How to Organize a Chess Tournament

Select the type of chess tournament you wish to host. Chess tournament organizers commonly use the Swiss format, matching players based on a ranking devised by the tournament director or a chess organization. The Swiss format prevents the highest ranked players from playing right away as well as avoiding a mismatch between the highest and the lowest ranked player.

Select a venue for the chess tournament. Elementary schools are ideal locations for chess tournaments. The gymnasium provides ample room to accommodate all the participants. Individual classrooms are perfect places for players to rest and relax in between matches, and the cafeteria is a perfect location to serve refreshments.

Secure the necessary materials. It is the tournament director's responsibility to ensure that enough chess boards and pieces are available for each chess match within a round. Use a computer to pair the players up and assign them a board number. Number the chess boards in the playing venue so players know where their next game is located. Players are usually responsible for providing their own chess clocks.

Announce the dates of the chess tournament. A good rule of thumb is to announce the dates six weeks in advance. This will allow chess club and team presidents to determine the number of participants from their organization.

Assemble a tournament staff. The staff's purpose is to patrol the playing venue during a round and be available to resolve disputes concerning the tournament rules. Staff members are also responsible for issuing penalties for any rules violation.

Review the rules of the tournament with the players before the first round begins. Make sure the players know how much time they have to finish their game in each round. Some tournaments operate with a "touch/move" rule meaning that the first piece a player touches is the piece he must if move if he can do so without breaking the basic rules of chess.