In the modern world, sports APIs have become an indispensable tool for obtaining up-to-date information about matches, players, and statistics. They help developers, analysts, media, and betting platforms quickly integrate data, optimize predictions, and improve user experience.
API-sport — is one of the leading services providing sports data in a convenient format. It is suitable for application developers, sports media, analysts, and betting platforms that want to receive real-time information and use it for analytics or predictions.
What is API-sport?
API (Application Programming Interface) is an interface for interaction between an application and external data. API-sport specializes in providing a wide range of sports information.
The service began to develop several years ago and quickly gained popularity due to the accuracy of data and ease of integration. Live results, player statistics, archival data, and analytics are available in API-sport.
The feature of API-sport in that it consolidates information about various sports in one place, allowing for quick and structured data retrieval. Compared to other services, it offers convenient data formats and supports a wide range of disciplines.
Chess.com API: chess data, games, and player ratings
Chess.com API allows you to obtain current chess data:
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Player games and their history.
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Player ratings and progress.
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Statistics on open openings and strategies.
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Data for calculating chances and outcomes of games.
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Archived games for analysis and predictions.
This data is especially useful for analysts, fan applications, chess betting platforms, and educational services.
Supported sports
API-sport is focused on a wide range of disciplines, including:
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Football, hockey, basketball, tennis.
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Esports and chess (Chess.com API).
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Exotic or regional sports.
Chess.com API provides specialized access specifically to chess data.
Technologies and formats
Modern technologies are used for integration:
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REST API — for standard requests and obtaining statistics.
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WebSocket — for live data and instant information updates.
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JSON and XML — formats for structured data transmission.
How to access the Chess.com API?
To work with the Chess.com API, official access is required, which will provide you with a stable connection and up-to-date data. The main steps are as follows:
- Registration on the platform
The first step is to create an account on the official Chess.com API website or platform API-sport, if you are using their integration. Registration is necessary for the system to identify you as a developer and issue a unique access key. - Obtaining a unique API key
After registration, you receive an API key — a unique identifier used for authorizing all requests. This key ensures that your requests to the server are legitimate and secure. Without it, the Chess.com API data is unavailable. - Choosing a plan
The API offers different levels of access:
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Free plan.
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Paid plans (PRO).
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The step-by-step sequence for registration and obtaining the key is usually described in the platform’s documentation and takes just a few minutes.
10. RapidAPI, SportRadar, and other platforms provide access to BetsAPI and Livescore API through their channels. This is convenient for developers who need ready-made integrations and reliable SLAs.
If you do not want to work directly with the official API, there are alternative ways through aggregators and providers:
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RapidAPI is a universal platform that brings together many APIs. Here you can connect to the Chess.com API through a ready-made interface, test requests, and integrate them into your applications. Convenient for quick prototypes and small projects.
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SportRadar is an official licensed source that provides extensive match history and quality analytical data. Access through SportRadar is often chosen for large betting platforms and analytical services, where reliability and data accuracy are important.
Third-party providers allow for faster integration and sometimes offer additional tools for working with data, such as ready-made SDKs, caching, or statistical visualization.
12. Free plans usually include limited access to historical data and basic statistics. Paid subscriptions unlock:
Free tariffs:
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Provide access to a limited number of requests per day or per minute.
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Allow obtaining basic information about games and player ratings.
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Ideal for testing and creating application prototypes.
Paid tariffs (PRO):
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Provide access to complete player statistics and their games.
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Allow obtaining live data with minimal latency.
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Include extended archival data and analytical tools.
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Allow integration of the Chess.com API into commercial projects and betting platforms.
Thus, the choice of the tariff depends on the goals: testing and training – free, while for professional projects and commercial services – paid PRO.
17. Number of requests per minute/hour
When working with the Chess.com API, it is important to consider technical limitations:
- Number of requests
Each subscription has a limit on requests per minute or per day. Exceeding the limit may lead to a temporary block. - Data update speed
Live data is updated at a certain frequency, and exceeding the allowable number of requests does not speed up the flow. - Mass data collection
When building analytics or BI systems, it is necessary to plan requests so as not to exceed limits and not overload the system.
Considering these limitations allows for effective use of the API without failures and errors in application operation.
API Integration
Connection examples (Python, JavaScript)
Python:
import requests
url = «https://api.chess.com/pub/player/username/games»
response = requests.get(url)
data = response.json()
print(data)
JavaScript:
fetch(«https://api.chess.com/pub/player/username/games»)
.then(response => response.json())
.then(data => console.log(data));
Integration into CMS and mobile applications
The API can be connected to WordPress, Android, or iOS applications to display ratings, statistics, and archived games.
Using live data via WebSocket
Live data via WebSocket provides instant information updates without the need for constant server polling, which speeds up application performance and increases prediction accuracy.
Where is it used?
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In betting and odds scanners – for analyzing the outcomes of chess games.
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In sports analytics and predictions – for calculating the probabilities of wins.
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In media and fan applications – for displaying ratings and games.
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In Fantasy Sports and esports – for forming teams and tournaments.
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In BI systems and Big Data projects – for in-depth analysis of players and strategies.
Advantages and disadvantages
The use of the Chess.com API has several obvious advantages. Firstly, the service provides extensive coverage of chess data: from current games to archival statistics and player ratings, making it indispensable for analysts and application developers. Secondly, the information is updated at a high speed, which is especially important for live data and forecasts. And finally, the accuracy of the statistics and ratings allows for trust in the data obtained when building analytics and forecasts.
On the other hand, there are some limitations. PRO tariffs are quite expensive, which can be a barrier for small projects. In addition, the service imposes limits on the number of requests, which must be taken into account when working with data on a large scale. Finally, basic technical training, knowledge of working with APIs, and familiarity with JSON or XML formats are required for full integration.
In summary
The Chess.com API provides developers, analysts, and fans with unique access to chess data, games, and player ratings. It can be used to build forecasts, analyze games, and integrate data into applications and media.
Registration: https://app.api-sport.ru/register
Our TG channel with updates: https://t.me/apisportru.
FAQ
Is there free access to the Chess.com API?
Yes, there is a basic free access with a limited number of requests.
What sports are supported?
In addition to chess, API-sport covers football, hockey, tennis, basketball, esports, and other disciplines.
Is the API suitable for betting?
Yes, the data can be used for analytics and forecasting the outcomes of chess games.
How to connect the API to the application?
Through REST or WebSocket, using JSON or XML formats. Examples in Python and JavaScript are provided above.
Can the API be used for predictions?
Yes, archived games and player ratings allow for accurate forecasts and strategy analysis.
Are there limits on the number of requests?
Yes, the limits depend on the chosen tariff and type of data (live or archived).
