Request for Prior Approval

Subject: Request for Automation Permission – Grand Tourneys Project

Chess.com support asked my to reach out to you guys. I think they were confused. They want me to message back your consensus.

I’m AlAlper, the owner of the Grand Tourneys club. I’ve built a system to help manage my themed tournaments more efficiently.

I would like prior permission to use limited automation via Selenium (or an approved method) to:

• Log in and fill out tournament creation forms

• Post club announcements or updates in club forums

This automation only accesses my own club and tournament forms, and runs at a low frequency.

I can insert the following User-Agent string to identify and tag automated requests:

GT-Series-Creation-App (Selenium 4.28.1 / Python 3.9.13) -- Creates Grand Tourneys Themed Tournament Series. (contact - BEST @AlAlper on Chess.com or LEAST RELIABLE myemailaddress@mydomain.com)

I’m happy to follow any additional requirements, use API endpoints where applicable, or scale back the tool as needed. Please let me know what steps I should take for approval. I will message the consensus back to Customer Service. I would really appreciate approval.

Thank you,
AlAlper

For the most part, this club is handled by other members so no one can provide permission for anything like that. Also, the Public API is read only, so you can't use it to submit anything.

what?

Below is verbatim for the developer agreement.
👉 Chess.com Developer Agreement

Unauthorized Access
You may not access or use the Site or Services using any automated means (such as robots, spiders, scrapers, or scripts) unless you have received explicit written permission from Chess.com. This includes but is not limited to:

• Automating the login process

• Interacting with site elements (e.g., buttons, forms, or pages)

• Collecting data from private pages or user sessions

• Simulating human behavior or input

Violating this rule may result in termination of your access to the API and potential action against your Chess.com account.

My app does this:

• Automating the login process

• Interacting with site elements (e.g., buttons, forms, or pages)

• Simulating human behavior or input

So it requires permission.:

So I asked Customer Support for permission.

This was their response:

Emine • 1d ago

That's not something anyone but staff can answer. I'll ask and see if I can get some response

The thing is this is primarily other members and we don't have any say what's allowed or not. This club is not Chess.com developers, just community members using the Public API to create their own projects (though one is in the club)

I have been in this club for a while, so I know what it is.

As I have stated:

Customer support directed me here at the request of "the team"as shown below. If you would like them not to direct people here please take it up with them. That is way above my pay grade. Are you asking me NOT to follow customer support requirements?

They want the group to clarify my request, and send it back for to them for approval. I will message back to them to tell me exactly what they want from the club.

VVVVVVV Customer support request VVVVVVVV

Emine • 1d ago

I saw the message but it's incorrect.

Once again, if even support is mislead, this club should be renamed to something like Public API users or equivalent..

Agreed with Ximoon, "Chess.com Public API Users", "Chess.com Public API Development", "Chess.com Public API Community", or simply just "Chess.com Public API", are all better options than the current one.

I am considering saying that https://www.chess.com/club/chess-com-developer-community did not find anything wrong with my request. 🤪

But seriously what should I do?

Specific to this forum post, though, I asked something very similar a while ago regarding browser interaction. https://www.chess.com/clubs/forum/view/api-for-access-to-game-review

I emailed customer support, their answer was an implicit go-ahead, and I've been using Selenium ever since. Implicit being the answer wasn't "Yes! You have permission!", it was "ah, I got your email! Sounds like a cool idea! I'm not sure on your question, but I don't see anything wrong with that, but I'll ask the team!". And then I never got a response lol. Soooooo I was pretty much in your situation, and I'm probably violating the terms, but I'm doing it in such low volume that clearly there isn't worry on the devs side of things.

FYI, I'm also using user-agent and responsible coding. Basically, your mileage may vary on whether they want to allow this type of automation, and the practical answer is more "be smart, because we can stop what you are doing and take away your privileges if you are dumb."

EDIT: Up to you on whether you want to push CS harder for a better answer. You did the right thing asking first though.

You are not violating anything because you got the go ahead. Hope you saved it. By using the user-agent they can contact you and communicate intelligently rather than banning your IP.