Navigating ChessRoster
ChessRoster is organized into two collapsible navigation sections. This page explains what each section and item does and who typically uses it.
Main Navigation
The sidebar (or top menu on mobile) is divided into two collapsible groups: ChessRoster and SwissSys. Only one group is expanded at a time based on the page you are viewing.
ChessRoster Section
| Item | Who uses it | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Home | Everyone | The ChessRoster landing page |
| Tournaments | Everyone | Browse and search all upcoming chess tournaments |
| My Registrations | Players | View tournaments you have registered for |
| Tournament Management | Organizers & Directors | Create and manage tournaments you are running |
| Docs & Support | Everyone | Expandable menu with links to Documentation and Support |
SwissSys Section
| Item | Who uses it | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Home | Organizers & Directors | The SwissSys landing page |
| Events | Organizers & Directors | Browse SwissSys-powered tournament events |
| Order | Organizers & Directors | Purchase a SwissSys license |
| Downloads | Organizers & Directors | Download SwissSys software |
| Documentation | Everyone | Opens the SwissSys documentation (on this site) |
What Each Section Contains
Tournaments
The public tournament listing. Anyone — signed in or not — can browse upcoming events, view details, and check registration status. Players use this to find their next tournament.
My Registrations
Shows every tournament you have registered for, along with your registration status and any outstanding payments. The link is always visible in the navigation, but you will be prompted to sign in if you are not already.
Tournament Management
The organizer workspace. You need an organizer profile to use this section. From here you can:
- Create new tournaments
- Manage registrations and waitlists
- Publish pairings and results
- Configure tournament settings
If you are a club officer or event coordinator who wants to run tournaments on ChessRoster, any signed-in user can create an organizer profile (up to 10). See the Organizer Guide to get started.
SwissSys
SwissSys is a companion desktop application for pairing tournaments. The SwissSys section lets you browse events, purchase a license, download the software, and access documentation. It is primarily relevant if you are running tournaments that require on-site pairing software.
Docs & Support
An expandable menu under the ChessRoster section with links to this documentation site and the support page.
Role-Based Experience
Your view of ChessRoster depends on your role:
- Players — Use Tournaments and My Registrations most often.
- Organizers — Spend most of their time in Tournament Management.
- Directors — Use Tournament Management for on-site operations (pairings, results entry).
Most people start as players. If you later want to organize events, any signed-in user can create an organizer profile directly from the home page — no approval process required (limited to 10 organizer profiles per user).
Related Topics
- Creating an Account — Sign in before accessing role-specific features
- Player Guide — Detailed guide to registration and results
- Organizer Guide — How to create and manage tournaments
- Director Guide — On-site tournament operations