Create a chess tournament online – free on SpeedChess.de
On SpeedChess.de any logged-in player can create their own online chess tournament in a few clicks: Swiss system or Round Robin, for 4 to 32 players, with time controls from 1+0 bullet to 15+10 rapid. Free – no team, no club and no subscription needed.
How to create a chess tournament in four steps
- Log in with a free account, or create one. Logged-in players can create tournaments and play in them.
- Open the Tournaments page and choose “Create tournament”.
- Give it a name (up to 60 characters), choose the time control – 1+0, 2+1, 3+0, 5+0, 10+0 or 15+10 –, the maximum number of players (4, 8, 16 or 32) and the format.
- Your tournament appears in the tournament list and other players can join. When the players are ready, you start it as the creator with “Start tournament”.
Share the address of the tournament page with your players beforehand so everyone is ready at the same time.
Swiss system or Round Robin?
- Swiss system – You play several rounds against opponents with a similar score. The number of rounds depends on how many players take part, and repeat pairings are avoided where possible. With an odd number of players, one player gets a bye each round. Ideal for larger groups.
- Round Robin – Everyone plays everyone. This is the fairest format and works well for small groups of friends or a school chess club.
Why host a tournament on SpeedChess?
- Free: creating and playing cost nothing.
- Nothing to set up first: a free account is all you need – no team, club or subscription.
- Fast formats: from bullet to blitz to rapid – a whole tournament evening doesn’t take long.
- Everything in one place: games are played right on SpeedChess.de, and you can follow pairings and results on the tournament page.
Who is an own chess tournament for?
For friends organizing an online chess night, for school chess clubs and chess clubs that want to train online between match days, and for online communities that want to settle things among themselves. If you would rather practice first, try a quick game or play against the computer, then review your games with the free Stockfish analysis.
Frequently asked questions about creating a chess tournament
Is creating a chess tournament free?
Yes. On SpeedChess.de any logged-in player can create and join tournaments for free. No team, club or subscription is needed.
How many players can take part?
A tournament is designed for 4 to 32 players. When you create it you choose the maximum number of players: 4, 8, 16 or 32.
Which time controls are available?
You can choose 1+0 and 2+1 (bullet), 3+0 and 5+0 (blitz) and 10+0 and 15+10 (rapid).
Do I need an account?
To create a tournament or play in one, yes – a free account is enough. Casual games can also be played as a guest without an account.
What is the difference between Swiss system and Round Robin?
In a Swiss system, players with similar scores are paired against each other and the number of rounds depends on the number of players. In Round Robin, everyone plays everyone.
Can I cancel a tournament?
Yes. As the creator you can cancel a tournament on the tournament page.