Sai Agni Jeevitesh convincingly clinches SDM Roto Lawyers Cup Rapid and Blitz Rating Open 2026
IM Sai Agni Jeevitesh J scored 9/10 to win SDM Roto Lawyers Cup Rapid Rating Open 2026. Five players scored 8/10 each. Out of them, Bhaavan Kolla and Mani Bharathy secured second and third place respectively according to tie-breaks. Sai also won the Blitz Rating Open scoring 11/13. Arul Anandh S P K scored 10.5/13 to secure second place. Lakshith B Salian and IM Chakravarthy Reddy M scored 10/13 each. They were placed third and fourth respectively. The total prize fund was ₹150000 in Rapid and ₹100000 in Blitz. The top three prizes in Rapid were ₹35000, ₹20000 and ₹15000 each, and ₹25000, ₹15000 and ₹10000 along with a trophy each respectively. These were Sai’s first and second tournament triumph of the year.
Sai Agni Jeevitesh’s first two triumphs of the year
Bhaavan Kolla and IM Sai Agni Jeevitesh J were the coleaders 8/9 each, heading into the final round of the Rapid Rating Open. Lakshith B Salian was the only player trailing them by a half point at 7.5/9. Lakshith lost to Sai and the latter became the champion. Mani Bharathy defeated Bhaavan, the former finished third and the latter second. Despite losing his eighth round game, Sai made a strong comeback by winning the last two rounds to become the champion. Rao’s Chess Corner is run by Karnataka’s top chess couple – IM Sharan Rao and WIM Isha Sharma.
IM Sai Agni Jeevitesh J won both Rapid and Blitz Open tournaments convincingly | Photo: Rao’s Chess Corner
Champion in Rapid – IM Sai Agni Jeevitesh J 9/10 | Photo: Rao’s Chess Corner
Runner-up – Bhaavan Kolla 8/10 | Photo: Rao’s Chess Corner
Second Runner-up – Mani Bharathy 8/10 | Photo: Rao’s Chess Corner
Top 3 (L to R): 3rd Mani Bharathy 8/10, 1st IM Sai Agni Jeevitesh J 9/10 and 2nd Bhaavan Kolla 8/10 | Photo: Rao’s Chess Corner
IM Sai Agni Jeevitesh J pondering during one of his games | Photo: Rao’s Chess Corner
IM Sai Agni Jeevitesh J scored 9/10, finished a full point ahead of the rest and gained 19.8 Elo rating points
IM Sai Agni Jeevitesh J was the sole leader 10.5/12, going into the last round of the Blitz Rating Open. He had a full point over the rest. Arul Anandh S P K, Dhanush Ram M and IM Chakravarthi Reddy M were the three players trailing by a full point at 9.5/12 each. Sai needed a draw to become a clear champion and that’s what he did against the top seed Chakravarthi. Sriansh Sinha lost to Arul who finished second. Lakshith defeated Dhanush to claim third place. Sai made a great start by winning four games in-a-row. Then he lost his fifth round game against Vihaan Adarsh Lobo. Sai scored 7/8 in the last eight rounds to become a clear champion once again and win two tournaments on the same day.
Blitz Champion – IM Sai Agni Jeevitesh J 11/13 | Photo: Rao’s Chess Corner
Runner-up – Arul Anandh S P K 10.5/13 | Photo: Rao’s Chess Corner
Second Runner-up – Lakshith B Salian 10/13 | Photo: Rao’s Chess Corner
Top 3 in Blitz (L to R): 2nd Arul Anandh S P K 10.5/13, 1st IM Sai Agni Jeevitesh J 11/13 and 3rd Lakshith B Salian 10/13 | Photo: Rao’s Chess Corner
IM Sai Agni Jeevitesh J scored 11/13, finished a half point of the competition
Inaugural first move of Rapid and Blitz Open tournaments | Photo: Rao’s Chess Corner
The tournament hall at SDM Kala Bhavana in Belthangady, Karnataka | Photo: Rao’s Chess Corner
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A total of 144 players including two IMs took part from all over the country, one from Norway and Switzerland each. The two-day ten-round Rapid Rating Open tournament was organized by Rao’s Chess Corner at SDM Kala Bhavana in Belthangady, Karnataka on 31st January and 1st February 2026. The time control of the tournament was 10 minutes + 5 seconds increment.
Final standings in Rapid Rating Open
A total of 140 players including two IMs took part from all over the country and one from Switzerland. The one-day 13-round Blitz Rating Open tournament was organized by Rao’s Chess Corner at SDM Kala Bhavana in Belthangady, Karnataka on 1st February 2026. The time control of the tournament was 3 minutes + 2 seconds increment.
Final standings in Blitz Rating Open
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