 He has competed in the Hungarian Chess Championships finals many times and won bronze medal (1992).In the following years József Horváth achieved many individual chess tournament successes, winning or shared the first places, among others in Budapest (1988, 1989, 1993, 1994, 1997), Andorra la Vella (1989), Cannes (1992), Swiss Open Chess Championship (1992), Zalakaros (1995, 1996), Velden (1995), Paks (1996), Bischwiller (1999), Helsinki (2001), Chambéry (2001), Zalakaros (2002, 2004), Val Thorens (2002, 2006), Paris (2003), Verona (2005), Château de Lacroix-Laval (2005), Feffernitz (2008) and Aschachu (2008).József Horváth played for Hungary in the Chess Olympiads