Sharan Rao clinches Panevezys Blitz Rating Open 2025

Shahid AhmedSeptember 17, 20252 min read

IM Sharan Rao scored 8/9 to win Panevezys Blitz Rating Open 2025. He finished a half point ahead of the competition. IM Vladyslav Larkin (UKR) scored 7.5/9 to secure second place. Reinis Paikens (LAT) and GM Daniel Fridman (GER) scored 7/9 each. They were placed third and fourth respectively. WIM Isha Sharma scored 6.5/9 to finish fifth. The total prize fund was €500 each in both Rapid and Blitz events. The top three prizes were €150 + trophy, €120 and €80 each. Sharan secured second place in the Rapid Rating Open scoring 7/8. Zanas Nainys (LTU) won that event 7.5/8. IM Gediminas Sarakauskas (LTU) was third 6/8. Sharan's better half, WIM Isha Sharma finished fourth in Rapid 6/8 and fifth in Blitz 6.5/9. This is Sharan's third tournament triumph of the year. With this victory, Sharan has won a rating tournament each in all three formats of the sport. Photo: Arvydas Baltrunas

Sharan's third triumph of the year

In the Blitz event, IM Vladyslav Larkin (UKR) and IM Sharan Rao were coleaders 7/8 each, heading into the final round. Andrius Paulauskas (LTU) lost to Sharan and he became the champion. Modestas Zlogas (LTU) drew against IM Vladyslav Larkin (UKR) and the latter finished second. WGM Kamile Baginskaite (LTU) lost to Reinis Paikens (LAT) who finished third. WIM Isha Sharma defeated Aleksandras Salna (LTU) to claim fifth place. Sharan's chess academy named, Rao's Chess Corner is organizing three rating tournaments - Classical, Rapid and Blitz in 23rd RCC Rating, 24th RCC Rapid Rating and 25th RCC Blitz Rating Open from 25th to 30th September 2025 with a total prize fund ₹800000, ₹500000 in Classical, ₹200000 in Rapid and ₹100000 in Blitz. Register now if you have not yet.

Blitz Top 3 (L to R): 2nd IM Vladyslav Larkin (UKR) 7.5/9, 1st IM Sharan Rao 8/9 and 3rd Reinis Paikens (LAT) 7/9 | Photo: Arvydas Baltrunas

5th - WIM Isha Sharma 6.5/9 | Photo: Arvydas Baltrunas

IM Sharan Rao scored 8/9, finished a half point ahead of the rest and gained 50 Elo rating points

Rapid Champion - Zanas Nainys (LTU) 7.5/8 | Photo: Arvydas Baltrunas

Rapid Top 3 (L to R): 2nd IM Sharan Rao 7/8, 1st Zanas Nainys (LTU) 7.5/8 and 3rd IM Gediminas Sarakauskas (LTU) 6/8 | Photo: Arvydas Baltrunas

4th WIM Isha Sharma 6/8 | Photo: Arvydas Baltrunas

A total of 51 players including 2 GMs, 3 IMs, a WGM and a WIM took part from six countries across the world. The one-day nine round Blitz rating tournament was organized by IO Arvidas Baltrunas (LTU) at VASARIS event space in Panevėžys, Lithuanaia on 22nd August 2025. The time control of the event was 3 minutes + 2 seconds increment per move.

Final standings in Blitz Rating Open

Rk.	SNo		Name	Typ	sex	FED	RtgI	Club/City	Pts.	TB1	TB2	TB3	TB4	TB5	K	rtg+/-
1	8	IM	Sharan, Rao			IND	2184	Karnataka	8	48,5	53,5	38	8	46,5	20	50
2	2	IM	Larkin, Vladyslav			UKR	2420	Riga	7,5	51,5	55,5	41,5	7,6	44,3	10	2,8
3	5		Paikens, Reinis	U18		LAT	2236	Riga	7	51,5	56,5	38	7	41	20	34,4
4	1	GM	Fridman, Daniel			GER	2514	Bochum	7	49	53,5	38	7	39	10	-7
5	11	WIM	Sharma, Isha		w	IND	2043	Karnataka	6,5	41,5	45,5	32,5	6,6	32,3	20	32,6

Details

A total of 57 players including a GM, 2 IMs and a WIM took part from five countries across the world. The one-day eight round Rapid rating tournament was organized by IO Arvidas Baltrunas (LTU) at VASARIS event space in Panevėžys, Lithuanaia on 23rd August 2025. The time control of the event was 7 minutes + 5 seconds increment per move.

Final standings in Rapid Rating Open

Rk.	SNo		Name	Typ	sex	FED	Rtg	Pts.	TB1	TB2	TB3
1	5		Nainys, Zanas	U18		LTU	2264	7,5	39	42,5	33,5
2	6	IM	Sharan, Rao			IND	2250	7	40	44	31
3	3	IM	Sarakauskas, Gediminas			LTU	2299	6	41,5	46	30
4	9	WIM	Sharma, Isha		w	IND	2121	6	39,5	43	28
5	2	GM	Malisauskas, Vidmantas	S60		LTU	2326	6	33,5	36,5	24

Details

Links

Official site

Tournament details

Sharan Rao clinches Panevezys Blitz Rating Open 2025