PairChamp Help & User Guide

1) Quick Start

If you are an Organizer

1. Create the tournament (name, location, start date, rounds).
2. Create sections (Open, U1800, Scholastic, etc.).
3. Add or import players and assign each to a section.
4. Finalize the player list, then publish Round 1 pairings.
5. After each round, enter results → review standings → publish next round pairings.
6. After the event, download exports/reports for external submissions and archiving.

If you are a Player

1. Open the tournament page link provided by the organizer.
2. Check your section and details.
3. View pairings for the current round and your board/opponent.
4. Track standings after results are posted.
5. Use Join Links (WhatsApp/Discord/etc.) if provided for announcements.

2) What is PairChamp?

PairChamp is a tournament assistance platform built to make managing chess events easier. It helps:

• Create and manage tournaments and sections
• Add and import players
• Publish pairings and standings to players
• Record results and manage byes
• Generate downloadable reports/exports for third-party tools

3) Roles

Organizer / Admin

• Create and edit tournament details
• Manage sections and rounds
• Add/import players and assign sections
• Manage pairings and results
• Download exports/reports

Player

• View tournament details, pairings, and standings
• See opponent/board info for each round
• Join organizer-provided links (WhatsApp/Discord/Telegram/Website)

4) Organizer Guide (Admin)

4.1 Create a Tournament

From the Admin Console, choose Create Tournament and enter:

• Name (example: “Winter Open 2026”)
• Location (venue or city)
• Start date
• Number of rounds
• Description (optional: schedule, time control, contact info)

4.2 Create Sections

Sections separate players into fair groups. Common examples:

• Each player should belong to exactly one section for the tournament.
• Pairings and standings are typically computed per section.

4.3 Registrations: Add or Import Players

You can add players manually or import them in bulk. Typical fields include: name, rating, section, and optional IDs (USCF/FIDE).

4.4 Pairings (Round-by-round)

Publish pairings per section and round. Players typically see board number (if available), colors (white/black), and opponent names.

4.5 Enter Results & Byes

After each round, enter results such as Win/Loss/Draw. Byes may be awarded depending on the event rules (full-point, half-point, or zero-point bye).

Tip: Enter results as soon as a round ends and review standings for anomalies (missing result, wrong section, duplicates).

4.6 Publish Standings

Standings update based on recorded results. Review standings after each round before moving on.

4.7 Communications Center

Open Communication Center to manage announcements, internal messaging, tournament updates, and external links from one formal workflow.

• Announcements: organization and tournament notices with audience/visibility controls
• Messages: direct internal communication between staff and coordinators
• Tournament Updates: publish timeline updates visible in tournament notification areas
• External Channels: approved WhatsApp/Discord/Telegram/website links with active/inactive status

4.7.1 Communication Tutorial (Step-by-step)

1. Go to Communication Center and select the target tab (Announcements, Messages, Updates, or Channels).
2. For announcements, set Type, Audience, Visibility, and optional tournament scope before writing content.
3. Write a clear, formal title and message body. Save as draft when review is needed; publish only after verification.
4. Enable PairChamp + Email only when email delivery is intentionally required.
5. Use Communication History and Inbox filters to track what was sent, what is unread, and what remains in draft.
6. Maintain external channel links with approved URLs and active status so participants see only current channels.
7. Use the in-app Help Tour button on the Communication Center for a guided walkthrough.

4.8 Settings

Keep organization settings updated, including school/club profile content, contact information, and branding assets (logo used in exports). Accurate settings reduce registration and communication mistakes.

5) Player Guide

5.1 View Tournament Information

Open the tournament link shared by the organizer to see tournament details like location, sections, and rounds.

5.2 View Pairings

Pairings are displayed by section and round. Look for your name to find your opponent and board number (if provided).

5.3 View Standings

Standings update as results are entered. If something looks incorrect, contact the organizer.

5.4 Join Links

If the organizer provides Join Links (WhatsApp/Discord/etc.), you can use them for announcements and updates.

6) Reports & Exports

PairChamp can generate downloadable files to help organizers upload to Swiss pairing tools or external platforms (for example, chess.com tools) and to maintain tournament records.

• Player lists
• Pairings by round
• Results
• Standings

7) Mobile Tips

• On small screens, tables may scroll horizontally.
• Rotate to landscape for easier viewing of pairings/standings tables.
• Organizers should prefer desktop/tablet for live admin operations.

8) FAQ

Is PairChamp an official US Chess/FIDE pairing or rating system?

No. PairChamp is an assistance platform. Official verification and submission remains with the organizer.

Can PairChamp submit results automatically?

No. PairChamp can generate reports/exports that the organizer can upload to official systems.

Can players edit results or standings?

No. Only organizers/admins can edit tournament data.

Why do pairings/standings differ from another software?

Differences can happen due to settings, tie-break rules, or data mismatches (ratings/sections/results). Organizers should review and correct data if needed.

Are WhatsApp/Discord links managed by PairChamp?

No. Those are external platforms. PairChamp only displays the organizer-provided link.

9) Troubleshooting

I don’t see a player in standings

• Confirm the player is in the correct section
• Check for duplicates (same person added twice)
• Verify results were entered for the player’s games

Pairings look incorrect

• Verify sections and ratings
• Confirm the player list was finalized before pairing
• Confirm round settings and pairing method used

Export won’t upload into another tool

• Ensure you selected the correct export type/format
• Open the file to verify required columns exist
• Check for missing IDs or invalid characters

The page looks outdated

• Refresh the page
• Try a different browser or clear cache
• Ask the organizer if updates were made recently

10) Privacy

PairChamp stores tournament-related data needed to operate the event. Player data is used only for tournament administration, display, and reporting.

• Data is used to manage pairings, results, and standings
• Data may appear on tournament pages based on organizer settings
• PairChamp does not sell participant data

Organizers are responsible for ensuring they have permission to collect and use participant data for tournament purposes.

11) Disclaimer

PairChamp is provided “as is” for informational and tournament assistance purposes. PairChamp does not guarantee:

• Compliance with any specific federation rulebook
• Accuracy of official submissions or external uploads
• Uninterrupted availability or error-free operation

The Tournament Director/Organizer remains solely responsible for verifying tournament data and for any official submissions.

12) Support

If you need help, contact the tournament organizer or PairChamp administrator.

When reporting an issue, include:

• Tournament name
• Section and round (if applicable)
• What you expected vs what you saw
• Screenshot (optional)

© PairChamp – Tournament Assistance Platform

13) Contact PairChamp

Use this contact section to send an email to the PairChamp registration desk.