This year's festival is shaping up to be the best ever. The cornerstone 2008 National Open again features a $100,000 Prize Fund with $75,000 guaranteed.

The ever popular U.S. Game/10 Championship will be held on Thursday, June 5th, the day before the National Open. For those who can't get enough chess, the National Open Blitz Championship will be held Thursday evening.

Once again the festival will host the Susan Polgar World Open for Girls and Boys. Players in both events will be eligible for Scholarships and prizes. In addition to several Polgar side events, participants in these tournaments may also wish to participate in some of the open side events, such as the Blitz or the Scholastic Trophy Tournament. This year an unrated Parents and Coaches tournament has been added.

Also on Thursday, the Susan Polgar International Chess Camp will feature a full or half day session in small groups with GM and other fine instructors. This camp is designed for players of all ages. GM Susan Polgar, America's Chess Ambassador, is the chief instructor, with a faculty including GM Varuzhan Akobian, GM Dmitry Gurevich and IM Ben Finegold.

Five-time U.S. Champion and syndicated columnist GM Larry Evans will be on hand to analyze player games. IM John Donaldson will give a series of free lectures on how to improve your game. You can also fill your time with Rule Book Tactics by NTD Tim Just, Bughouse Techniques, and more.

There will be live broadcast of games from the National Open, and possibly other events here and on the MonRoi web site.

Thank you to our many loyal players who keep coming back year after year, for the Chess Event of the Year: the Las Vegas International Chess Festival.