1. Platform Description
ChessOMatic is an online chess platform operated from South Africa, enabling players worldwide to
compete in private matches with optional live spectator access.
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2. Eligibility
- Users must be 18 years of age or older. By registering, you confirm this.
- A valid email address is required for all accounts.
- Anonymous or guest player accounts are not permitted.
- The platform reserves the right to request age verification documentation.
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3. Player Conduct
- International FIDE chess rules apply to all matches by default.
- Players may not engage in harassment, hate speech, threats, or illegal activity via any
communication channel associated with the platform.
- Violations result in immediate permanent account suspension without refund.
- The platform reserves the right to remove any content or user deemed harmful.
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4. Financial Terms — Player Rewards
- Rewards are funded entirely by viewer access fees.
- The platform retains 50% of net viewer revenue per game.
- Win: winner receives 40%, losing player receives 10% of net revenue.
- Draw or stalemate: both players receive 25% each of net revenue.
- "Net revenue" means total viewer payments received, minus PayFast processing fees
(approximately 3.5% plus R2.00 per transaction).
- All player payouts are made in USD via PayPal to the registered PayPal email.
- Payouts are processed within 48 hours of game completion. Delays due to banking or PayPal
processing times do not constitute a breach of these terms.
- Minimum payout: $1.00 USD. Amounts below this are carried forward to the next game.
- The platform is not responsible for issues with the player's PayPal account.
- Players must maintain a valid, active PayPal account at all times.
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5. Financial Terms — Viewer Access
- Viewer access fees are non-refundable once the match has commenced.
- If a game is cancelled or abandoned before it begins, a full refund will be issued within 5
business days via the original payment method.
- Viewer fees are processed by PayFast under their terms and conditions.
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6. Privacy Policy
Data collected: name, email, country, PayPal email (encrypted), game history,
ELO rating, payment records.
Data NOT collected: voice conversations, WhatsApp messages, browsing history
outside this platform.
Data used for: operating the platform, processing payments, SARS tax compliance.
Data shared with: PayFast (payment processing), PayPal (payout disbursement
only).
Data is never sold to third parties.
Retention: account data held for the life of the account; financial records
retained 5 years for SARS compliance. Voice/chat data: not stored.
Right to access and erasure: email admin@chessomatic.com. Account data deleted
within 30 days. Financial records exempt from erasure for SARS compliance period.
POPIA (South Africa) and GDPR: we apply the stricter standard to all personal
data.
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7. Intellectual Property
The ChessOMatic name, logo, website design, and chess piece style collections (Russian, Indian,
French, Japanese, American) are proprietary works.
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8. Limitation of Liability
Not liable for: connectivity failures, server outages (except continuous downtime exceeding 72
hours without notice), third-party payment failures, or actions of other users. Maximum
liability shall not exceed total fees paid by that user in the preceding 12 months.
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9. Governing Law
Governed by the laws of the Republic of South Africa. Disputes subject to jurisdiction of South
African courts. Nothing herein affects statutory rights under South African consumer protection
legislation.
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