Prathamesh Sherla & Shlok Sharnarthi are the winners of 1st Pune Speed Festival Rapid & Blitz Rating Open 2025

by Shahid Ahmed - 05/01/2026

CM Prathamesh Sherla, IM Akshay Borganokar, IM Srijit Paul and Manas Gaikwad scored 8/9 each at 1st Pune Speed Chess Festival Rapid Rating Open 2025. Prathamesh won the tournament on tie-breaks. The remaining three were placed second to fourth respectively. Only Prathamesh and Srijit remained undefeated among them. Shlok Sharnarthi, IM Aakash Sharadchandra Dalvi and IM Nikhil Dixit scored 9.5/11 each. Shlok became champion on tie-breaks. Aakash and Nikhil secured second and third place respectively. The total prize fund of the tournament was ₹400000, ₹250000 for Rapid and ₹150000 for Blitz. The top three prizes in Rapid were ₹31000, ₹25000 and ₹15000 along with a trophy each. For Blitz they were, ₹15000, ₹10000 and ₹8000 with a trophy each. This is Prathamesh's third overall, first rating tournament triumph of 2025. For Shlok, it was his fourth overall, sole rating tournament victory in the same year. Photo: FI Shashikant Maktedar / 8x8 Chess Academy

Rapid: Top four score 8/9, Blitz: Top three 9.5/11

CM Kushagra Jain, CM Prathamesh Sherla and IM Srijit Paul were the three leaders 7.5/8, heading into the final round of Rapid Rating Open. Srijit drew against Prathamesh, the latter became champion and the former third. Kushagra lost to IM Akshay Borgaonkar who claimed second place.

Champion in Rapid Rating Open - CM Prathamesh Sherla 8/9 | Photo: Shahid Ahmed

Runner-up - IM Akshay Borgaonkar 8/9 | Photo: Shahid Ahmed

Second Runner-up - IM Srijit Paul 8/9 | Photo: Shahid Ahmed

Top 3 in Rapid Rating Open (L to R): 1st CM Prathamesh Sherla 8/9, 2nd IM Akshay Borgaonkar 8/9 and 3rd IM Srijit Paul 8/9 | Photo: FI Shashikant Maktedar / 8x8 Chess Academy

The event was proudly supported by Bank of Maharashtra as the Silver sponsor, whose contribution played a vital role in the successful execution of the festival. The Prize Distribution Ceremony was graced by distinguished guests Mr. Ramachandra Ragiri, Zonal Head, Bank of Maharashtra; Mr. Niranjan Godbole, Secretary, Maharashtra Chess Association, Mr. Shashikant Maktedar, Founder of 8x8 Chess Academy; Mr. Prakash Kunte, and other esteemed guests.

CM Prathamesh Sherla scored an unbeaten 8/9, won the tournament on tie-breaks and gained 33.6 Elo rating points

Shlok Sharnarthi was the sole leader 9/10, going into the last round of Blitz Rating Open. Six players - IM Aakash Sharadchandra Dalvi, Manas Gaikwad, CM Advik Amit Agrawal, Avirat Chauhan, IM Nikhil Dixit and CM Kushagra Jain were trailing by a half point at 8.5/10 each. Shlok drew against Advik to become the champion. Avirat lost to Aakash who secured second place. Kushagra suffered defeat against Nikhil who finished third.

Champion in Blitz Rating Open - CM Shlok Sharnarthi 9.5/11 | Photo: Shahid Ahmed

Runner-up - IM Aakash Sharadchandra Dalvi 9.5/11 | Photo: Shahid Ahmed

Second Runner-up - IM Nikhil Dixit 9.5/11 | Photo: Shahid Ahmed

Players in action | Photo: FI Shashikant Maktedar / 8x8 Chess Academy

Trophies for the prize winners | Photo: FI Shashikant Maktedar / 8x8 Chess Academy

Thanks to FI Shashikant Maktedar, Tournament Director and Founder of 8x8 Chess Academy, for sharing the photographs and information about the tournament.

A total of 593 players including three IMs took part from all over the country, one from Germany and Kenya, and four from the USA. The two-day nine round Rapid Rating Open tournament was organized by 8x8 Chess Academy at SNBP Wakad - Learning Center in Pune, Maharashtra on 6th and 7th December 2025. The time control of the event was 20 minutes + 10 seconds increment per move.

Final standings in Rapid Rating

Rk.	SNo		Name	Typ	Gr	FED	Rtg	Club/City	Pts.	TB1	TB2	TB3	TB5	TB6
1	3	CM	Sherla, Prathamesh	U14	PO184_PUNE_2023	IND	2118	MH	8	53,5	58	50,5	7	3
2	4	IM	Borgaonkar, Akshay		PO12612_PUNE_20	IND	2117	MH	8	53,5	58	50	8	5
3	1	IM	Srijit, Paul			IND	2287	OS	8	53	57,5	49,75	7	4
4	11		Gaikwad, Manas		PO1362_SOLA_20	IND	1945	MH	8	48	52	46	8	3
5	12		Om, Nagnath Lamkane		PO12087_PUNE_20	IND	1937	MH	7,5	54	59	48,25	7	3
6	10		Shenvi, Mohit		PO9962_PUNE_202	IND	1949	MH	7,5	53,5	58	46,25	7	4
7	5	CM	Jain, Kushagra		PO2849_PUNE_202	IND	2077	MH	7,5	53,5	57,5	45,75	7	4
8	22		Kadav, Omkar		PO12649_SATA_20	IND	1846	MH	7,5	51,5	55	43	7	3
9	6		Avirat, Chauhan	U12	PO12113_PUNE_20	IND	2071	MH	7,5	51	55	44,5	7	4
10	18		Phatak, Aanjaneya		PO1946_PUNE_202	IND	1874	MH	7,5	50,5	55	44,75	7	4
11	19		Shaashvat, Gupta	U14	PO6524_PUNE_202	IND	1869	MH	7,5	50	54,5	43,5	7	2
12	21	AFM	Vismay, Sachar			IND	1854	OS	7,5	49,5	54	44,25	7	3
13	7	CM	Advik, Amit Agrawal	U10	PO6344_PUNE_202	IND	2044	MH	7,5	48,5	51,5	42	7	2
14	155		Anish, Abhijeet Jawalkar	U08	PO6517_PUNE_202	IND	1515	MH	7,5	47,5	50,5	40,25	7	3
15	9		Pruthu, Deshpande		PO15614_PUNE_20	IND	1963	MH	7,5	45,5	49,5	39,75	7	3
16	13		Sharnarthi, Shlok		PO954_PUNE_2023	IND	1935	MH	7	55	58	42,25	6	3
17	16		Nirgun, Keval		PO8140_PUNE_202	IND	1895	MH	7	54	58,5	43,5	7	4
18	15		Mhamane, Sourabh		PO12118_PUNE_20	IND	1913	MH	7	52,5	56,5	41,75	6	2
19	77		Dakshraj, Shadanan Bole		PO2061_PUNE_202	IND	1628	MH	7	50,5	54,5	39	7	4
20	60		Soham, Sameer Pokarna		PO7086_PUNE_202	IND	1671	MH	7	50	50,5	36,5	7	4
21	215		Ronak, Kore	U12	PO4575_PUNE_202	IND	1461	MH	7	49,5	52,5	38,5	6	2
22	43	AGM	Moghe, Parth		PO846_PUNE_2023	IND	1728	MH	7	48,5	51,5	38	6	3
23	25		Chandrani, Shlok		PO3357_AKOL_202	IND	1822	MH	7	48,5	49,5	35,75	6	3
24	31		Vihaan, Mehra		PO4289_PUNE_202	IND	1783	MH	7	47,5	51,5	38	7	3
25	44		Gaikwad, Dagadu			USA	1724		7	46,5	50	35,5	7	4

Details

A total of 391 players including four IMs took part from all over the country, one from Australia, England, Hong Kong and Kenya, and two from the USA. The one-day eleven round Blitz Rating Open tournament was organized by 8x8 Chess Academy at SNBP Wakad - Learning Center in Pune, Maharashtra on 7th December 2025. The time control of the event was 3 minutes + 2 seconds increment per move.

Final standings

Rk.	SNo		Name	Typ	Gr	FED	Rtg	Club/City	Pts.	TB1	TB2	TB3	TB5	TB6
1	5		Sharnarthi, Shlok		PO954_PUNE_2023	IND	2101	MH	9,5	82,5	88,5	75,5	9	4
2	3	IM	Aakash Sharadchandra, Dalvi		PO6790_THAN_202	IND	2219	MH	9,5	80,5	87	73,5	9	5
3	1	IM	Dixit, Nikhil		PO7442_PUNE_202	IND	2326	MH	9,5	78	83,5	71,25	9	6
4	6	CM	Advik, Amit Agrawal	U10	PO6344_PUNE_202	IND	2060	MH	9	79,5	84	66,5	8	4
5	2	IM	Srijit, Paul			IND	2282	OS	9	76,5	81,5	64,5	9	4
6	92		Patil, Pruthviraj		PO15196_HING_20	IND	1582	MH	9	76	80,5	64	9	3
7	4	IM	Abhishek, Kelkar		PO1984_PUNE_202	IND	2102	MH	9	74,5	80	63,75	8	4
8	21		Avirat, Chauhan	U12	PO12113_PUNE_20	IND	1855	MH	8,5	79,5	83,5	61	8	4
9	8		Gaikwad, Manas		PO1362_SOLA_20	IND	1993	MH	8,5	79	85	63	8	4
10	9	CM	Jain, Kushagra		PO2849_PUNE_202	IND	1971	MH	8,5	78	83	59,5	8	4
11	12		Pruthu, Deshpande		PO15614_PUNE_20	IND	1940	MH	8,5	77,5	82,5	61,25	8	5
12	32		Dakshraj, Shadanan Bole		PO2061_PUNE_202	IND	1758	MH	8,5	75,5	79	56,75	8	4
13	13		Phatak, Aanjaneya		PO1946_PUNE_202	IND	1937	MH	8,5	74,5	80,5	61,25	8	2
14	11		Shenvi, Mohit		PO9962_PUNE_202	IND	1955	MH	8,5	73,5	78	58	8	4
15	19		Nirgun, Keval		PO8140_PUNE_202	IND	1861	MH	8,5	72,5	78	57,75	8	5
16	24		Kadav, Omkar		PO12649_SATA_20	IND	1835	MH	8,5	71	77	56,75	8	4
17	42		Lathik, Raam	U12	PO4478_PUNE_202	IND	1707	MH	8,5	70	73	53,25	8	4
18	117		Shreyas, Ravindra Patil		PO19_PUNE_2023	IND	1551	MH	8,5	69,5	74	54,25	8	4
19	27		Salunke, Siddhant	U14	PO309_PUNE_2023	IND	1802	MH	8	79,5	83	55	8	5
20	10	CM	Sherla, Prathamesh	U14	PO184_PUNE_2023	IND	1958	MH	8	77	82	55,75	7	5
21	15		Om, Nagnath Lamkane		PO12087_PUNE_20	IND	1908	MH	8	77	82	55,5	8	4
22	106	AIM	Swaraj, Mishra	U10	PO6356_NAGP_202	IND	1560	MH	8	76	81	55	8	4
23	22		Joshi, Aditya Shripad	U12	PO6122_PUNE_202	IND	1846	MH	8	74,5	80,5	54	8	3
24	48		Gogte, Soumil		PO6537_MUMS_202	IND	1689	MH	8	74,5	79	53,5	8	3
25	20		Om, Sagar	U14	PO2159_THAN_202	IND	1857	MH	8	72	77,5	53,5	8	4