Vibe Chess Bot: all the features in one overview
Creating and running a tournament
A tournament is created in a six-step chat with /create_tournament: name, venue, date and time, time control, number of rounds, player limit. Then you run it with commands: /open_registration and /close_registration for the field, /start_tournament to start, /next_round between rounds, /finish_tournament at the end. A half-finished tournament is saved as a draft. Full breakdown in the organizer guide.
Swiss-system pairing
The bot's core is the Swiss pairing engine. It never repeats opponents, alternates colors, and on an odd count gives one player a BYE (a bye with a point), avoiding giving it to the same person twice while others remain. All of this - the main headache of running a tournament by hand - happens automatically in seconds. How many rounds to set is in the how many rounds in the Swiss article.
Pairings, results and the table
After a round starts, the bot sends each player their opponent and table number - /my_pairing shows the pairing anytime. Players report results with buttons (win, loss, draw, no-show). If only one reports, the other gets a confirmation request; on silence the bot accepts it; on a mismatch the dispute goes to the organizer with manual-result buttons.
The table (/standings) with points and Buchholz is recomputed after every round. A player sees their place in real time.
Guests without Telegram and a chess clock
Two practical pluses. First, guest mode: the organizer adds a participant without Telegram by name, they play like everyone else, and the organizer enters their results - see guest without Telegram. Second, a free chess clock on a phone with Fischer increment and a move counter.
The bot speaks 11 languages
The bot's interface is translated into 11 languages: Russian, English, Spanish, Portuguese, German, French, Italian, Turkish, Indonesian, Hindi and Persian. Each participant sees the bot in their own language, chosen in the profile.
Thanks to that, a tournament can run not only in Russia but in mixed international groups and other countries: players from different countries use the bot each in their own language while the organizer runs a common tournament.
What the bot doesn't do
Honestly about the limits, to set expectations. The bot works by the Swiss system - there is no separate round-robin mode (for small groups that's no problem, see 8-player tournament). It does not compute an official national or FIDE rating - that requires a licensed arbiter and a federation entry. The entry fee in settings is informational: the bot does not process payments. And, crucially, the bot is constantly improved based on real tournaments - see the chess bot that's improved for you.
Try the bot at your tournament
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Vibe Chess bot cost?
The bot is free. The entry-fee field in tournament settings is informational for players: the bot doesn't process payments; the organizer collects money (for a prize, say) however they like.
Which system does the bot use?
The Swiss system: everyone plays the same number of rounds, nobody is eliminated after a loss, pairings are by score, and ties are broken by the Buchholz coefficient. There is no separate round-robin mode.
Does everyone need Telegram?
No. Those who want to sign up and report results themselves; the organizer adds the rest as guests by name. One smartphone with the bot - the organizer's - is enough.
How many people does the bot handle?
From a small group to a mass tournament. The round count grows slowly: 16 people - 5 rounds, 32 - 6, a hundred - 8-9. The pairing stays correct at any size.
Does the bot compute an official rating?
No. An official national or FIDE rating requires a licensed arbiter and a federation entry submitted in advance. The bot is for amateur and internal tournaments.
What languages does the bot work in?
The interface is translated into 11 languages: Russian, English, Spanish, Portuguese, German, French, Italian, Turkish, Indonesian, Hindi and Persian. Each participant picks their language in the profile, so a tournament can run in mixed international groups and other countries.
How do I try the bot?
Open @vibechessbot in Telegram, set your city and create a test tournament with /create_tournament. It's best to learn on a small group of 6-8 - the whole mechanism becomes clear in under an hour.
Missing a feature? Message the developers
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.
What to read next
Where to start - organizer guide. How the bot evolves - the chess bot improved for you. The big FAQ - tournament FAQ. General prep - how to organize a tournament.