Please read these Terms of Service (the "Terms") carefully before using ChessWithMe (the "App"). The App is operated by Axel Bondu, based in Basel, Switzerland ("we," "us," "our"). You can reach us at contactchesswithme@gmail.com.
By creating an account or using the App in any way, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree, do not use the App.
1. What ChessWithMe is
ChessWithMe is a directory and matchmaking tool that helps chess players find and organize in-person, physical games with other players. You can create or join a Duel (a 1-on-1 game between two players) or a Meetup (a group session with 3 to 8 players, or an unspecified number, organized by a host).
We are not a chess platform, rating authority, or online chess engine, and we do not organize, supervise, host, staff, or attend any game or meetup. We simply provide the tools for players to find each other, agree on a time and place, and communicate. What happens once you agree to meet someone is between you and the other player(s) — see Section 6 below, which is important.
2. Eligibility
You must be at least 16 years old to use the App. By registering, you confirm that you are 16 or older and that the information you provide is accurate.
We do not verify your identity, age (beyond the date of birth you self-declare at signup), chess skill level, or any other information in your profile. You are solely responsible for the accuracy of the information you provide, and you should not assume that other users' profiles are accurate either — see Section 6.
3. Your account
- You are responsible for keeping your login credentials confidential and for all activity under your account.
- You must provide a valid email address and keep it up to date.
- You may delete your account at any time from the App's settings. Account deletion is permanent and irreversible — your profile, games, messages, ratings, and avatar will be deleted and cannot be recovered.
- We may suspend or terminate your account if you violate these Terms, engage in behavior that harms other users, or for any other reason at our reasonable discretion, including to protect the safety of our community.
4. Duels and Meetups
- Duels: any player can request to join an open duel; the host may accept or decline. Once accepted, both players can chat and coordinate. Either participant may cancel before the game takes place.
- Meetups: joining is automatic (no host approval needed) while spots remain. The host may remove a participant from a meetup at their discretion. Only the host may cancel a meetup entirely.
- Game details (location, date, time, format, and any other information you enter) are visible to other users browsing the map or list while a game is open. Do not include sensitive information in a listing that you do not want visible to other users.
- We do not guarantee that you will find a match, that a game will take place as scheduled, or that any other user will behave appropriately.
5. Ratings, reviews, and reporting
- After a game, participants may rate each other (1–5 stars) and leave an optional written comment, which may be shown on the rated user's profile.
- You can report a game, a message, or a user's behavior. Reports are reviewed by us and may result in content being hidden or an account being suspended or terminated, at our discretion.
- A duel that receives multiple reports may be automatically hidden from the map pending our review. This automatic hiding does not currently apply to meetups, which require our manual review to be removed.
- Ratings and reports reflect the opinions of individual users, not verified facts. We do not investigate, verify, or guarantee the accuracy of any rating, review, or report, and we are not responsible for the consequences of relying on them.
6. In-person meetings — please read carefully
This is the most important section of these Terms.
ChessWithMe connects people who may be complete strangers to each other, for the purpose of meeting in person. We have no way of verifying the identity, intentions, trustworthiness, or safety of any user. We are not present at, and have no visibility or control over, any duel or meetup arranged through the App.
By using the App, you acknowledge and agree that:
- Any decision to meet another user, and any interaction with another user before, during, or after a game, is entirely at your own risk and discretion.
- We are not a party to, and are not responsible for, the conduct of any user, whether online (in chat) or in person, including but not limited to harassment, injury, theft, property damage, or any illegal act committed by a user.
- You are responsible for taking reasonable precautions before meeting a stranger in person — for example, meeting in a public place, telling someone else where you are going, and trusting your own judgment if something feels wrong.
We strongly recommend choosing well-lit, public locations for games, especially when meeting someone for the first time.
To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, we exclude all liability for any harm, loss, injury, or damage arising from or related to an in-person meeting, interaction, or relationship between users, whether based on contract, tort, negligence, or any other legal theory. Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits liability that cannot be excluded or limited under applicable law — including, under Swiss law, our own liability for intentional misconduct or gross negligence directly attributable to us.
7. Acceptable use
You agree not to:
- Provide false information about your identity, age, or chess level with intent to deceive
- Harass, threaten, or abuse other users
- Create a game or meetup listing that is fraudulent, misleading, or not a genuine attempt to arrange a chess game
- Use the App for any purpose other than arranging in-person chess games
- Attempt to circumvent our reporting, moderation, or safety features
- Use the App to solicit money, sell goods or services, or advertise unrelated to chess
- Scrape, reverse-engineer, or interfere with the App's normal operation
- Violate any applicable law
We may remove content or suspend/terminate accounts that violate this section, at our discretion.
8. Fees
ChessWithMe's core matchmaking features (creating and joining duels and meetups, chat, ratings) are currently free of charge. We may introduce optional paid features in the future (for example, club, coach, or venue listings). If we do, we will publish separate terms for those features before they become chargeable. Core matchmaking will remain free.
9. Intellectual property
The App, including its design, branding, and underlying software, is owned by us or our licensors and protected by applicable intellectual property laws. You retain ownership of the content you submit (profile information, messages, game listings), but you grant us a license to use, store, and display it as necessary to operate the App.
10. Third-party services
The App relies on third-party service providers (including Supabase, Resend, Expo, OpenStreetMap/Nominatim, CARTO, and Apple) to function. Your use of the App is also subject to our Privacy Policy, which describes how these providers handle data on our behalf.
11. Disclaimer of warranties
The App is provided "as is" and "as available," without warranties of any kind, whether express or implied, including but not limited to warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement. We do not warrant that the App will be uninterrupted, error-free, or secure, or that any user or game information is accurate.
12. Limitation of liability
To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law:
- We are not liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising from your use of the App.
- Our total liability for any claim arising from these Terms or your use of the App shall not exceed CHF 100, given that the App is provided free of charge.
- Nothing in this section limits liability that cannot be limited under applicable law, including our liability for intentional misconduct or gross negligence under Swiss law (Art. 100 CO), or any other liability that cannot lawfully be excluded.
13. Indemnification
You agree to indemnify and hold us harmless from any claim, loss, or damage (including reasonable legal fees) arising from your violation of these Terms, your content, or your conduct in connection with the App — including your conduct toward other users, online or in person.
14. Changes to these Terms
We may update these Terms from time to time. We will update the "Last updated" date above, and for material changes, we will make reasonable efforts to notify you in the App. Continued use of the App after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.
15. Governing law and disputes
These Terms are governed by Swiss law, and the courts of Basel, Switzerland have jurisdiction over any dispute, to the extent permitted by law. If you are a consumer resident in the European Economic Area or another jurisdiction, mandatory consumer-protection provisions of your place of residence remain reserved and may still apply notwithstanding this clause.
16. Contact
Axel Bondu
Email: contactchesswithme@gmail.com