Chessmates — now on the App Store
chessmates

Chessmates
Play real chess

Find chess meetups, clubs and tournaments in your city. Show up, sit down, play.

Find a game in your city → How it works
On Android? Join the beta on Google Play →
Download on the App Store Download on the App Store Or open in browser →
Join the Android beta →
Closed beta on Google Play. The full release lands in two weeks. Or use the web version above.
What you get

Everything for real chess

Meetups near you

Discover club nights, casual meetups and tournaments on a live map. Browse player profiles, check ratings, and message anyone before you show up.

Tournaments & clubs

Find local chess clubs and upcoming tournaments. RSVP in one tap and get all the details you need.

Casual meetups

Post a spontaneous game at your local park or café. Others nearby can see it and join instantly.

Direct messaging

Message other players to coordinate a game, agree on a venue, or just talk chess. Event group chats included.

Linked chess accounts

Connect your Chess.com or Lichess account. Your rating and stats appear on your profile automatically.

Completely free

No subscriptions, no paywalls. Create an account and start finding games right away.

Getting started

How it works

1

Create a free account

Sign up in seconds. Add your name and city. Link your Chess.com or Lichess account for a richer profile.

2

Browse the map

See clubs, meetups and tournaments near you on a live map. Filter by type, time control or skill level, and zoom into your area.

3

Sign up or post a meetup

RSVP to existing events with one tap, or post your own casual game at a café or park. Others nearby will see it instantly.

For organisers

Hosting a club or tournament?

Chessmates is built for organisers as much as players. Whether you run a weekly club night or a multi-round tournament, the tools are here.

Swiss pairings

Run multi-round tournaments with automatic Swiss pairings. Set sections, tie-breaks and round timing; the app handles the bracket.

Registration management

Players RSVP in-app. Walk-ins, late entries and withdrawals are handled from a single panel. No spreadsheets, no chasing.

Branded check-in QR

Each event gets a unique QR code players scan on arrival. Real attendance, not promises, and corrections are one tap away.

Sections & ELO filters

Split a tournament into ELO sections (e.g. U1500, U1800, Open). Set minimum ratings and age restrictions per event or per section.

Set up an organiser account →
On your phone

Chessmates is now on iPhone

Download on the App Store Download on the App Store
Scan with your iPhone
On Android? Join the Chessmates beta on Google Play →
FAQ

Common questions

Is Chessmates free?
Yes, completely free. No subscriptions, no paywalls, no ads. Create an account and start finding games.
Do I need to be good at chess?
No, Chessmates is for all levels. Filters let you find casual games at parks and cafés, club nights, or tournaments depending on what you're looking for.
How is this different from Chess.com or Lichess?
Those are for online play. Chessmates is for finding real people in your city to play with face-to-face. You can also link your Chess.com or Lichess account so other players see your rating.
What if there are no meetups in my city yet?
Post your own. A spontaneous game at a café or park is quick to set up, and anyone nearby on Chessmates will see it. Even one meetup is often enough to pull other local players out of the woodwork.
Is it safe to meet people I haven't met before?
Public venues like cafés, parks, and club nights are the default. Chessmates doesn't verify identity (linking a Chess.com or Lichess account just proves you own that chess account, not a passport), but a "Trusted" badge marks players with a confirmed in-person attendance record across multiple meetups and different hosts. Use the same judgement you would for any first-time meeting with someone you've only known online.

Ready to play?

Join chess players finding real games in their city right now.

Open Chessmates →