If you’ve searched “national open chess las vegas” trying to nail down actual dates, venue, and entry costs instead of vague calendar blurbs, this guide has what you need. The 2026 National Open runs June 10–14 in Las Vegas, and it’s one of the tournaments serious players and curious first-timers both circle on their calendar every year.
This guide walks through what the tournament actually is, where it’s being held this year (there’s a real discrepancy across sources worth knowing about before you book a hotel), what sections exist for players at every level, and how registration and pricing work heading into the event.
What Is the National Open?
The National Open is one of the longest-running Open chess tournaments in the country, first established by Ed Edmondson in 1965. Fred Gruenberg brought it back to Las Vegas in 1983, and he and Alan Losoff ran it together for more than 25 years. Since Gruenberg stepped back in 2009, Alan and Janelle Losoff have organized it through Vegas Chess Festivals, with Gruenberg still involved as a player and sponsor of the “Freddie” awards for promising young players.
The National Open is a US Chess Federation-rated event, and the Open, Under 2300, and Under 2100 sections are also FIDE rated, meaning results count toward international ratings, not just domestic ones. The winner of the Open section is named National Champion and takes home a replica of the Edmondson Cup.
It’s worth being clear about one thing upfront: the National Open is not a standalone tournament. It’s the flagship event inside the larger Las Vegas International Chess Festival, which also includes the U.S. Women’s Open running around the same week. Both are co-sponsored by the US Chess Federation, but they’re separate events with separate sections and prize funds. If you’re planning around “the festival,” you’re really planning around several tournaments happening under one roof.
2026 Dates, Venue, and How to Attend
The 2026 National Open takes place June 10–14, 2026.
Here’s where it gets a little tricky. Some tournament calendars, including a version of the US Chess national events listing, still show the Flamingo Las Vegas Hotel & Casino as the venue. But the official National Open event page and the Las Vegas International Chess Festival’s own site both confirm the tournament is returning to the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino, 3000 Paradise Road, Las Vegas, NV 89109. The festival’s organizers have posted directly that they’re “moving back to Westgate for 2026,” which is the most current and authoritative statement available.
Because of that conflicting information floating around online, double-check the venue on the 2026 National Open event page before you book a flight or hotel room. It’s a five-minute check that saves you from showing up at the wrong casino.
Spectators are generally welcome to watch tournament play without paying an entry fee, though seating and viewing access around the boards can be limited during peak rounds. If you’re bringing family who won’t be playing, this is a good reason to reach out to the organizers directly for current spectator policy before you finalize travel plans.
Westgate is offering a discounted room block for players and attendees: $114 per night Sunday through Thursday, $154 Friday and Saturday, with the resort fee reduced to $30 (down from the normal $45). The cutoff for that rate is May 21, after which prices climb and rooms may sell out. Reservations go through vegaschess.com/hotel or by phone at (800) 732-7117, using group code SVCF6R.
Sections and Who Can Enter
One of the things that makes the National Open genuinely welcoming to a wide range of players is how many rating sections it offers. As of the latest published schedule:
- Open (Championship) – 9 rounds, FIDE rated, open to all players, GM and IM norms possible
- Under 2300 – 7 rounds, FIDE rated
- Under 2100 – 7 rounds, FIDE rated
- Under 1900 – 7 rounds
- Under 1700 – 7 rounds
- Under 1500 – 7 rounds
- Under 1250 – 7 rounds, with separate prizes for top under 900 and top under 700
- Beginners – unrated players, players with a provisional rating under 1250, or players with an established rating under 800; must be at least 15 years old
Under sections are limited to players rated below that section’s cutoff. Players who are rated more than 100 points above a section limit at the time of the tournament may be moved up by the tournament director.
So to directly answer the question a lot of readers have: no, this isn’t only for highly rated players. Between the graded Under sections and the dedicated Beginners bracket, there’s a realistic entry point for someone who has never played a rated tournament before, right alongside titled players competing for norms in the Open section.
Entry Fees and Prize Fund
Based on the currently published US Chess event page, entry fees for 2026 are:
- Open section: $249 by April 30, $269 by May 26, $289 after that. Players rated below 2200 (or FIDE 2100) pay an extra $400. Titled GMs, WGMs, and foreign IMs play free if entered by May 26; other IMs and WIMs get a $60 discount.
- Under sections: same tiered pricing as the Open section ($249 / $269 / $289), plus a $100 play-up fee for players rated more than 300 points below the section limit or entering unrated (this doesn’t apply to Under 1250).
- Beginners: $129 for one day, $189 for two days, $229 for three days, with a $31 increase after May 26.
- Early Bird Loyalty discount: $50 off for anyone who has played a previous National Open, if entered by January 31.
These numbers are current as of this writing but chess tournament entry fee tiers shift as deadlines pass, so treat the published breakdown as a guide and confirm the exact current pricing on the official 2026 National Open event page before you register.
The tournament carries a guaranteed prize fund in the six figures, split across all sections, with the Open section paying out the largest amounts and each Under section carrying its own scaled prize list. Players with provisional ratings are capped at 40% of the top prize in any Under section, with the remaining balance going to the next eligible finisher. Full section-by-section prize breakdowns are published on the official page and are worth reviewing if prize structure factors into which section you enter.
US Chess Federation membership is required to play, and you can join with your entry or on site.
What to Expect as a Player or Spectator
The National Open runs as a Swiss System event, meaning you’re paired against opponents with similar scores each round rather than a single-elimination bracket. The Open section plays 9 rounds; every other section plays 7. You can choose a 4-day, 3-day, or 2-day schedule depending on how much time off work or school you’re working with – the shorter schedules just compress the early rounds into faster time controls.
Time controls vary by schedule: the standard pace is Game/90 with a 30-second increment, dropping to Game/60 +10 for compressed 3-day rounds and Game/25 +5 for 2-day rounds and the Beginners section.
Half-point byes are available in any round with at least two hours’ notice, though byes for the Sunday round and the final round need to be requested before round 4 starts and can’t be canceled once locked in. Boards and sets are provided for tournament play, but not for casual skittles games, so bring your own set if you want to analyze between rounds. You’ll also need to bring your own digital chess clock – none are provided, though vendors on site typically sell them if you show up without one.
Expect a serious, competitive atmosphere with a large multi-generational turnout: titled players chasing norms, longtime club regulars, ambitious juniors, and adults playing their first or second rated event, all sharing the same playing hall.
How to Confirm Details Before You Go
Given the venue mix-up between Westgate and Flamingo currently circulating on different calendar sites, it’s worth checking two sources directly before finalizing travel: the official US Chess event listing, and the Las Vegas International Chess Festival’s own site, which is run by the tournament organizers themselves. If anything changes close to the event – venue, schedule, or fees – those two pages will reflect it first.
If you have a specific question that isn’t answered on either page, the organizers list a direct phone line for tournament information. This year in particular, it’s worth confirming the venue by name before you lock in a non-refundable hotel booking somewhere else.
More Chess Events and Tournaments in Las Vegas
The National Open is far from the only rated event on the Las Vegas chess calendar. If you’re already planning a trip, it’s worth browsing USCF rated tournaments in Las Vegas to see what else lines up with your schedule, whether that’s another festival event the same week or something later in the year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the National Open the same thing as the Las Vegas International Chess Festival?
No. The National Open is the headline tournament inside the festival, which also includes the U.S. Women’s Open around the same dates. Both are co-sponsored by the US Chess Federation but run as separate events with their own sections and prizes.
Can beginners or unrated players actually compete?
Yes. The Beginners section is built specifically for unrated players, anyone with an established rating under 800, or a provisional rating under 1250, as long as they’re 15 or older.
Do I need to be a US Chess Federation member to play?
Yes. Membership is required for all players and can be purchased with your entry or on site.
Is the tournament FIDE rated?
The Open, Under 2300, and Under 2100 sections are FIDE rated. Sections below that are US Chess rated only.
Which hotel is the tournament actually at this year?
The official event and festival pages confirm the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino for 2026, though some third-party calendars still list the Flamingo. Confirm directly on the official page before booking.
Can I attend just to watch without entering as a player?
Spectators are generally welcome to watch, though it’s worth checking current access policy directly with the organizers if you’re bringing non-playing family members.
What should I bring as a first-time entrant?
A digital chess clock with increment capability (none are provided for games), your own set and board if you want to analyze between rounds, and your US Chess membership number if you already have one.
Final Thoughts
The 2026 National Open in Las Vegas gives players at nearly every level – from titled competitors chasing norms to someone entering their first rated event – a real reason to plan a trip around it. Dates are set for June 10–14, the tournament is returning to the Westgate, and sections run from Open down through Beginners with entry points for people at every stage.
Given how often venue and fee details shift as deadlines approach, confirm the latest numbers on the 2026 National Open event page before you register or book travel. And if you’d rather get notified as new details are confirmed, you can sign up here to stay updated on this and other Las Vegas chess tournaments.
