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How do live tournaments work? Where can I join one?

Learn all about how to join Live tournaments on Chess.com, navigate the tournaments tab, and view the complete tournament schedule!

Updated over 5 months ago

Both Swiss and Arena Tournaments are starting constantly on Chess.com. Go to the bottom of this article for the full detailed Tournament Schedule!

How to join a tournament

  • You can use the highlighted tabs shown in the image above to filter your tournament search. Here's what you can find in each of them:

Tab

Details

Current

Shows you a list of ongoing and upcoming tournaments, with details like tournament type, duration, start time, and number of players. Simply click 'Join' next to the tournament to join right away!

You can only join a tournament at most one hour before the tournament starts.

Even if the tournament has already started, often you will still be able to join - though you will have a disadvantage if some games have already been played!

Schedule

This will show you a visual representation of the ongoing and upcoming tournaments.

Tournaments schedule on Chess.com

Click on any of the bars here to be taken to the tournament, where you can join if possible, or just watch and chat!

Watch

This will display only tournaments that have already begun. However, you may still be able to join some, such as Arena tournaments.

Create

Choose this option to host your own tournament!

Check out this article to learn how to create a tournament: How can I create a Live (Blitz, Bullet, Rapid) Tournament?

Seeks/Challenges

This will show all available seeks you can join, as well as any incoming challenges you've received and outgoing challenges you've sent.

  • The 'Daily Tournaments' option will take you to a separate page for Daily tournaments. Daily tournaments are done in a different format and take much longer to play out, so they are not shown on this same schedule.

  • The 'Tournament Directory' option will open a new tab with the general tournament page.

    • Alternatively, you can also find this page by hovering on 'Play' in the left-side menu of Chess.com and then selecting 'Tournaments.'

After joining

After joining or opening a tournament, it will appear in a new tab on your play screen, similar to how a new game or observed game is displayed. Below the title, you’ll find key tournament details.

For example, the image below shows that this tournament is Standard Chess with 76 participants having joined so far. The tournament is scheduled to start in 37 minutes, and pairings will be determined by player ratings:

Bullet Arena tournament on Chess.com

On the right side of the title, you’ll see the remaining tournament time (this is relevant for Arena tournaments only). In the example above, 30 minutes remain until the Arena begins.

If you joined by mistake or no longer wish to participate, simply close the tournament tab by clicking the 'x'. This will withdraw you from the tournament.

Bullet Arena tournament on Chess.com

In Arena tournaments, you can leave and rejoin as often as you like. For Swiss tournaments, you will not be able to rejoin. Read more about withdrawing from tournaments here.

One minute before the tournament begins, you will receive a reminder in all chat areas and alerts. Once the tournament starts, your game will begin automatically, so ensure you’re in the tournament window and ready to play!

Here is more information on the tabs shown to you after joining a tournament:

Tab

Details

Standings

This section shows who is currently leading the tournament. In the example image above, the tournament has not yet started, so players are listed by their ratings, from highest to lowest. Once the tournament begins and games are played, players will be ranked according to their scores.

In a Swiss tournament, standings are displayed like this:

Tournament standings on Chess.com

  • The numbers to the right of each player's name indicate the number of wins out of total games played. For example, 4/4 means the player has won all four games.

  • The second number represents the player's tie-break score.

In Swiss tournaments, standings are updated at the end of each round, not after each game. Click here to read more about Swiss tournaments.

In an Arena tournament, standings are displayed differently:

Tournament standings on Chess.com

  • The red number next to the flame icon indicates the player's win streak. In Arena tournaments, being on a win streak earns you more points.

  • The other number represents the player's total score. When time runs out, the player with the most points wins!

Check out this article to learn more about Arena tournaments: What are Arena tournaments?

Games

This tab displays a list of all the ongoing games in the tournament. Simply click on a game to watch it.

Even if you're not participating in the tournament, you can still access the 'Games' tab to view the matches. This is a great way to enjoy tournaments like 'Titled Tuesday' or 'Arena Kings' and follow your favorite players.

Check out this article to learn how to join Titled Tuesday: How do I join Titled Tuesday?

Chat

This area allows players to chat before and after the event. It’s also where the winners will be announced once the tournament concludes.

Spectators can join the conversation here as well while the tournament is in progress.

Tournament schedule

Times are based on Pacific time (GMT -7)

While you can see the upcoming tournaments on our tournament schedule page, you may want to plan for a tournament farther in advance. Below, you can see when each type of tournament will start, for as far ahead as you like.

The tournament schedule repeats every two hours. Some tournaments cycle through various variants or time controls throughout the day.

Hour

Tournament

:00

  • Arena Blitz

  • Arena 5|0 Blitz- Every 2 hours, on the hour (even hours only)

  • Arena 3|2 Blitz- Every 2 hours, on the hour (odd hours only)

:05

  • Swiss 5|0 Blitz- Every 2 hours, @ :05 (odd hours only)

  • Swiss 3|0 Blitz- Every 4 hours, @ :05 (starting @ 2:05am)

  • Swiss 2|1 Bullet- Every 4 hours, @ :05 (starting @ 12:05am)

:10

  • Arena 2|1 Bullet- Every 2 hours, @ :10 (even hours only)

:15

  • Arena 3|0 King of the Hill- Every 6 Hours, @ :15 (starting at 12:15am)

  • Arena 3|0 Live960 - Every 6 hours, @ :15 (starting at 2:15am)

  • Arena 3|0 Crazyhouse- Every 6 hours, @ :15 (starting at 3:15am)

  • Arena 3|0 Bughouse - Every 6 hours, @ :15 (starting at 4:15am)

  • Arena 3|0 3 Check- Every 6 hours, @ :15 (starting at 5:15am)

:20

  • Arena 1|0 Bullet- Every Hour @ :20

  • Swiss 3|0 Crazyhouse- Every 6 hours, @ :20 (starting at 12:20am)

  • Swiss 3|0 King of the Hill- Every 6 hours, @ :20 (starting at 3:20am)

  • Swiss 3|0 Live 960- Every 6 hours, @ :20 (starting @ 5:20am)

:25

  • Swiss 3|2 Premium Blitz- Every 4 hours, @ :25 (starting at 12:25am)

  • Swiss 5|5 Premium Blitz- Every 4 hours, @ :25 (starting at 2:25am)

:30

  • Arena 3|0 Blitz- Every Hour @ :30

:35

  • Swiss 10|0 Blitz- Every 4 hours, @ :35 (starting @ 12:35am)

  • Swiss 15|10 Rapid- Every 4 hours, @ :35 (starting @ 1:35am)

  • Swiss 10|0 Live960 - Every 4 hours, @ :35 (starting @ 2:35am)

  • Swiss 30|0 Rapid Quad- Every 4 hours, @ :35 (starting @ 3:35am)

:40

  • Swiss 1|0 Crazyhouse- Every 3 hours, @ :40 (starting @ 12:40am)

  • Swiss 1|0 3 Check- Every 3 hours, @ :40 (starting @ 1:40am)

  • Swiss 1|0 King of the Hill- Every 3 hours, @ :40 (starting @ 2:40am)

:45

  • Arena 1|0 King of the Hill- Every 3 hours, @ :45 (starting at 12:45am)

  • Arena 1|0 3 Check- Every 3 hours, @:45 (starting at 1:45am)

  • Arena 1|0 Crazyhouse- Every 3 hours, @:45 (starting at 2:45am)

:50

  • Arena 1|0 Bullet- Every Hour @ :50

:55

  • Swiss 1|0 Bullet- Every 4 hours, @ :55 (starting @ 1:55am)

Related Articles
How can I create a Live (Blitz, Bullet, Rapid) Tournament?
How do Daily Tournaments work on Chess.com?
How do I join a Bughouse tournament on Chess.com?
Chess.com tournaments schedule
How do I join Titled Tuesday?
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