All checks have been mailed and PayPal payments processed, except for a few that still require W-9 forms. Trophies will be shipped this week. If you have any questions you may use our contact form.
2026 Refund Request
We believe all requests have been processed. If you expected a refund please check your credit card statement before filling out this form.
So…what was the best chess game played each round?
Sounds like a question that would spark an intense debate. While highly subjective, there might be be a way to evaluate what could make some games played “better” than others. All you need to is ask NM Ionatan Giurgiu, who has developed a program that considers the following:
More champions crowned, the next wave of future titled players
While norm seekers and titled players are battling it out in the National Open, several hundred youth were putting up their own fight in the International Youth and Youth Trophy championships at the Westgate. Just as important as the learning game itself is fostering values of etiquette and sportsmanship. Chess is often seen as a […]
Streaming and Analysis Live by IM Kostya Kavutskiy for Round 8!
Check out coverage for Round 8 and analysis on his channels. Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/chessdojo YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ChessDojo/streams
6 leaders after 7 rounds…isn’t that a meme?
After a hat trick of draws in the early rounds, GM Jianchao Zhou take down IM Olexiy Bilych, who found himself in a complicated middlegame resulting in an imbalanced material situation that he was not able to overcome. GM Christopher Yoo surges ahead for a share of the lead, applying steady kingside pressure on the […]
Ukraine may not have qualified for the World Cup, but leading group play here, Bilych still in first.
IM Oleksii Bilych and GM Ehsan Ghaemmaghami play a solid game throughout with points in the game that Ehsah could have pressed for a greater advantage. With the position locked up, the only avenue of play was the open a-file, and both players felt content to let it evolve into an endgame and a draw […]
IM Oleksii Bilych, clear first after 5 rounds
We are down to one sole perfect 5/5 score in the National Open. IM Bilych was a familiar face atop the leader board in last year’s National Open, and has been impressive this time around as well. Against GM Prraneeth Vuppala he gains an edge in the opening, leverages his open file in the center […]
All that is Finegold does not glitter
Regardless of how strong you are, playing a single game is taxing enough, let alone over 25 at the same time. We are thankful for GM Ben Finegold for putting on quite a display. After the simul, Ben mentioned how exhausted he was and how much concentration it took to play. Truth Hurts This year, […]
Streaming and Analysis Live by IM Kostya Kavutskiy for Round 4!
Check out coverage for Round 4 and analysis on his channels. Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/chessdojo YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ChessDojo/streams
Three is a Magic Number
After three rounds, we are already down to three undefeated scores, this is shaping up to be quite a tournament. Your leaders are GM Prraneeth Vuppala, IM Oleksii Bilych and IM Samrug Narayanan. FM Avi Kaplan goes on the offensive right away against Vuppala, finding key ideas at critical moments in a complicated middlegame. The […]
Schedule
Congrats to our first Champions
A three-way tie for first going into the last round pitted WIM Davaakhuu Munkhzul against Sarah Budow and FM Megan Lee vs WFM Norovsambuu Badamkhand. Munkhzul, like in Round 3 gets another Caro Kann and her Two Knights variation pays off again winning the Exchange in the midgame, being able to convert it in the […]
Streaming and Analysis Live by IM Kostya Kavutskiy for Round 4!
Check out coverage for Round 3 and analysis on his channels. Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/chessdojo YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ChessDojo/streams
No Woman, no Ruy. Three-way tie after Round 3 of the Womens
Your undefeated leaders after 3 rounds are FM Megan Lee, WIM Munkhzul Davaakhuu, and WGM Carla Serrano after their victories Thursday night. FM Lee navigates the middlegame of a Ruy Lopez beautifully after fending off a push on her queenside. WIM Munkhzul executes the White side of a Caro Kann Two Knights Variation equally well. […]
Reti or not, GM Zhou scores an early win, so does defending champion GM Matviishen.
The National Open has started! Top seed Jianchao Zhou is victorious in his first round facing a Reti as Black. After a series of exchanges, Zhou took advantage after some inaccuracies in the early endgame to stay on top an never look back. While your run of the mill Nimzo Indian calls for an exchange on […]
Welcome to the 2026 Las Vegas International Chess Festival!
LIVE GAMES (When available) Don’t forget to meet your favorite Streamer on Friday from 9:30-11:00am…more to come Schedule of Events for Wednesday, June 4thClick Here for Full Schedule
Need a new Chess Clock for the National Open? Ask your Equipment Leaders, Chess Gorilla!
For more than 25 years, the tournament organizers of the Vegas Chess Festival have entrusted players’ chess equipment needs to two of the most recognized names in American chess retail — Chess Gorilla and Chess4Less. This year, we are proud to once again provide the official chess store for the National Open, the International Youth […]
Welcome/@vegaschessfest on Insta!
We are moving back to Westgate for 2026
The 2026 Las Vegas International Chess Festival will be better than ever with new events and prizes. Most of the information is now on this website but minor details may change during the next few weeks.
Couldn’t Stay For Your Prize or Trophy?
Unclaimed checks will be mailed within 10 business days to the address given with your registration. If you have moved, send your new address, with the subject “address for prize for [name]” to vegaschess@gmail.com. If you won more than $599 you must fill out a w-9 form and email it to vegaschess@gmail.com or mail it […]
To the Viktor Go the Spoils
Congrats to GM Viktor Matviishen, winner of the Edmondson Cup with a final score of 7/9, edging out Grandmasters Bilel Bellahcene and Jianchao Zhou on tiebreakers. A draw between Matviishen and Bellahcene opened a path to see four people vie for a share of first. While we find ourselves with the Sicilian not paying off […]
Reminder, Poker Tournament is Monday. Updated Details.
Nice Try Vizzini…Wins With White by Viktor and Bilel, Sicilian on Adoption Alert
GM Matviishen moves Mikaelyan into a bind with with a Maróczy, seemingly able to maintain an edge throughout the whole game, an attempt to challenge the center by Armen left his back rack exposed, leaving a way for Viktor to gain a stronger grip on the position. Naj-dorf? More like My-dorf with the approach Bellahcene […]
Four-way tie at the National Open after 7 Rounds
IM Oleksii Bilych, GM Arman Mikaelyan, GM Bilel Bellahcene , and GM Viktor Matviishen sit at top with 5.5 points. With draws at the top three boards, Grandmasters Bellahcene and Mikaelyan broke free from the trend, one of them getting a shot to take out the young Ukrainian International Master.
