(LAS VEGAS, NEVADA) Grandmasters Aleks Wojtkiewicz, Lubomir Ftacnik, Varuzhan Akobian, Nikola Mitkov and Merab Gagunashvili tied for first with 5 points each at the 2006 National Open, part of the Las Vegas International Chess Festival held at the Riviera Hotel & Casino on the Strip in Las Vegas.

Going into the final round there were no less than 13 players tied at the top of the standings. This ensured that there was a lot of fighting and aggressive chess played in the final round as a draw assured nobody of a big payday. Six of the top seven boards ended in decisive results, an unusual feat in such a tournament, and hence we had a five way split at the top. Aleks Wojtkiewicz was awarded the Edmondson Cup on tie-breaks.

695 players participated in the main National Open tournament, which contained sections from the Open down to the Under 1200. Only Santiago Lunas (Under 1600), Robert Clarke (Under 1400) and Aaron Asay (Under 1200) were able to go through the entire tournament with perfect scores.

There were other events going on as part of the Las Vegas International Chess Festival, including the prestigious Susan Polgar World Open Championship for Girls. This event was run in cooperation with the Susan Polgar Foundation. Winner of the Under Age 21 section was none other than Batchimeg Tuvshintugs, famously remembered for her upsets over various Grandmasters at the recent US Championships. All the section winners were awarded computer systems for their efforts.

The National Open Blitz Championship was won by Grandmaster Merab Gagunashvili, who scored 11½ points to secure the title from last year’s joint winner Varuzhan Akobian, who finished just a point behind in second.

Grandmasters Walter Browne and Susan Polgar both gave simultaneous exhibitions on the Thursday before the tournaments. Walter Browne conceded just 3 draws out of 23 boards and did not lose a game, while Susan Polgar gave up just one loss, to Allan Crow, and four draws from the 33 games that she played.

As usual, the tournament was very well organized by Fred Gruenberg and Al Losoff, with Chief Tournament Director Bill Snead at the helm of a great directing staff.

For complete results and standings from all the events, please visit the Las Vegas International Chess Festival website at www.lvchessfestival.com.

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The United States Chess Federation (USCF), founded in 1939, serves as the governing body for chess in the United States and is now headquartered in Crossville, Tennessee. USCF is devoted to extending the role of chess in American society. It promotes the study and knowledge of the game of chess, for its own sake as an art and enjoyment, and as a means for the improvement of society. The USCF is a not-for-profit membership organization nearing 90,000 members. For additional information on the USCF see: http://www.uschess.org.