The Scorekeeper ensures the correct generation of pairings and all other tournament records throughout the tournament.
This includes both match slips and every sanction issued by a judge during the tournament. Scorekeepers usually keep slips separated and organized in round pairs, so if a problem arises they have both electronic and paper copies of relevant documents.
The Scorekeeper’s responsibilities include:
- Generating correct pairings each round and accurately entering the results of those rounds.
- Generating standings for posting before and after the final Swiss round. Other rounds may also be posted at the Head Judge’s discretion.
- Solving all scorekeeping problems that arise in consultation with the Head Judge.
- Making sure all necessary information is included in the tournament’s report.
While scorekeeping might seem simple, ensuring that the results of each match are correctly kept is crucial to guarantee that the tournament runs as smooth as possible.
The Tournament Organizer or the Head Judge is typically the Scorekeeper of smaller events, but in larger events (120+) a dedicated scorekeeper is recommended. Larger Premier events often have professional Scorekeepers who are experienced with scorekeeping software. Their scorekeeping ability does not correlate to their judge level; some professional Scorekeepers are uncertified, and others are Level 2+ judges.
The Head Judge has the final authority in determining corrective action for scorekeeping errors.
In the event of any issue with the pairings at any given round, the Head Judge may dictate a solution they see fit. In the end, the Head Judge is the final decision maker when it comes to the running of the event.