Proctor
Chess.com invests millions of dollars annually in competitive events with prizes. To uphold Fair Play standards and the integrity of the game, all prize-based events will ultimately require the use of a dedicated program called Proctor.
Proctor is a monitoring program that keeps track of a few things on players' computers while they're playing prize events. In essence, Proctor is a browser wrapped inside of an executable file. Once you download, install, and run the program, it will feel just like logging in to the Chess.com website.
Proctor is lightweight and won't interfere with your chess experience. You can play, work on puzzles, stream, or do anything else you'd normally do on Chess.com without even noticing Proctor is on.
Proctor is mandatory only for players in prize money events. If you prefer not to use this software, you can opt out of these competitions.
What does Proctor monitor?
To ensure fair play during Chess.com's prize events, Proctor monitors the following:
The computer's screen
The programs running
Video camera feeds
Audio inputs and outputs
This technology is widely used in educational settings, such as remote exams for high schools, colleges, and universities. If it's required for a school test, it makes sense to use it for professional chess events where thousands of dollars are at stake.
For now, we will be asking some players to use Proctor when playing in Titled Tuesday. This will replace the pre-event call-ins, but we will still have a Zoom call for players who are called in mid-event. We intend for Proctor to eventually fully replace our Zoom calls and be used in all competitive events.
The use of Proctor is covered in our Competitive Events Policy and our Privacy Policy.
How do I set up Proctor to participate in a prize event?
First, you need to download it. Click the button below to find the download link for your device.
Once downloaded, open the file. You may receive one or more requests to execute the file—allow or accept them to install and run Proctor on your computer.
After installation, the browser will automatically open Chess.com's homepage. A popup window will appear prompting you to select a microphone. Choose the one you want to use from the drop-down and click 'Use this' to continue.
Next, you'll need to set up your first camera. After selecting it, a preview of the camera feed will appear. This camera should clearly show your entire face, so position it accordingly. Once satisfied, press 'Use this' to confirm.
Log in to your Chess.com account as usual. Once logged in, the proctoring session will automatically start recording. A popup window with a QR code will then appear.
Use your phone's camera to scan the QR code, which will open a page for configuring your secondary camera. Make sure that Chrome (Android) or Safari (iOS) is your default mobile browser for this step to work.
Allow your browser to access your camera, microphone, and location, and then select the camera you want to use as your secondary camera and position it behind you at a diagonal angle (about 30 degrees) to clearly capture your desk, monitors, and hands. Once satisfied with the positioning, click 'Use this'
You'll see a message saying 'Device Proctoring Started' and a red 'End Session' button will appear. This means that your setup was successful, and you're ready to play in an online prize event!
After you're done playing, you can end the session at any time by clicking the red 'End Session' button and closing the Proctor browser. Once you do this, you'll have to wait for a few seconds while the session is closed. You'll see a message on your phone saying, 'Your session has ended. You may now close this page,' which confirms you're no longer being recorded.
How do I livestream using Proctor?
Proctor won't let you select and connect a camera if you're already using it on your broadcasting software. Therefore, you'll need to set up a 'virtual camera' to connect it with Proctor.
If you're using OBS, you can set up a virtual camera without installing any additional software. You can do this by following this guide. If you're using Streamlabs, please follow this guide.
Check out this article to learn more about Proctor: New Release For Prize Events: Chess.com Proctor