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:
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 […]
Check out coverage for Round 8 and analysis on his channels. Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/chessdojo YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ChessDojo/streams
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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, […]
Check out coverage for Round 4 and analysis on his channels. Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/chessdojo YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ChessDojo/streams
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 […]
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 […]
Check out coverage for Round 3 and analysis on his channels. Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/chessdojo YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ChessDojo/streams
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. […]
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 […]
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
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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.
$3,600 Prize Fund + Walter Shawn Browne Cup We honor the memory of our friend, GM Walter Browne, by naming the National Open Blitz Championship after him. Walter started the World Blitz Chess Association (WBCA) and always seemed to be in time trouble. His flag has fallen, but he will always be a champion to […]
GM Robby Kevlishvili attempts to take down the leader with a Sicilian Kalashnikov against Matviishen, managing to walk away with a draw. With draws on Board 2 and 3, the streak was brought to an end with GM Bilych on the White side of a Classical Ruy, initially at least. After a few deviations from […]
A special thanks to International Master Kostya Kavutskiy for providing coverage during the 2025 National Open. Click here for our live stream For the second year in a row, we are pleased to have Boston Mike to take on all comers in Blitz. You can find him outside El Dorado. Here is where you can […]
Congrats to our first winner of the National Open, WFM Rachael Li. Rachel won her first four games and draws in the final round, securing a share of first and letting tiebreaks determine who will win out. A longtime competitor of the Womens Open, WFM Tsogtsaikhan Saikhanchimeg drew in Round 4 and needed a win […]
There is a promotion for the first 50 players who spend $100 at the bookstore will receive a gift card ranging from $5 to $100 at https://www.chessset.com/ From 12:00pm – 1:30pm on Friday, Susan Polgar will be live at the bookstore, signing copies of her new book Rebel Queen. From 1:30pm – 3:00pm Dewain Barber […]
Thank you!The National Open and the U.S. Women’s Open are co-sponsored by the U.S. Chess Federation.
The National Open is paired with Swisssys by ChessRoster. 
