2025 North Carolina Open - Blitz Championship

SwissBlitz

123 players participated in this 6-round tournament, held on 29 Nov 2025 in Charlotte, NC, United States. 58 titled players from 8 federations. Top 10 Elo average was 2488, and top seed was Vasif Durarbayli (🇦🇿 AZE, GM, 2570).

Vasif Durarbayli (🇦🇿 AZE, GM, 2570) won with 5.5/6, ahead of Liam Putnam (5.5) and Kayden Troff (5.0). Durarbayli shared the lead from round 1, winning on tie-break.

The biggest upset came in round 2: Kyle Zhuang (1905) beat Eric Liu (IM, 2439), a +534-point gap.

Location

🇺🇸Charlotte, NC, United States

Dates

29 Nov 2025

Time control

Blitz: 3 minutes for game with 2 seconds increment from move 1

System

Swiss · 6 rounds

Top seed

🇦🇿GMVasif Durarbayli2570

Avg top 10

2,488

Participants

123

Titled players · 58

GM×7

IM×18

FM×14

CM×12

WGM×1

WIM×3

WFM×1

WCM×2

Federations · 8 represented

🇺🇸United States of America×100

🇮🇳India×5

🇫🇷France×2

🇰🇪Kenya×2

🇧🇩Bangladesh×2

🇦🇿Azerbaijan×2

🇺🇦Ukraine×1

🇷🇺Russia×1

Top 3

🥇
GMVasif Durarbayli
🇦🇿AZE·2570
5.5pts·2773perf+11.2
🥈
IMLiam Putnam
🇺🇸USA·2417
5.5pts·2671perf+14.8
🥉
GMKayden Troff
🇺🇸USA·2552
5.0pts·2600perf+4.9

How it unfolded

Top 6 · 6 rounds

Tight race until R6; 2 players tied at 5.5/6, decided on Buchholz. Title race narrowed from 6 co-leaders at R4 to 2 at the finish.

Co-leaders

Putnam5.5Durarbayli5.5Li5Sheehan5Zhou5Troff5

R6 · TIEBREAK CLUSTER

2 players finish on 5.5/6. Durarbayli takes the title on Buchholz Cut1 (22.5).

WIN STREAKS · 3 top finishers

IM Liam Putnam 4 wins (R1–R4)GM Vasif Durarbayli 5 wins (R1–R5)GM Ruifeng Li 4 wins (R3–R6)

Key matchups · top 4

Head-to-head between the four finishers

Player	1	2	3	4
1IMLiam Putnam	*	—	—	—
2GMVasif Durarbayli	—	*	—	1
3GMRuifeng Li	—	—	*	—
4Ethan Sheehan	—	0	—	*

Grille américaine

#	Player	Elo	Fed	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	Pts	Bu C1	Bu	SB	Perf	Δ
1	Durarbayli, VasifGM	2570	AZE	+57N	+54B	+4N	+12B	+5N	=3B	5.5	22.5	25.5	23.00	2773	+11.2
2	Putnam, LiamIM	2417	USA	+51N	+26B	+52N	+10B	=13N	+8B	5.5	20.5	23.5	21.25	2671	+14.8
3	Troff, KaydenGM	2552	USA	+23B	+59N	+43B	+9N	=8B	=1N	5.0	22.0	25.0	20.00	2600	+4.9
4	Sheehan, Ethan	2408	USA	+78B	+87N	−1B	+29N	+17B	+19N	5.0	20.0	22.0	16.50	2502	+8.2
5	Rakhmatullaev, AlmasIM	2367	UZB	+62B	+94N	+36B	+17N	−1B	+18N	5.0	20.0	22.0	16.50	2387	+4.0
6	Li, RuifengGM	2441	USA	+107N	−22B	+31N	+21B	+34B	+20N	5.0	19.5	21.0	17.00	2383	-1.8
7	Zhou, JianchaoGM	2472	USA	+74B	=34N	+41B	+53N	=11B	+13B	5.0	19.0	21.5	17.50	2492	+3.0
8	Zhao, ErickIM	2409	USA	+113N	+14B	+21N	+20B	=3N	−2N	4.5	23.0	24.0	16.00	2444	+4.5
9	Pyrih, RomanIM	2449	UKR	+89N	+46B	+18N	−3B	=14N	+35B	4.5	20.5	22.5	15.25	2409	-0.4
10	Adewumi, TanitoluwaIM	2487	USA	+77B	+72N	+35B	−2N	+60B	=11N	4.5	19.0	21.5	13.75	2438	-1.1
11	Grabinsky, AaronIM	2447	USA	=90N	+76B	+55N	+39B	=7N	=10B	4.5	18.5	20.5	14.75	2384	-0.9
12	Erenburg, SergeyGM	2525	USA	+82B	+56N	+73B	−1N	=43B	+40N	4.5	18.0	20.5	13.25	2410	-4.7
13	Tabuenca Mendataurigoitia, DanielFM	2384	ESP	+92B	+111N	+88B	+37N	=2B	−7N	4.5	18.0	19.0	11.25	2396	+8.8
14	Adams, Stephen	2104	USA	+116B	−8N	+87B	+103N	=9B	+37N	4.5	16.0	17.0	10.25	2335	+35.0
15	Panchanathan, Magesh ChandranGM	2444	IND	+80B	−35N	=38B	+77N	+72B	+41N	4.5	15.5	18.0	12.75	2287	-7.4
16	Boyer, MahelGM	2495	FRA	+38B	−73N	=74B	+96N	+36B	+34N	4.5	15.5	17.5	13.75	2316	-9.0
17	Pham Tran Gia PhucIM	2220	VIE	+30N	+25B	+22N	−5B	−4N	+55B	4.0	22.0	25.0	15.00	2282	+22.4
18	Zhuang, Kyle	1905	USA	+114B	+19N	−9B	+27N	+50B	−5B	4.0	20.5	21.5	12.00	2362	+124.0
19	Liu, EricIM	2439	USA	+105N	−18B	+30N	+32B	+58N	−4B	4.0	20.0	21.5	12.50	2240	-10.8
20	Lin, Bryan EnmingIM	2340	USA	+63B	+60N	+96B	−8N	+23B	−6B	4.0	19.5	21.5	12.00	2295	-3.0
21	Jagirapu, Harshin Reddy	2081	USA	+119B	+24N	−8B	−6N	+63B	+49N	4.0	19.5	20.5	11.00	2326	+72.0
22	Slate, KentCM	1992	USA	+79B	+6N	−17B	+60N	−49B	+53N	4.0	18.0	20.5	13.50	2252	+78.8
23	Hoffman, LucCM	2098	USA	−3N	+97B	+120N	+26B	−20N	+67B	4.0	18.0	19.0	10.00	2355	+77.6
24	Sethuraman, SandeepIM	2269	USA	+49N	−21B	+57N	+61B	=35N	=25B	4.0	17.5	20.5	12.75	2295	+9.6
25	Perrine, DaltonFM	2241	USA	+84B	−17N	+92B	=40N	+45B	=24N	4.0	17.5	19.5	11.75	2211	-2.2
26	Horobetz, Graham	2181	USA	+110B	−2N	+62B	−23N	+89B	+51N	4.0	17.5	19.0	9.50	2141	-2.4
27	Tanenbaum, ZacharyFM	2288	USA	+28N	−39B	+80N	−18B	+122N	+61B	4.0	17.0	17.0	9.50	2109	-22.0
28	Goodrich, Elliott	2063	USA	−27B	+123N	−29B	+66N	+59B	+68N	4.0	17.0	17.0	9.00	2232	+53.2
29	Radhakrishnan, SharathCM	2048	USA	−86N	+93B	+28N	−4B	+88N	+58B	4.0	16.5	18.5	11.00	2123	+22.8
30	Jasinski, Alexander	2022	USA	−17B	+79N	−19B	+95N	+73B	+56N	4.0	16.0	18.0	10.00	2245	+66.8
31	Zhao, KevinFM	1845	USA	−88N	+44B	−6B	+111N	+91B	+70N	4.0	15.5	16.5	9.50	2144	+90.8
32	Shangin, Lev	2127	USA	=104B	=112N	+91B	−19N	+79B	+50N	4.0	13.0	14.0	8.75	2166	+14.8
33	Kaplan, Avi HarrisonFM	2058	USA	−111B	+104N	+82B	=72N	=53B	+94N	4.0	11.5	12.5	8.75	2105	+7.2
34	Prabhu, Naveen	2113	USA	+44N	=7B	+90N	+42B	−6N	−16B	3.5	21.5	23.5	11.50	2342	+32.4
35	Chirilov, James AFM	2343	USA	+97N	+15B	−10N	+88B	=24B	−9N	3.5	19.5	21.5	10.50	2322	+1.4
36	Hua, Charles	1884	USA	+69B	+50N	−5N	+67B	−16N	=46B	3.5	19.0	22.0	10.75	2300	+57.2
37	Mohammad Fahad, RahmanIM	2299	BAN	+102N	+61B	=39N	−13B	+47N	−14B	3.5	19.0	21.0	10.25	2174	-16.2
38	Khanbutaev, Artemii	1990	USA	−16N	+85B	=15N	=64B	+54N	=42B	3.5	18.5	21.0	11.00	2252	+72.8
39	Gui, Suyuan	2001	USA	+83B	+27N	=37B	−11N	−41B	+81B	3.5	18.0	20.5	10.75	2245	+72.0
40	Bondalapati, Sri Vibhav	2024	USA	−42N	+100B	+54N	=25B	+52N	−12B	3.5	18.0	20.0	10.00	2234	+62.0
41	Bynum, Jacorey	1919	USA	=106B	+117N	−7N	+76B	+39N	−15B	3.5	17.0	18.0	7.75	2136	+62.4
42	Posthuma, JoshuaIM	2353	USA	+40B	+75N	=53B	−34N	=94B	=38N	3.5	16.0	18.0	10.25	2071	-35.4
43	Sinha, SahilIM	2229	USA	+93N	+86B	−3N	+89B	=12N	F	3.5	16.0	16.0	8.75	2300	+12.2
44	Dasari, Saathvik	0	USA	−34B	−31N	+121B	=75N	+74B	+83N	3.5	15.0	15.5	6.75	2056	+33.2
45	Pan, Zachary	2100	USA	−50B	=83N	+106B	+81B	−25N	+75N	3.5	14.5	16.0	7.75	2158	+21.2
46	Fang, ElbertFM	0	USA	+121B	−9N	−103B	+78N	+87B	=36N	3.5	14.0	14.5	6.75	2082	-28.0
47	Klenoff, Caleb	0	USA	−96N	+99B	+108N	=52B	−37B	+76N	3.5	13.0	14.5	7.50	2048	-44.0
48	Movva, Dhruva Ram	1726	USA	−75B	−65N	=115N	+84B	+77B	+72N	3.5	13.0	14.0	8.00	1942	+68.0
49	Gadi, Varun	2124	USA	−24B	+84N	+66B	−50N	+22N	−21B	3.0	18.0	20.5	9.50	2109	-0.8
50	Defromont, BenjaminIM	2322	FRA	+45N	−36B	+113N	+49B	−18N	−32B	3.0	18.0	19.0	7.50	2034	-39.8
51	Swaminathan, Pranav	1806	USA	−2B	−91N	+71B	+98N	+64N	−26B	3.0	17.5	19.5	8.00	2051	+66.8
52	Li, RachaelWIM	2157	USA	+98B	+95N	−2B	=47N	−40B	=65N	3.0	17.5	19.5	7.25	2107	-16.4
53	Carter, Emmanuel	2025	USA	+118N	+120B	=42N	−7B	=33N	−22B	3.0	17.5	18.5	5.75	2162	+17.0
54	Vaibhav KalpakaFM	1964	IND	+91B	−1N	−40B	+92N	−38B	+87N	3.0	16.5	18.5	6.00	2022	+14.4
55	Golsefidy, Sepehr	1914	USA	=112B	+106N	−11B	+65N	=70B	−17N	3.0	16.0	17.0	6.50	2065	+41.6
56	Belenkaya, DinaWGM	2100	ISR	+71N	−12B	−102N	+99B	+90N	−30B	3.0	15.5	17.5	7.00	2039	-11.6
57	ADU, OladapoIM	2212	NGR	−1B	+98N	−24B	−87N	+95B	+91N	3.0	15.5	17.5	6.00	2091	-16.8
58	Van Vugt, Noah	0	USA	−81N	+107B	+75B	+73N	−19B	−29N	3.0	15.5	17.0	6.50	2080	+40.8
59	Kung, Thomas	2153	USA	+85N	−3B	−89N	+108B	−28N	+93B	3.0	15.5	17.0	6.00	2027	-19.0
60	Sethuraman, Roshan	2070	USA	+122N	−20B	+112N	−22B	−10N	+98B	3.0	15.5	15.5	3.00	2060	-3.6
61	Abraham, John Z	2017	USA	+123B	−37N	+95B	−24N	+103B	−27N	3.0	15.0	15.0	3.50	2119	+28.4
62	Shetty, Anshul	1978	USA	−5N	+122B	−26N	+112B	−67N	+100B	3.0	15.0	15.0	3.00	2014	+10.4
63	Jammalamadaka, VihaanCM	2059	USA	−20N	−64B	+109N	+101B	−21N	+114B	3.0	14.5	15.5	4.50	2068	+1.2
64	Amburgy, RyanFM	2129	USA	−87B	+63N	=77B	=38N	−51B	+92N	3.0	14.0	16.0	8.00	1951	-26.8
65	Baker, Aidan	1949	USA	−120N	+48B	=81N	−55B	+104N	=52B	3.0	13.5	14.5	7.75	2024	+19.6
66	Perdomo, Carlos AndresIM	2268	COL	+99N	−96B	−49N	−28B	+97N	+90B	3.0	13.0	15.0	6.00	1965	-40.8
67	Shafer, Logan CCM	2185	USA	=117B	=103N	+111B	−36N	+62B	−23N	3.0	13.0	14.0	5.25	1985	-60.0
68	Espinosa, PedroCM	2040	USA	=76N	=108B	=105N	=90B	+93N	−28B	3.0	12.0	13.5	5.75	1912	-18.0
69	Moon, BenjaminFM	0	USA	−36N	−78B	+97N	−93B	+99N	+103B	3.0	12.0	13.5	5.50	1921	-40.4
70	Zia, Tahsin TajwarFM	2123	BAN	=108N	−90B	+114N	+105B	=55N	−31B	3.0	12.0	13.0	4.75	1897	-33.0
71	Kozlek, Tommy	1893	USA	−56B	−80N	−51N	+118B	+113N	+89N	3.0	11.5	12.5	4.00	1946	+16.8
72	Yue, TariqCM	1986	USA	+109N	−10B	+78N	=33B	−15N	−48B	2.5	19.0	20.5	6.00	2037	+6.8
73	Diao, Matthew GuoFM	2092	USA	+115N	+16B	−12N	−58B	−30N	=78B	2.5	18.5	19.5	6.75	2105	-6.8
74	Ling, ChenxuanCM	2243	USA	−7N	+115B	=16N	−86B	−44N	+88B	2.5	17.5	18.5	5.25	2060	-52.8
75	Yang, DanielCM	1864	USA	+48N	−42B	−58N	=44B	+85N	−45B	2.5	17.0	19.5	7.75	1930	+14.0
76	Wadhwa, Aayush	1949	USA	=68B	−11N	+83B	−41N	+82B	−47B	2.5	17.0	19.5	6.50	2059	+27.2
77	Senthilkumar, PranavCM	1931	USA	−10N	+118B	=64N	−15B	−48N	+104B	2.5	17.0	18.0	4.00	1964	+0.4
78	Iinuma, Paul Y	2087	USA	−4N	+69N	−72B	−46B	+112N	=73N	2.5	16.5	17.5	5.25	2065	-5.0
79	Karthigeyan, Kishan	1931	USA	−22N	−30B	+100N	+113B	−32N	=80B	2.5	16.5	17.5	4.25	1960	+7.6
80	Myers, Dominique	2028	USA	−15N	+71B	−27B	−91N	+117B	=79N	2.5	16.0	17.0	5.25	1994	-9.0
81	Apaar SaxenaFM	2105	IND	+58B	−88N	=65B	−45N	+106B	−39N	2.5	15.0	16.5	6.00	1934	-56.8
82	Cigan, Jason	2036	USA	−12N	+109B	−33N	=85B	−76N	+110B	2.5	15.0	16.5	4.25	1933	-17.6
83	Sarkar, JustinIM	2117	USA	−39N	=45B	−76N	+114B	+105N	−44B	2.5	14.5	15.5	4.25	1927	-15.6
84	Gurumoorthi, Gurugrahan	1636	USA	−25N	−49B	=107N	−48N	+115B	+105B	2.5	13.5	14.5	3.25	1903	+65.2
85	Snodgrass, Benjamin	1942	USA	−59B	−38N	+122B	=82N	−75B	+107B	2.5	13.0	13.0	2.75	1888	-8.2
86	Atassi, CelineWCM	1744	USA	+29B	−43N	=94B	+74N	F	F	2.5	12.0	12.0	7.50	2173	+80.0
87	Bauml, Broderick Kenneth	1855	USA	+64N	−4B	−14N	+57B	−46N	−54B	2.0	19.0	22.0	6.00	2019	+39.6
88	Rana, Oliver	2000	USA	+31B	+81B	−13N	−35N	−29B	−74N	2.0	18.5	21.0	6.50	2033	+3.2
89	Santosh, Saharsh	2014	USA	−9B	+116N	+59B	−43N	−26N	−71B	2.0	18.0	19.0	4.00	1984	-14.0
90	Leano, Bryan	1998	USA	=11B	+70N	−34B	=68N	−56B	−66N	2.0	17.0	20.0	6.75	2048	+5.6
91	Vuyyuru, Shriyan	1834	USA	−54N	+51B	−32N	+80B	−31N	−57B	2.0	17.0	19.5	5.50	1872	+6.0
92	Alappatt, Steve Paul	2064	USA	−13N	+101B	−25N	−54B	+109N	−64B	2.0	16.5	18.0	3.50	1982	-28.4
93	Gaw, ChloeWIM	1837	USA	−43B	−29N	+116B	+69N	−68B	−59N	2.0	16.5	17.5	4.00	1954	+26.0
94	Karthi, JashithCM	1979	USA	F	−5B	=86N	+104B	=42N	−33B	2.0	16.5	16.5	4.50	2010	0.0
95	Sloan, Julia ElizabethCM	1955	USA	+101N	−52B	−61N	−30B	−57N	+112B	2.0	15.0	16.0	3.00	1918	-6.4
96	Rallabandi, Krishna Kishore	1869	USA	+47B	+66N	−20N	−16B	F	F	2.0	15.0	15.0	6.50	2260	+66.4
97	Tikhomirov, Matthew	1731	USA	−35B	−23N	−69B	+121N	−66B	+111N	2.0	14.5	15.0	1.50	1920	+42.8
98	Kumbharathi, Vedansh	2063	USA	−52N	−57B	+118N	−51B	+101N	−60N	2.0	14.0	15.0	3.00	1873	-56.0
99	Ismayilova, KhanimWCM	1841	AZE	−66B	−47N	+119B	−56N	−69B	+116N	2.0	13.5	14.5	2.00	1955	+22.8
100	Olando, Paul Jnr	0	KEN	F	−40N	−79B	+116N	+111B	−62N	2.0	11.0	11.0	2.00	1863	-17.2
101	Melillo, LuciusFM	2023	USA	−95B	−92N	+110B	−63N	−98B	+106N	2.0	10.5	12.0	3.00	1828	-57.6
102	Patel, Maahir M	1981	USA	−37B	+119N	+56B	F	F	F	2.0	7.5	7.5	4.00	2225	+36.8
103	Gvanceladze, AnnaWIM	2056	RUS	F	=67B	+46N	−14B	−61N	−69N	1.5	17.0	17.0	5.00	1996	-8.0
104	Uthra, P.WFM	1892	IND	=32N	−33B	+117B	−94N	−65B	−77N	1.5	15.5	16.5	3.00	1803	-13.6
105	Gospodinov, Antony	0	USA	−19B	+121N	=68B	−70N	−83B	−84N	1.5	15.0	15.5	2.00	1827	-25.6
106	Chaudhury, Anmay Kumar	1955	USA	=41N	−55B	−45N	+115B	−81N	−101B	1.5	14.5	15.5	2.75	1807	-46.0
107	Nasta, Kiren Vivek	2033	USA	−6B	−58N	=84B	=117N	=110B	−85N	1.5	14.5	15.5	2.50	1726	-92.4
108	Rahul Mynala	1594	IND	=70B	=68N	−47B	−59N	−114N	=109B	1.5	14.0	15.0	3.75	1775	+36.8
109	Malik, Arjun	1920	USA	−72B	−82N	−63B	+122N	−92B	=108N	1.5	11.5	11.5	0.75	1696	-64.4
110	Yelisetti, Vishruth	1486	USA	−26N	−113B	−101N	+119B	=107N	−82N	1.5	11.0	12.0	1.75	1693	+40.8
111	Gospodinov, Lyubomir	0	USA	+33N	−13B	−67N	−31B	−100N	−97B	1.0	17.5	19.5	4.00	1745	-33.4
112	McCartney, Patrick	1829	USA	=55N	=32B	−60B	−62N	−78B	−95N	1.0	15.5	17.5	3.50	1749	-10.8
113	Tineo Rodriguez, Brian Jeremiah	2007	DOM	−8B	+110N	−50B	−79N	−71B	F	1.0	14.5	15.5	1.50	1792	-28.2
114	Kantor, Alan	1913	USA	−18N	F	−70B	−83N	+108B	−63N	1.0	14.0	14.0	1.50	1720	-23.0
115	Bellamy, Chase	1942	USA	−73B	−74N	=48B	−106N	−84N	=119B	1.0	12.5	13.5	2.25	1653	-84.4
116	Kuka Kyle	1783	KEN	−14N	−89B	−93N	−100B	+118N	−99B	1.0	12.5	13.5	1.00	1634	-43.2
117	Pendse, Vihaan	1932	USA	=67N	−41B	−104N	=107B	−80N	F	1.0	12.0	13.0	2.25	1771	-40.0
118	Gentry, Daniel Williams	1718	USA	−53B	−77N	−98B	−71N	−116B	+121N	1.0	11.5	12.0	0.50	1645	-21.6
119	Kondabathini, Namish	1902	USA	−21N	−102B	−99N	−110N	=121B	=115N	1.0	10.5	11.0	0.75	1588	-88.8
120	Atanasov, AnthonyIM	2443	CAN	+65B	−53N	−23B	F	F	F	1.0	10.0	10.0	3.00	1936	-17.3
121	Zhang, Brian Qixuan	1819	USA	−46N	−105B	−44N	−97B	=119N	−118B	0.5	11.5	12.5	0.50	1514	-72.4
122	Senthil Kumar, Athiyan	1596	USA	−60B	−62N	−85N	−109B	−27B	F	0.0	14.0	14.0	0.00	1166	-19.6
123	Sakharkar, Shreyas Rajendra	1845	USA	−61N	−28B	F	F	F	F	0.0	7.0	7.0	0.00	1240	-9.8

Key insights

Biggest movers and upsets — the story behind the numbers.

Top rating gainers

1Zhuang, KyleUSA
+124.0
4.0 pts · #18
2Zhao, KevinFMUSA
+90.8
4.0 pts · #31
3Atassi, CelineWCMUSA
+80.0
2.5 pts · #80

Top rating losers

1Nasta, Kiren VivekUSA
-92.4
1.5 pts · #108
2Kondabathini, NamishUSA
-88.8
1.0 pts · #115
3Bellamy, ChaseUSA
-84.4
1.0 pts · #120

Biggest upsets

R2+534 Elo gap
Zhuang, Kyle1905 beat IMLiu, Eric2439
R4+499 Elo gap
WCMAtassi, Celine1744 beat CMLing, Chenxuan2243
R2+449 Elo gap
CMSlate, Kent1992 beat GMLi, Ruifeng2441