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.
We are moving back to Westgate for 2026
Information
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 […]
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.
Want More Chess? Sign up for Blitz Tonight! Had Enough Chess? Sign up for our Poker Tournament!
$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 […]
Streaming Live and Boston Mike is Playing Live
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 […]
FRIDAY FIRST FIFTY Promotion + Book Signings by Rebel Queen and the Dean of Chess at the Bookstore
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 […]
Important Announcement for 3 day Schedule
If you are in the U2300, U2100, and U1900 3-day Schedule, all your rounds today will be in Sunset. Please arrive promptly and quietly, as games will be in progress If you are in the U1700, U1500, U1250 3-day Schedule, Rounds 1 and 2 are in Virginia, Round 3 in SunsetJust came in and not […]
National Invites square off in Round 1
Round 1 of the National Open has begun. 2024 US Senior Champion Vladimir Akopian aims for another National title as he defeats 2024 US Girls Champion qualifier WIM Omya Vidyarthi. The 2024 US National Championships took place last July at the Saint Louis Chess Club. Omya opens with Nf3, and Akopian was Reti for it. […]
Where The Flamingo am I??
Is there a best path? It depends on where you are, where you need to go, and how crowded it is. No, I do not know any secret elevator hacks to help it read your card better…your chances are better at the slots. A bit lost on where to go? Need a bit of help? […]
The 2025 National Open has Begun!
Welcome to the 2025 Las Vegas International Chess Festival! 🦩🦩 Welcome everyone! The 2025 Vegas Chess Festival starts off with the US Women’s Open. LIVE GAMES (When available)US WOMEN’S NATIONAL OPEN Don’t forget to meet your favorite Streamer in our Friday Morning Meet and Greet Schedule of Events for Wednesday, June 4th
How Deep is Your Love of Chess…Just the Rules
At the National Open, there are several free lectures you will be able to attend, two of them will be led by an individual with nearly 40 years of directing, National Tournament Director Tim Just. Tim Just has been directing since the late 1980’s. Along the way he has achieved the NTD title along with […]
One SilverBack vs all Chess Clocks? A word from Chess Shelby
Getting ready for the National Open? So are we! Prepping to sell at a HUGE tournament like this is no easy undertaking. What I am excited about is the SilverBack Chess Clock for sale to the public and being able to show everyone the prototypes for the EZ Notate system. The SilverBack will revolutionize the […]
Meet Your Favorite Streamer!
Sure, many of you are familiar with the Zoom Boom of 2020, but how many of you remember The Brady’s? Soon, you will all get to know the Streamer Bunch. We are proud to announce our streamer panel for the 2025 National Open! More details will follow, so stay tuned. How many can you recognize? […]
Meet the GM Rebel Queen Susan Polgar at the National Open, GM Finegold and Troff also featured
The next cutoff will be April 30th, so register for the National Open and save! GMs Ben Finegold and Kayden Troff will return, and we will be graced with a signing from GM Susan Polgar and her new book Rebel Queen: The Cold War, Misogyny, and the Making of a Grandmaster. More to come! Don’t […]
Chess and Wanderlust, the Twain Shall Meet
You may have heard of the Knights Tour problem in chess, but about 8 months ago in October 2023, Chicagoan Megan Chen completed a tour of her own. Today was a historic day for my #chess life. I wrapped up the 50 states quest in Alaska, with Fairbanks Chess Club's #NationalChessDay G/15 d5 rapid event […]
GM Vasif Durarbayli Takes Clear 1st, Wins the Edmondson Cup!
Photo courtesy of Lennart Ootes, https://x.com/LennartOotes, https://www.lennartootes.com/ After an early Round 2 draw against IM Matias Perez Gormaz in a French Advance gridlock, Vasif wins the next five games, including one against last years defending champion Illya Nyzhnyk, and norm seeker Ryo Chen. These pair of wins allow Vasif to climb up the leader board, […]
Boston Mike taking on all comers in Blitz for 5+ Hours and and an appearance by Elaynah
Photo courtesy of Dylan Not that Dylan…this Dylan All Comers Blitz is happening now at the escalators near El DoradoFollow on Twitch courtesy of Elaynah
Our First Champions Crowned
An exciting finish as we conclude the US Womens Championship! While last year we ended up with a solo first place finish, we had another year where several people were tied going into the last round, much like the previous two years. WCM Avery Yu, a top ranked female under the age of 14 had […]
Cant Make the Meet and Greet? We are streaming live courtesy of Elaynah
This stream has ended, but you can view her Twitch CLICK HEREThank you for your stream, Elaynah!❤️❤️❤️ Subscribe and follow ElaynahYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@elaynahTwitch: https://www.twitch.tv/elaynahInsta: https://www.instagram.com/elaynahbb/Twitter: https://twitter.com/elehnahTikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@elaynahhh
Streamers Meet and Greet Friday Morning!
Our fabulous streamers are looking forward to meeting you fabulous fans! 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM in the Virginia Ballroom, here is our Stream Team! Smash that like button and subscribe to them. Also…@MNchess (Jiten Patel, site contributor) @ChrisBirdIA (Chris Bird, site contributor) and @Vegas_Chess GM Ben FinegoldYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GMBenjaminFinegoldTwitch: https://www.twitch.tv/itsbenandkarenTwitter: https://twitter.com/ben_finegold IM Kostya Kavutskiy (Chess […]
WHERE THE FLAMINGO AM I??
PATH 1: Are you in the Lobby? Great!Take the Lobby Elevators to Floor 3Sorry I do not have any elevator hacks🙍…IFYKYK This will take you to the following: Keep reading, more useful information PATH 2 Are you in the Lobby? Great!Looking for Red Rock and the Youth Tournaments? See the Starbucks? Great!Keep Walking…PASS the UP […]
The National Open has Begun!
Welcome to the 2024 Las Vegas International Chess Festival! 🦩🦩 Welcome everyone! The 2024 Vegas Chess Festival has begun!Don’t forget to meet your favorite Streamer in our Friday Morning Meet and Greet LIVE GAMES (When available) US WOMEN’S Elaynah will be streaming LIVE!NATIONAL OPEN Welcome everyone! The 2024 Vegas Chess Festival has begun!Don’t forget to […]
Special Guests
We have been receiving some questions about who will be some of our special guests at the event, and in the coming weeks we will have a comprehensive list. Right now, we can tell you that GM Ben Finegold and GM Kayden Troff will be there as will Ben Johnson from the Perpetual Chess Podcast, […]
Now Taking Entries for 2024
We are now taking entries for the 2024 Las Vegas International Chess Festival. The Early Bird Discount for returning players will be valid through January. Enter now! Reserve your room early to qualify for the free room lottery. The earlier you reserve, the more virtual tickets you receive.
