Information – Las Vegas International Chess Festival

All prizes and trophies have been sent.

Alan Losoff — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 03:27:00 +0000

All checks have been mailed and PayPal payments processed.

If you have any questions you may use our contact form.

2026 Refund Request

Alan Losoff — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 03:00:00 +0000

We believe all requests have been processed. If you expected a refund please check your credit card statement before filling out this form.

Streaming and Analysis Live by IM Kostya Kavutskiy for Round 8!

Jiten Patel — Sun, 14 Jun 2026 17:50:51 +0000

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

Jiten Patel — Sat, 13 Jun 2026 02:58:01 +0000

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, Ben went 18-5-2. Here are the games that GM Finegold lost or drew, as it should be. Chess Hurts

Aaron Alejandro Araujo-Hernandez, Draw

Charles Davis, Draw

Jonathan Wu, Win

Mehdi Torkmahalleh, Win

Sam Redenius, Win

Dev Lopez, Win

Sebastian Dooijeweert, Win

Streaming and Analysis Live by IM Kostya Kavutskiy for Round 4!

Jiten Patel — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 21:02:53 +0000

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

Jiten Patel — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 18:58:16 +0000

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 game was in Kaplan’s favor but Vuppala was able to find a prophylactic resource and shifted the game in his favor.

NM Harshin Jagirapu put up a fight against Bilych, playing with resilience facing his bishop pair and a queenside majority against two knights. GM Bilych complicates the material balance even more but it also took more minutes off the clock. An error allowed Jagirapu to equalize the position for several moves, but the two bishops and two queenside passed pawns proved too much to bear.

CM Shawn Xu faced solid play against IM Narayanan, opting for the Kin’s Indian Defense. Late in the opening, Xu had tension in the center but a c5 pawn thrust allowed Narayanan to get control of the center and Xu’s weakened king. Sammy demonstrates textbook technique the remainder of the game.

Schedule

Jiten Patel — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 16:47:26 +0000

EVENT	ACTIVITY	DAY	TIME	LOCATION
Chess Control	Registration	SAT SUN	8 am – 7 pm 9 am – 8 pm	Center Foyer
Chess Store	Open	FRI-SUN	9 am – 10 pm	Pavilion 11
Simultaneous Exhibitions		SAT	7:00 pm	Pavilion 10
CHESS KINGS Social	Cash Bar Karaoke	FRI	4:00 pm – 7:00 p.m.	Pavilion 2
National Open Championship	Late Registration	SAT	8 – 8:30 am	Paradise Event Center South
	5-Day Schedule Open Section Only	SAT SUN	10 am & 3:30 pm 10 am & 3:30 pm
	4-Day Schedule 3-Day Schedule	SAT SUN	10 am & 3:30 pm 10 am & 3:30 pm
	2-Day Schedule	SAT SUN	9:00 am, 10:30 am, noon, 1:30 pm 3:30 pm 10 am & 3:30 pm
	Beginners Schedule	SAT SUN	10 am, 11:30 am 1 pm, 3:30 pm & 5 pm 10 am, 11:30 am 1 pm, 3:30 pm & 5 pm	Paradise Event Center South
Walter Browne Memorial Blitz	6 Double Rounds	SAT	9:00 pm Register by 8:00 pm	Paradise Event Center South
Blitz Sectional Round Robins	8 Players	SUN register	9:00 pm 30 minutes before	Pavilion 9
International Youth Championship	Late Registration Opening Ceremony Round 1 Round 2 Round 3	SAT	8:30 am – 9 am 9:45 am 10:00 am 1:00 pm 3:30 pm	Paradise Event Center North
	Puzzle Competition		6:00 pm
	Simul for Kids		7:00 pm
Free Lectures
Analysis of Your Games		SAT-SUN	noon 5:30 pm	Pavilion 10
National Open Skittles	Open to all	SAT-SUN	9 am – midnight	Pavilion 3

Congrats to our first Champions

Jiten Patel — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 15:04:18 +0000

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 end to a guaranteed share of 1st.

Both Megan and Badamkhand needing a win to move into a tie, the game was hard fought on both sides. A miscalculation from WFM Norovsambuu allowed FM Lee to win a pawn but she did not give up, continuing to press on and put up a stubborn yet patient defense. Time played a factor here, with Lee playing most of the game with a huge deficit. After some inaccuracies by Lee, and a critical endgame error, Badamkhand won a marathon of a game and pulled into a first place tie.

Both finished the tournament with 4.5/5, with WIM Davaakhuu Munkhzu edging out on tiebreaks. Congrats to all who competed!

Streaming and Analysis Live by IM Kostya Kavutskiy for Round 4!

Jiten Patel — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 01:56:20 +0000

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.

Jiten Patel — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 15:10:47 +0000

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 c3 and pressuring the double pawns is standard, the stakes are raised when playing defending National Open Champion GM Viktor Matviishen. After an early capture on c4, GM Matviishen exploits an exposed center and goes after the Black king.

Welcome to the 2026 Las Vegas International Chess Festival!

Jiten Patel — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 20:42:08 +0000

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 4th
Click Here for Full Schedule

Westgate Las Vegas Convention Center Map

View the or Print Schedule Flyer

Need a new Chess Clock for the National Open? Ask your Equipment Leaders, Chess Gorilla!

Jiten Patel — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 03:48:35 +0000

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 Festival, and the U.S. Women’s Open.

Our companies have had the pleasure of serving players throughout the long and storied history of this event across many iconic Las Vegas venues. Our tournament stores have traveled from The Riviera, to the South Point Casino, back to The Riviera, then to The Westgate after the Riviera closed, followed by The Rio, next to The Flamingo, and thankfully back home again at The Westgate.

Over the decades, the Vegas Chess Festival has become one of the premier chess events in the United States, and we are honored to continue supporting players, coaches, parents, and chess enthusiasts from around the world.

Be sure to stop by the tournament store and check out the incredible selection of chess equipment, sets, boards, pieces, clocks, accessories, and more from the elite chess staff at Chess Gorilla — including David Phelps, Gerry Broan, and Shelby Lohrman. Players will also find an unmatched selection of chess books, training materials, and chess knowledge from Greg Yanez and Chess4Less.

Whether you are looking for your next tournament set, a new chess clock, rare books, or gifts for the chess player in your life, the official tournament store will have something for everyone.

From all of us at Chess Gorilla and Chess4Less, thank you to the Vegas Chess Festival organizers and players for your support throughout the years. We look forward to serving the chess community at this incredible event for decades to come.

Visit Chess Gorilla at www.ChessSet.com
Visit Chess4Less at www.Chess4Less.com

We are moving back to Westgate for 2026

Alan Losoff — Wed, 08 Oct 2025 08:11:10 +0000

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?

Alan Losoff — Tue, 10 Jun 2025 23:47:23 +0000

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 Vegas Chess Festivals, PO Box 90925, Henderson NV 89009.

Unclaimed trophies will be available for pickup in Las Vegas after somewhat later than originally expected because the trophies were inadvertently packed up and put in storage. If you want your trophy shipped send an email to vegaschess@gmail.com with the subject “Please ship Trophy for [name]” and we will ship it and invoice you for the actual cost. We will notify winners of unclaimed trophies when they are available.

Nice Try Vizzini…Wins With White by Viktor and Bilel, Sicilian on Adoption Alert

Jiten Patel — Sun, 08 Jun 2025 23:46:41 +0000

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 took to it. GM Bilie was unfazed by the Queenside attack that IM Bilych launched, sticking with sound play in the center and kingside

This sets up a rather conceivable match between the two Grandmasters as we head into the final round.

Four-way tie at the National Open after 7 Rounds

Jiten Patel — Sun, 08 Jun 2025 20:07:37 +0000

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!

Jiten Patel — Sun, 08 Jun 2025 01:53:24 +0000

$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 us.

Click Here for details

Chess Festival Poker Tournament Monday, June 9th

Enjoy the action of our No Limit Hold’em Tournament. This is a private tournament for participants and guests of our Chess Festival. Play for cash and a commemorative bracelet any poker player would be proud to wear. Knock out any member of our staff for a $25 bounty.

Location

The Caesars Palace Poker Room, an easy walk from Flamingo

Format

No-Limit Tournament
$10,000 Starting Chips
Blinds start at 100/100 and increase every 20 minutes.
- Structure Sheet
Details Subject to Change.

Registration

At Caesars Poker Room
Late Registration and re-entries are available until the end of first break.

Entry Fee

$130 in cash or Caesars chips only
Includes $5 dealer bonus.

Prizes

Cash Prizes $100 of each entry/re-entry goes to prize fund
- See structure sheet for payouts
Commemorative Bracelet for the Winner.
$25 bounty on Festival staff members.
Deals are not permitted.

Streaming Live and Boston Mike is Playing Live

Jiten Patel — Sat, 07 Jun 2025 20:29:02 +0000

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 find his channel:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/CoffeeChess
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsbostonmike/#

FRIDAY FIRST FIFTY Promotion + Book Signings by Rebel Queen and the Dean of Chess at the Bookstore

Jiten Patel — Sat, 07 Jun 2025 06:11:05 +0000

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 will be signing copies of his book, Humor in Chess

Important Announcement for 3 day Schedule

Jiten Patel — Fri, 06 Jun 2025 14:18:11 +0000

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 Sunset
Just came in and not sure where to go?
This may help
In the future, feel free to click on Happening Now at the top of the page for the TLDR version of key info you may need.

Thank you for your cooperation. Good Luck to Everyone!

National Invites square off in Round 1

Jiten Patel — Fri, 06 Jun 2025 14:03:03 +0000

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. Maintaining the queenside and center until a well executed exchange sacrifice allowed him to take initiative on the kingside and eventually gaining the exchange back and material advantage. The resulting Queen endgame was a matter of execution, making it look effortless in true GM fashion.

Where The Flamingo am I??

Jiten Patel — Thu, 05 Jun 2025 15:04:57 +0000

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?
Are you at the Lobby?
Good, lets start there!

Most will be on the events will be on the THIRD FLOOR. The following rooms are located here:

Sunset (National Open)
Laughlin (Bookstore)
Virginia City (Womens Open, and initial rounds for National Open 3-day / 2-day )
El Dorado (International Youth +Youth Trophy)
Mesquite (Action Quads)
Savoy (GM Ben Finegold Simul)

PATH 1: LOBBY ELEVATORS

Are you in the Lobby? Great!
Take the Lobby Elevators to Floor 3 and you will end up at “1” on the map.

PATH 2: CONVENTION CENTER EXEC OFFICES

Are you in the Lobby? Great! See the Starbucks? Great!
Keep Walking to the UP Escalators Convention Center Executive Offices. You will end up at “2” on the map

PATH 3: SPA ELEVATORS

Are you in the Lobby? Great! See the Starbucks? Great!
Keep Walking to the UP Escalators Convention Center Executive Offices. You will end up at “3” on the map. Yes, you may also take this directly to Floor 3, if your room is in this area of the Flamingo.

THE EXECUTIVE CONFERENCE CENTER

The rest of our events will be held in the Lover Level:
Grandmaster Chess Camp
Streamers Meet and Greet (Valley of Fire)
GM Susan Polgar Lecture (Lake Mead)
GM Ben Finegold Lecture (Lake Mead)
NTD Tim Just Lecture (Lake Mead)
GM Amalysis (Valley of Fire)

From the Lobby, walk past the Starbucks, you will see the Executive Conference Escalators just before the SPA Elevators

I Hope this helps, best of luck to all who are competing!

The 2025 National Open has Begun!

Jiten Patel — Wed, 04 Jun 2025 19:13:01 +0000

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

Jiten Patel — Tue, 03 Jun 2025 19:27:03 +0000

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 the FIDE NA title. He is the past longtime chair of the Tournament Directors Certification Committee. His membership on the Rules committee spans decades. Since 2003 Tim has been the editor of the 5^th , 6^th and 7^th editions of the US Chess rulebook. His column “Just the Rules” appears monthly on the front page of the US Chess web site. Many of his directing skills were honed at an over 20-year stint as a TD at the Vegas National Open, now the Las Vegas Chess Festival. As an organizer his leadership has impacted the success many local, state and national tournaments. As an author his best selling book, “My Opponent is Eating a Doughnut” tells the numerous entertaining tales from the chess universe.

TD Tactics: Saturday, 1:00pm, Lake Mead
TD Tactics will improve your TD skills. It is the same workshop approach as the one presented yearly at the US Open. TD credit that can be used as a substitute when moving up the TD certification ladder and is available for those it applies to. An abundance of “Rules of thumb” will be discussed along with tips and tricks that yield big results. Your new skills will have an opportunity to be tested on some practice exercises involving rules applications and prize fund distributions.Sa

Rulebook Tactics: Sunday, 1:00pm, Lake Mead
Rulebook Tactics delivers easy to recall shortcuts for applying complicated rules. Learn some simple strategies that will keep you in line with the US Chess rulebook. Find out the history and meaning behind many of our most utilized rules. There will even be time to explore some of our rulebook’s hidden secrets.

One SilverBack vs all Chess Clocks? A word from Chess Shelby

Jiten Patel — Fri, 30 May 2025 01:11:25 +0000

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 chess clock market. Easy to set, easy to use, easy to adjust, and more pre-sets that any other clock on the market. My video to show all the new programming and how to set the clock is a 12 minute watch. It does that much. If you are a tournament organizer or major TD, I want to meet with you in Vegas. The more people I get to feel comfortable with the clock the better.

FYI, the first 50 people to spend $100 in the tournament store will receive a gift card for www.ChessSet.com for between $10-100. But, with a SilverBack purchase, there is an additional chance at getting a gift card for $100 on our retail site!