We are pleased to accept entries for the 2025 Las Vegas International Chess Festival. Don’t forget returning players who enter the National Open by January 31st qualify for the Early Bird Discount. We are making a few changes to the 2025 event to improve your tournament experience. This applies especially to the Youth events which […]
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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 […]
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 […]
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.
Westgate Sold Out: overflow hotels available.
Our room block at the Westgate is sold out. All the rooms that the Westgate was holding for our group have been sold. We have arranged chess rates at nearby hotels.
Las Vegas Monorail Discounts
The Las Vegas Monorail is offering Las Vegas Chess Festival attendees exclusive fare discounts. Use the Monorail to travel the Strip and to the tournament without the hassles of traffic and wasted time. Be sure to purchase your tickets before the festival as the discounts are available for a limited time! Buy your discounted tickets at tix.lvmonorail.com/VCF22 […]
2022 Covid-19 Safety Protocols
Player safety and confidence is important to us. We will rigorously follow state and local regulations as well as Westgate Resort’s policies.
Now Accepting Entries for 2022 Chess Festival
We are now accepting entries for most events in the 2022 Las Vegas International Chess Festival. Enter Now! Returning players who enter the National Open before January 31 are eligible for a $40 Early Bird Loyalty Discount. Make your hotel reservations early to be automatically enrolled in a drawing to get your room free.
Vegas Chess Festivals Coronavirus Response
We have received several inquiries as to whether the National Open and the Chess Festival will be canceled. We intend to hold the event as planned if it is at all possible and safe. We hope to make a firm decision by …
Win Free Hotel Stay During Chess Festival
Reserve your room early for more chances to win! You must reserve your room at the Westgate before May 23rd. You must be part of the chess festival group. Use our online link to reserve your room or phone (800) 732-7117 and use our group code: SVCF9R.
Where’s my Prize?
All prize checks for less than $600 were mailed Thursday, June 28th, as were larger checks for players who completed a W-9 form. Players expecting prize checks $600 or larger must submit a W-9. You can download the form from the IRS at www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw9.pdf and mail the completed form to PO Box 90925 Henderson NV 89002. […]
FIDE Arbiters Seminar
A FIDE Arbiters seminar will be held the 3 days before the National Open. Anyone who wishes to become a FIDE Arbiter or International Arbiter must attend one of these seminars. This is likely to be the only seminar in the U.S. this year. Anyone may attend but the US Chess Federation will only submit […]
Welcome to the National Open
$125,000 Guaranteed Prize Fund will not be reduced. The NATIONAL OPEN is one of America’s longest running premier Open tournaments. No tournament in U.S. history was handled with more regard for the comfort and convenience of the players than the first National Open and we are proud to continue the tradition…
U.S. Women’s Open
The U.S. Women’s Open draws women and girls from all over the world to play on the Wednesday & Thursday before the National Open. 5 round US Chess and FIDE rated Swiss Tournament with a $3,500 prize fund and a friendly atmosphere.
Electronic Device Policy
The following Electronic Device Policy will be in effect for all 2016 Las Vegas International Chess Festival events. 1. While playing, players may not use cellphones or other electronic devices capable of chess analysis or communication, without permission of a Tournament Director/Arbiter (TD). A player using a prohibited electronic device during play will be penalized. […]
