Frequently asked questions about ChessPairings Desktop

Does the app work without Internet?

Yes. Tournament creation, participants, pairings, results, standings, reports, TRF and backups work locally. Internet is needed to download a new FIDE archive, link an account, synchronize or receive Store updates.

Where are tournament data stored?

The working database is stored under your Windows profile, not inside the installation package. Use Backup and restore instead of copying an open database file manually.

Which engines are used?

Swiss pairings use the bundled bbpPairings executable, Round Robin schedules use native Berger tables, and standings and tiebreaks use Gacrux. The app does not require PHP, Java, local ports or WebView2.

Can I add a player without a FIDE ID?

Yes. Use manual entry. The tournament copy can later be linked or compared with a FIDE record without changing the official archive.

Does synchronization publish every tournament?

No. Synchronization transfers authorized tournament data between your account and computer. Public visibility remains a separate tournament setting; private events do not acquire a public results page automatically.

Does the app store my website password?

No. Authentication happens in the browser on ChessPairings.org through a short device-code flow. The Windows client receives a device authorization token, never the account password.

How are updates installed?

Microsoft Store distributes approved application updates. Local tournament data remains outside the package and is preserved across normal updates.

Which interface languages are included?

Version 0.45 includes Italian, English, Spanish, French, German, Czech and Russian. Community translation packs can be imported through the language tools, with English as the fallback for missing strings.