Common to every task: an updated system and browser (Safari on iPhone, Chrome on Android) or Telegram, free space for the app - it weighs less than an ordinary photo - and a charged battery.
For signing up for tournaments and meetups, pairings, standings, rating, the profile and the trainers, practically any smartphone that opens a modern website will do. The app is light: it pulls nothing from third-party servers, and a repeat launch runs from the phone's memory.
The chess clock in the app works on any phone and even without internet: time is counted right on the device. For blitz and rapid an old phone will do.
For bullet (1+0, 1+1) response speed matters: strong players pass the move several times a second, and every tap must switch the clock at once. The clock in the app is tuned not to lose fast taps and not to count an accidental finger "bounce". From the phone you need:
More about the clock - a chess clock on your phone.
Camera recording is the most demanding task in the app. Throughout the game the phone looks at the board and records the moves by itself, processing the picture right on the device. That takes a modern smartphone: a recent iPhone or Android, mid-range or flagship.
How recording works - recording a chess game with a phone camera.
We checked this on live games: the same tournament was recorded without errors by a fast phone, while a slow one lagged and got confused in fast exchanges noticeably more often. So the camera phone deserves attention first.
There are usually two phones at a table - the opponents', or a player's and a volunteer's. Compare them and assign them like this:
Vibe Chess installs straight from the browser, without the App Store or Google Play: its own icon on the screen, its own launch, no address bar. The installed app works directly - without Telegram and without a VPN.
The instructions for your phone are also in the app itself: Profile → Install the app.
After installing, turn on notifications: Profile → Settings → App notifications. On iPhone notifications arrive only for the installed app and on iOS 16.4 or later.
We build the app ourselves. Tell us your phone model - we will tell you whether it can handle the camera and help set up recording for your tournament.
Write to the developers on TelegramFor tournament sign-up, standings, trainers and the chess clock practically any smartphone with an up-to-date Safari, Chrome or Telegram will do. To record a game with the camera you need a recent iPhone or Android.
Yes. For bullet 1+0 and 1+1 you need a responsive screen with no tap delay - usually a mid-range phone or better. Close background apps and turn off heavy battery saving.
Yes, the chess clock counts time right on the phone. Internet is needed for tournament sign-up, pairings, scores and the broadcast.
The stronger one on the camera: its power decides how fast and accurately the moves are recorded. The weaker one on the clock: it needs no power.
No. Vibe Chess installs from the browser: on iPhone through Safari (Add to Home Screen), on Android through Chrome (Install app). You can also use it right inside Telegram.
Press Sign in with Telegram and confirm with the code in the bot, or sign in with VK ID, then choose your city. You sign in once.
Recording may lag, moves appear in the broadcast later, and fast exchanges more often need a correction. Better put the stronger phone on the camera.
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.
score groups, no rematches, no second bye
everyone plays everyone, the app works out the number of rounds
who is free and who is already at a board is shown under Now
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.
Recording moves - recording a game with a camera. Broadcasting - chess tournament live broadcast, a broadcast checklist. Running a tournament in the app - the organiser's guide.
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 →
