Chess Clocks

ICCA Chess Clock Information

This page is intended as a basic listing of most commercially available digital chess clocks. The wide array of digital chess clocks on the market makes it difficult to know which ones to purchase, especially considering the need to meet the standards of the organizations running tournaments. Further, it's often difficult to know how to operate those clocks since there is such a variety of operation protocols, so whenever possible, we've included links to user manuals and How-To videos. This is not an endorsement of any one of those clocks listed below.

Price ranges are standard pricing ranges for current availability. Most of the clocks listed can be purchased from most chess equipment retailers. Check our Links page for recommended chess supply vendors.


Things to keep in mind when purchasing clocks...

  • IHSA uses a "Simple-Delay" time control (Bronstein Delay is against rules and not allowed) - As a quick tutorial, here's a great video that shows the difference between Bronstein and Simple Delay (Click here)

  • Durability and Reliability go a long way when dealing with clocks and kids... You get what you pay for.

  • Players should be able to operate their clocks. Whatever clock you get, make sure your team learns how to operate them.

  • Be sure to clearly label clocks with your team/school name

Chronos

Chronos


Chronos Manual

Chronos Video

Chronos GX Video

Price - $100 - $115

Pros

  • Durable metal construction

  • Large LED Display

  • No moving parts

  • Options for both lights and sounds

  • Lots of presets and programmable options

Cons

  • Expensive

  • Difficult to set/operate

  • 68 page user manual

DGT North American

DGT NA Manual

DGT NA Video

Price - $35 - $50

Pros

  • Quiet rocker switch instead of buttons

  • Easy to set/operate

  • lots of programmable settings

  • lots of preset common settings

  • Option for sound

  • Very simple Pause/Play feature

  • Easy to read LED display

Cons

  • Plastic construction

  • No Lights indicator

Z-Mart ZMF II Chess Clock

ZMF-II Manual

ZMF-II Video

Price - $50 - $60

Pros

  • Durable plastic construction

  • No moving parts

  • Bright LED Display

  • Options for both lights and sounds

  • Programmable settings and preset options

Cons

  • Semi-difficult to set

  • Some difficulty with early-run Blue LED lights

Z-Mart PRO Digital Chess Clock

Z-Mart PRO Manual

Z-Mart PRO Video

Price - $95 - $105

Pros

  • Durable metal construction

  • No moving parts

  • Large LED display

  • Options for both lights and sounds

  • Programmable settings and preset options

  • (Same programming as ZMF-II)

Pros

  • Semi-difficult to set

  • Expensive

  • Indicator lights too close together

DGT 3000

DGT 3000 Manual

DGT 3000 Video

Price - $100 - $115

Pros

  • THE standard for international chess

  • Tons of preset and programmable options

  • Large, clear LED Display

  • Ability to connect to E-Boards

  • Quiet rocker switch

  • Options for sound

  • Easy to set/operate

  • Very simple Play/Pause button

Cons

  • Expensive

  • No option for lights indicator

VTEK300

VTEK300 Manual

VTEK300 Video

Price - $140 - $160

Pros

  • Many programmable settings

  • Large, clear LED disply

  • Easy setup/operation

  • Displays lots of info

  • Longer battery life than Chronos

  • Easy-Access battery compartment

Cons

  • Expensive

Omcor Chess Clock

- Omcor Chess Clock Manual

- Omcor Chess Clock Video -

- NO manuals or videos could be found online -

Price - $30 - $40

Pros

  • Small footprint

  • Inexpensive

  • Quiet rocker switch

  • Several programmable options

  • Several popular preset options

  • Ability to generate Chess 960 positions

  • Clear, easy-to-read display

Pros

  • Semi-flimsy plastic construction

WSC Basic Manual

WSC Basic Video

Price $25-$16(bulk)

Pros

  • Includes Delay & Increment controls

  • Programmable

  • Small

  • Audible alarm option

  • Inexpensive

Cons

  • Supports only one time control per game

  • Cheap plastic construction

WSC Advanced Manual

WSC Advanced Video

Price $40-$31(bulk)

Pros

  • Supports multiple time controls

  • Supports increment, standard delay and Byo Yomi modes

  • Includes 38 pre-programmed timing modes

  • Programmable (with save function)

  • Review number of moves in current time control easily

  • Easy to pause game, edit settings and resume

  • Color contrast on rocker arm is easy to see at a distance

  • Audible alarm can be turned on or off

Cons

  • Cheap plastic construction

DGT 960 Pocket Timer

DGT 960 Manual

DGT 960 Video

Price - $40 - $45

Pros

  • Small, easy to store

  • Folds closed

  • Provides Chess 960 setups

  • Fairly easy to set/operate

  • No moving parts

Cons

  • Small clock, display

  • Display can be difficult to read, depending on lighting

  • Confusing Display

  • Uses watch batteries

  • No lights indicator or player switch (difficult to see who's turn it is)

DGT Easy Plus

DGT Easy Plus Manual

DGT Easy Plus Video

Price - $40 - $45

Pros

  • Fairly easy to set/operate

  • Rocker switch instead of buttons

  • Options for sounds

Cons

  • No programmable presets

  • Semi-Flimsy Plastic construction

  • Display can be difficult to read, depending on lighting

Saitek Competition Blue

Saitek Blue Manual

Saitek Blue Video

Price - OOP

Pros

  • Easy to read display

  • Several programming options

  • Ability to store a preset timing option

  • Options for both lights and sounds

Cons

  • Out of Production

  • Toggle switch breaks easily

  • Semi-difficult to set and store settings

Saitek Competition Pro

Saitek Competition Pro Manual

Saitek Competition Pro Video

Price - OOP

Pros

  • Easy to read display

  • Many programming options

  • Ability to store a preset timing option

  • Options for both lights and sounds

  • Metal construction

Cons

  • Out of Production

  • Toggle switch breaks easily

  • Semi-difficult to set and store settings

Saitek Mephisto II

Saitek Mephisto II Manual

Saitek Mephisto II Video

Price - OOP

Pros

  • Fairly easy to set/operate

  • Durable buttons

  • Clear LED Display

  • Few moving parts

Cons

  • Out of Production

  • Large footprint

Excalibur Timer II

Excalibur Timer II Manual

Excalibur Timer II Video

Price - OOP

Pros

  • Easy to set/operate

  • Large LED display

  • Options for sound

  • Very simple Pause/Play feature

Cons

  • Out of Production

  • Plastic construction with parts that often loosen and rattle

  • Display can be difficult to read, depending on lighting

The following Chess Clocks do not meet the requirements of IHSA

(do not offer Simple Delay Feature)

DGT2010

DGT2010 Manual

DGT2010 Video

Price - $50 - $60

Pros

  • Quiet rocker switch instead of buttons

  • Easy to set/operate

  • lots of programmable settings

  • lots of preset common settings

  • Option for sound

  • Very simple Pause/Play feature

  • Easy to read LED display

  • FIDE standard clock

Cons

  • Does offer Simple Delay

  • Plastic construction

  • No "lights" indicator

DGT XL

DGT XL Manual

DGT XL Video

Price - $80 - $100

OOP

Pros

  • Connects to E-Boards

  • Quiet rocker switch instead of buttons

  • Easy to set/operate

  • lots of programmable settings

  • lots of preset common settings

  • Option for sound

  • Very simple Pause/Play feature

Cons

  • Does not offer Simple Delay

  • Out of Production

  • Expensive

  • No "lights" indicator

DGT 1001

DGT 1001 Manual

DGT 1001 Video

Price - $25 - $30

Pros

  • Very easy to set/operate

  • Rocker switch instead of buttons

  • Inexpensive

  • Options for sounds

  • Small footprint

Cons

  • No option for Simple Delay

DGT 1002 - Bonus

DGT 1002 Manual

DGT 1002 Video

Price - $25 - $30

Pros

  • Very easy to set/operate

  • Rocker switch instead of buttons

  • Inexpensive

  • Options for sounds

  • Small footprint

  • Includes option for "Bonus" (Increment) Time

Cons

  • No option for Simple Delay

DGT Easy

DGT Easy Manual

DGT Easy Video

Price - $35 - $40

Pros

  • Fairly easy to set/operate

  • Rocker switch instead of buttons

  • Options for sounds

Cons

  • No option for Simple Delay

  • Semi-Flimsy Plastic Construction

Leap PQ9907

- No English Language Manuals or videos could be found online -

Price - $10 - $20

Pros

  • Cheap

  • Basic clock/timer

  • Very small footprint

Cons

  • No option for Simple Delay

  • Difficult to set/operate

  • Cheap plastic construction

  • Very small

  • Difficult to understand manual

  • No online resources

Leap PQ9903

- No English Language Manuals or videos could be found online -

Price - $35 - $45

Pros

  • Programmable

  • Options for Sounds

Cons

  • Large footprint

  • No option for Simple Delay

  • Difficult to set/operate

  • Cheap plastic construction

  • Difficult to understand manual

  • No online resources