Abhimanyu Puranik becomes National Blitz Champion 2026

by Devansh Singh - 26/03/2026

GM Abhimanyu Puranik of Maharashtra scored 9/11 points to become the 2026 National Blitz Champion. After 11 rounds of fast-paced chess, Abhimanyu Puranik and Sayantan Das (PSPB) scored 9/11 points, and Abhimanyu clinched the title according to tiebreak scores while Sayantan settled for second place. 8 players scored 8.5/11 points to secure 3rd to 10th positions. Hari Madhavan NB of Tamil Nadu, secured third place in both Blitz and Rapid Championships. Check the article, including an interview with Abhimanyu. Photos: Omkar/ Sarala Birla University

The first title is always special

Champion: Abhimanyu Puranik (MAH)

Runner Up: GM Sayantan Das (PSPB)

Second runner up: Hari Madhavan NB (TN)

Ahimanyu Puranik and Aronyak Ghosh are the 2026 National Blitz and Rapid Champions

Interview with Abhimanyu

Devansh Singh: How does it feel to win this title? If I’m not wrong, this is your first National Championship title.
Abhimanyu Puranik: I’m quite happy because rapid and blitz is generally very random, and it’s harder to win a title. You try to keep control, but there will always be a couple of rounds where it is very hard to predict what will happen. For example, I had a game with Karthikeyan Murali where he lost on time, and then in the next game, I lost on time both in equal positions. So, it’s still very special.

DS: Recently, you won a Blitz event in Mumbai. Does playing regularly help?

AP: Blitz is definitely something where shape is very important. Playing in Mumbai helped me, and I was also playing quite a lot online. Playing regularly is very important.

DS: Are you actively playing online, too?

AP: Yes, online chess is addictive. Whenever you get free time, you can just open your phone and play a couple of bullet or blitz games. You don’t even realise how time passes once you start playing. I don't necessarily play it for practice; it's more just for fun, but I guess it still helps.

DS: How are you going to celebrate this victory?
AP: Unfortunately, I’m leaving for Uzbekistan for the Agzamov Memorial, which starts on the 17th, so I won’t get much time for celebration. But let's see, I will probably go to a nice restaurant or something.

DS: Any suggestions for the readers?
AP: Even in blitz or rapid, it’s important to analyse your games and go through them. See what your instinct is, because in blitz, the first move that pops into your mind is usually what you will play. You have a certain way of approaching positions in your head, so it’s best to constantly keep correcting that approach. I think that really helps.

Arjun Kalyan won an important game against Abhimanyu in the 10th round, but he lost his last round against Sayantan Das to finish in 4th place

IM Ratnakaran K of RSPB scored 8,5/11 points to secure 5th place

The top 3 finishers of the Rapid and Blitz Championship

Tournament Hall at Sarala Birla University

Volunteer Team

The National Rapid Championship was organised by the All Jharkhand Chess Association at Sarala Birla University, Mahilong, Ranchi. The total prize fund of the Blitz Championship was ₹2,50,000, with the top 3 prizes of ₹50,000, ₹40,000, and ₹30,000.

Replay all games by Abhimanyu

Replay Available Games

Round 11 Results

Bo.		White	Rtg	Club/City	Pts.	Result	Pts.		Black	Rtg	Club/City	PGN
1	IM	Aronyak, Ghosh	2453	Railway Sports Promotion Board	8	½ - ½	8½	GM	Puranik, Abhimanyu	2519	Maharashtra	PGN
2	GM	Das, Sayantan	2335	Railway Sports Promotion Board	8	1 - 0	8½	GM	Arjun, Kalyan	2454	Tamil Nadu	PGN
3	IM	Sanket, Chakravarty	2233	West Bengal	7½	1 - 0	8½	IM	Hari, Madhavan N B	2386	Tamil Nadu	PGN
4	GM	Karthikeyan, Murali	2521	Tamil Nadu	8	0 - 1	7½	IM	Ratnakaran, K.	2285	Railway Sports Promotion Board	PGN
5	GM	Iniyan, Pa	2447	Tamil Nadu	7½	0 - 1	7½	IM	Sangma, Rahul	2134	Railway Sports Promotion Board	PGN
6	CM	Mani, Sarbartho	2081	West Bengal	7½	0 - 1	7½	IM	Subhayan, Kundu	2224	Railway Sports Promotion Board	PGN
7	GM	Ghosh, Diptayan	2539	Railway Sports Promotion Board	7½	1 - 0	7	GM	Karthikeyan, P.	2253	Tamil Nadu	PGN
8		Vignesh, Kannan P	2170	Tamil Nadu	7	0 - 1	7	GM	Mitrabha, Guha	2533	Railway Sports Promotion Board	PGN
9		Arul, Anandh S P K	1963	Karnataka	7	1 - 0	7	IM	Dhulipalla, Bala Chandra Prasad	2440	Andhra Pradesh
10	GM	Venkatesh, M.R.	2424	Petroleum Sports Promotion Board	7	0 - 1	7	FM	Rohit, S	2201	Tamil Nadu

Details

Final Ranking after 11 Rounds

Rk.	SNo		Name	FED	Rtg	Club/City	Pts.	TB1	TB2	TB3	TB5	TB6
1	4	GM	Puranik, Abhimanyu	IND	2519	Maharashtra	9	79	84,5	67,5	8	5
2	15	GM	Das, Sayantan	IND	2335	Railway Sports Promotion Board	9	73	78	61,75	8	3
3	12	IM	Hari, Madhavan N B	IND	2386	Tamil Nadu	8,5	79,5	84,5	62,75	8	4
4	5	GM	Arjun, Kalyan	IND	2454	Tamil Nadu	8,5	77	81	61,75	8	4
5	21	IM	Ratnakaran, K.	IND	2285	Railway Sports Promotion Board	8,5	76,5	81,5	59,75	8	3
6	6	IM	Aronyak, Ghosh	IND	2453	Railway Sports Promotion Board	8,5	76	81	59,5	6	4
7	27	IM	Sanket, Chakravarty	IND	2233	West Bengal	8,5	72	77	58,75	7	2
8	1	GM	Ghosh, Diptayan	IND	2539	Railway Sports Promotion Board	8,5	70	74	55,75	8	2
9	30	IM	Subhayan, Kundu	IND	2224	Railway Sports Promotion Board	8,5	68,5	72,5	52,25	8	5
10	42	IM	Sangma, Rahul	IND	2134	Railway Sports Promotion Board	8,5	66,5	71	52,75	8	5
11	3	GM	Karthikeyan, Murali	IND	2521	Tamil Nadu	8	75	80	54	8	5
12	2	GM	Mitrabha, Guha	IND	2533	Railway Sports Promotion Board	8	72,5	78	53,5	8	4
13	34	IM	Sidhant, Mohapatra	IND	2192	Odisha	8	68	73,5	49,5	8	5
14	31	FM	Rohit, S	IND	2201	Tamil Nadu	8	68	72,5	49	8	5
15	29	IM	Sharan, Rao	IND	2229	Karnataka	8	67	71	49,75	7	2