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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
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
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
