How ChessRoster and SwissSys Work Together
ChessRoster and SwissSys each handle a distinct part of running a rated chess tournament. This page explains what each system does, how data moves between them, and what extra features become available when the two are connected.
What Each System Does
ChessRoster is the web platform. It handles:
- Online player registration and payment collection
- Public tournament listings and schedules
- Real-time results and standings visible to players and spectators
- Organizer profiles and tournament management pages
SwissSys is Windows desktop software. It handles:
- Generating pairings each round (Swiss, round-robin, and other formats)
- Entering and tracking game results
- Submitting rated events to USCF, CFC, or FIDE
- Producing printed reports and wall charts
Neither system does everything alone. ChessRoster makes your tournament visible online and simplifies registration. SwissSys runs the mechanics of the event. When the two are connected, extra features such as Live View and pairing notifications become available.
The Typical Workflow
Create a tournament on ChessRoster
Set up the event online so players can find it and register. ChessRoster collects player information, federation IDs, and section preferences.
Download registrations into SwissSys
Once registration opens (or at any point before the first round), download the player list from ChessRoster as an SJSON file and import it directly into SwissSys. Player names, federation IDs, and ratings are ready to go — no re-entry needed.
Run the tournament in SwissSys
Use SwissSys on your Windows computer to generate pairings, enter results round by round, and manage the event.
Sync results back to ChessRoster
After each round — or at the end of the event — SwissSys automatically pushes your tournament data to ChessRoster (v11.76+). Players and spectators see current standings online in real time.
Submit ratings
Use SwissSys to submit the event for rating through USCF, CFC, or FIDE as required.
What Data Moves Between the Systems
| Data | Direction | How |
|---|---|---|
| Player registrations (name, federation IDs, section) | ChessRoster → SwissSys | SJSON file download |
| New/withdrawn/updated registrations during the event | ChessRoster → SwissSys | Reviewed in SwissSys’s ChessRoster Events dialog before applying |
| Pairings and results | SwissSys → ChessRoster | Auto-sync (v11.76+) or manual file upload |
| Tournament standings | SwissSys → ChessRoster | Auto-sync (v11.76+) or manual file upload |
Registration events: During a sync, SwissSys polls ChessRoster for registration changes — new players, withdrawals, section moves, and bye requests — and opens a ChessRoster Events dialog so you can review and apply (or reject) each change before it touches your tournament file. See the SwissSys ChessRoster Integration Dialog.
Live View
When SwissSys syncs pairings and results to ChessRoster, your tournament’s live view updates automatically. The live view is a TV-optimized display that rotates through tournament data — suitable for a monitor at the venue or sharing online.
The live view can show:
- Tournament Leaders and Section Standings — current scores
- All Pairings and Section Pairings — board assignments
- Round Progress — games completed per section
- Recent Results — a feed of latest outcomes
- Biggest Upsets — notable results ranked by rating-point difference
Additional features:
- Players can follow their games on their phones without crowding the pairing board.
- Spectators see standings update as results come in.
- The live view URL can be displayed at the tournament or shared on social media.
Live view is enabled automatically when SwissSys syncs to ChessRoster. No extra configuration is needed.
Pairing Notifications
ChessRoster can notify players by SMS text or email when round pairings are posted. Players choose their preference during registration — a phone number is required to receive texts.
Pairing notifications are being rolled out gradually and are enabled per tournament. They are not yet turned on for every event. When notifications are active for a tournament, the registration form shows the SMS and email opt-in choices.
When notifications are active, this reduces the need for directors to make announcements and helps players who step away from the playing hall.
Who Needs SwissSys?
You need SwissSys if you are:
- Running USCF-rated, CFC-rated, or FIDE-rated events
- Managing tournaments with Swiss-system or round-robin pairings
- A tournament director who needs round-by-round pairing and result-entry tools
You may not need SwissSys if you are:
- Running unrated casual events
- Using ChessRoster’s built-in tournament management without desktop pairings
SwissSys is Windows-only software. Mac users can run it using virtualization software such as Parallels Desktop , though this configuration is not guaranteed to work on every setup. See system requirements for details.
How the Connection Works
SwissSys connects to ChessRoster through a one-time account linking process. Once linked, SwissSys authenticates as you and can communicate with ChessRoster’s API automatically. The session lasts six months before re-linking is needed.
For details on establishing the connection, see Linking Your Account.
Related Topics
- Linking Your Account — Connect SwissSys to ChessRoster
- Uploading Events — Publish results from a SwissSys file
- Ordering SwissSys — Purchase a license
- SwissSys Documentation — Full SwissSys reference, including installation and activation