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zonChess · Real boards, digital bridges

zonChess metallic knight emblem and wordmark

Practical technology for real chess tournaments.

ChessZCam helps digitize physical-board games. SwissMax helps organizers prepare, communicate and close tournaments around the trusted Swiss-Manager workflow.

Explore ChessZCamPreview SwissMaxProduct updates
Built from real tournament workflowsTested and refined in venue conditionsDesigned to complement trusted chess systems
ChessZCam · product tour Beta
Phone on a tripod detecting a chessboard at a tournament
Detect moves from a normal wooden board
OTB chess match with laptop ready for digital recording
Power OBS / vMix overlays from a Windows hub
Parent or coach following a live digital board on a phone
Follow the game from the waiting area on the same LAN
Real ChessZCam overlay beside tournament camera footage
Real venue broadcast output from beta testing
TWO FOCUSED PRODUCTSChessZCam for the board. SwissMax for the organizer workflow around it.
Android detectionUse a normal board and phone camera
Windows controllerOperator tools for the broadcast workflow
OBS & vMix overlayBrowser-based graphics for live production
PGN workflowReduce repetitive manual reconstruction
ChessZCam phone and camera setup at the 4th Keong Hoe Chess Tournament
Actual field setup · SJKC Keong Hoe, Penang · 26 July 2026
Latest ChessZCam field test

Two monitored games reached the endgame and checkmate.

At Saiful Arena @ 4th Keong Hoe Chess Tournament, the current workflow was generally stable and produced our strongest real-event test so far. Stockfish analysis and venue setup still need refinement before public release.

26 July 2026Third real-tournament test
2 complete gamesTracked into endgame and checkmate
More testing aheadCamera, lighting, focus and analysis
Read the field notesProject journey

At a glance

See the workflow before you dig into the details.

A quick visual tour—then open ChessZCam for modes, proof screenshots and the live beta sample.

Phone detecting a chessboard at a real tournamentDetect OTB match with laptop for digital workflowBroadcast Junior player concentrating at an OTB gameFollow nearby ChessZCam live detection interfaceWatch beta sample

Live / Beta

ChessZCam

Our flagship product: point an Android phone at a normal board, detect moves, record PGN, and power a browser overlay for OBS or vMix. Created from real tournament needs and tested in live venue conditions.

No electronic board requiredOffline-friendlyPGN helpLive overlay
Explore ChessZCam Product Updates Known limitations Choose a workflow
SwissMax premium pairing and mecha winner graphics for chess tournaments Real pairing output
zonChess SwissMax official logo

Coming soon · Windows

zonChess SwissMax

Windows companion that runs on your PC beside Swiss-Manager: clean player data, publish pairings that feel like a broadcast graphic, collect LAN scores, and celebrate winners — without replacing the official pairing workflow.

Swiss-Manager companionMulti-section scoringPairing graphicsWinner studio
Preview SwissMax Register interest
Youth chess tournament hall with many OTB boards in play

Why this exists

Keep the technology useful—without losing the human side of chess.

Coaching fees, tournament entries, and travel already stretch many families. Electronic boards remain an excellent professional standard — ChessZCam is a lighter bridge so more clubs and creators can broadcast and digitize OTB games while the community keeps meeting face to face.

The goal is not to replace the tournament hall. It is to help more people see, learn from and share what happens there.

Read the founder story

What we are building first

Two focused products. One more welcoming tournament experience.

ChessZCam helps digitize the board. SwissMax helps the organizer run and present the event around the trusted Swiss-Manager workflow.

01

ChessZCam

Phone-camera detection, PGN assistance and live broadcast overlays for real OTB games.

02

SwissMax

Player data, pairing graphics, multi-section scoring and winner publishing around Swiss-Manager and Chess-Results.

03

Merchandise

Community apparel later — sales will support junior chess journeys.

Project journey · July 2026

Three tournament tests are shaping the system.

The 26 July test reached two complete games, introduced a stronger camera workflow and revealed the next Stockfish and venue-setup improvements.

ChessZCam camera and phone setup during the 26 July 2026 tournament test
5–26 July 2026

From first detection tests to complete games at Keong Hoe

Three field tests, live overlays, recovery work, opening-book recognition and a more flexible PC controller workflow.

Read the complete project journey →

From the blog

Practical guides for OTB recording, PGN workflows and tournament broadcasting.

Stories and guides for creators, tournament organizers, families and clubs who want technology to make chess easier to share.

Actual ChessZCam test equipment at SJKC Keong Hoe
Field test

ChessZCam at Keong Hoe: what worked and what comes next

Two complete games, a stronger workflow and the next issues to solve.

SwissMax workflow around Swiss-Manager and Chess-Results
Tournament operations

Why SwissMax is being built beside Swiss-Manager

The repetitive work before, between and after rounds—and where a companion can help.

Local chess club community posing together
Founder story

Why we are building ChessZCam

The human story before the software.

View all guides

Join the journey

Follow a product being built carefully in the real chess world.

Get beta updates, compatibility requirements, testing invitations and launch information.

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