In the last list of the top Chess players we published, we went over the best Belarusian Chess players. Now in this article, we’re ranking the best Lithuanian Chess players from Lithuania, starting with the number ten spot in FIDE. All players listed are Grandmasters with an Elo rating over 2500. For more information on ratings, see the guide on how to get a FIDE rating.
10. Darius Zagorskis
Full Name: Darius Zagorskis
Title: Grandmaster
Born: November 20, 1969
Federation: Lithuania
Ratings
World ranking: 1723
Rapid: 2350
Blitz: 2416
Classical: 2411
Profiles
Darius Zagorskis was granted the title of Grandmaster in 2013 and the International Master title in 1992 and has a FIDE rating of 2411. He ranked third in the Lithuanian chess tournament in 1989 in his first competitive success. He clinched gold twice, silver and bronze medals in the same competition but in different years. Darius also competed at the Correspondence chess tournaments and the Lithuanian chess olympiads.
9. Karolis Juksta
Full Name: Karolis Juksta
Title: FIDE Master
Born: January 1, 2003
Federation: Lithuania
Ratings
World ranking: 1697
Rapid: 2204
Blitz: 2120
Classical: 2412
Profiles
In 2019, Karolis Juksta was accorded the title of FIDE Master. He has a FIDE rating of2412 and a Peak rating of 2438. At the age of 17 years, in 2020, Karolis clinched the Lithuanian chess tournament making him the second youngest sportsperson in his country to achieve that. In 2021, he was knocked out of the chess world cup in the initial round after his qualification to compete in the tournament. Karolis has played a total of 100 games from 2018 to 2022. In those games, he won 35, lost 28, and drew 37, thus equaling a winning score of 53.50 percent. Among the notable tournaments he played include; ch-LTU 2022, 22nd ch-EUR Indiv 2022, ch-LTU 2021, and Fagernes GM Open 2021.
8. Emilis Pileckis
Full Name: Emilis Pileckis
Title: International Master
Born: June 27, 1990
Federation: Lithuania
Ratings
World ranking: 1523
Rapid: 2442
Blitz: 2434
Classical: 2424
Profiles
Emilis Pileckis was accorded the International Master title in 2009, with a Peak rating of 2472 and a FIDE rating of 2433. In 2009, he became Lithuanian lighting chess victor and represented his country at the chess olympiads. Emilis has competed in several tournaments, including; the world junior chess championship- in 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, & 2007, Lithuania Men’s chess championship in 2008, the 57th Lithuanian Student Physics Olympiad in 2009, and the European chess championship in 2008, among others.
7. Maxim Novik
Full Name: Maxim Novik
Title: Grandmaster
Born: January 1, 1970
Federation: Lithuania
Ratings
World ranking: 1364
Rapid: 2365
Blitz: 2248
Classical: 2436
Profiles
Maxim Novik was granted the title of Grandmaster in 2003 by FIDE. He has played a total of 523 games between 1988 and 2022. In those particular games, Novik won 190, drew 208, and lost 125, earning him a percentage score of 56.21 percent. Some tournaments he participated in include; ch-LTU 2022, Vezerkepzo GM Feb 2022, St Petersburg Blitz 2021, and the 29th Keres Mem Rapid 2020.
6. Sarunas Sulskis
Full Name: Sarunas Sulskis
Title: Grandmaster
Born: November 26, 1972
Federation: Lithuania
Ratings
World ranking: 853
Rapid: 2481
Blitz: 2485
Classical: 2481
Profiles
Sarunas Sulskis was crowned the title of Grandmaster in 1996. He has a FIDE rating of 2481 and a Peak rating of 2595. He clinched the Lithuanian chess tournament five times, with 2007 & 2009 being his last. In addition, Sarunas has played for the Lithuania national team on seven occasions at the chess olympiads and became a competitor at the European team chess tournament five times. In 2011, Sarunas emerged victorious at the Guernsey International chess festival.
5. Valery Kazakouski
Full Name: Valery Kazakouski
Title: Grandmaster
Born: January 1, 2000
Federation: Lithuania
Ratings
World ranking: 505
Rapid: 2491
Blitz: 2505
Classical: 2528
Profiles
Valery Kazakouski was conferred with the title of Grandmaster in 2022 and the International Master title in 2015. Between 2014 and 2022, he has played 433 games in which he has won 142, drawn 183, and lost 108, hence giving him a winning score of 53.93 percent. The most recent tournaments he participated in include; Panchenko Mem Open 2021, 23rd European Teams, Lozovatsky Mem A 2022, and the ch-LTU 2022.
4. Eduardas Rozentalis
Full Name: Eduardas Rozentalis
Title: Grandmaster
Born: May 27, 1963
Federation: Lithuania
Ratings
World ranking: 488
Rapid: 2462
Blitz: 2488
Classical: 2531
Profiles
Eduardas Rozentalis was granted the grandmaster title in 1991 and the International Master title in 1987. He became a licensed FIDE trainer in 2014, whereas he has a FIDE rating of 2531 and a Peak rating of 2650. He has been an ever-present Lithuanian chess player representing his country in the chess olympiads from 1992 except for 2000 and 2012. He triumphed in the 1981, 1983 & 2002 Lithuanian chess championships. Rozentalis shared the top spot in the Canadian Open chess tournament and emerged victorious in the 2019 GM Winter Petach Tikva International tournament.
3. Titas Stremavicius
Full Name: Titas Stremavicius
Title: Grandmaster
Born: February 2, 1998
Federation: Lithuania
Ratings
World ranking: 478
Rapid: 2483
Blitz: 2404
Classical: 2532
Profiles
Titas Stremavicius was accorded the title of Grandmaster in 2020 and the International Master title in 2015. He has a FIDE rating of 2519. Stremavicius became the European union junior chess champion in 2011 and the European speed chess youth champion in 2013. His major achievements include 2008, 2009 & 2011 European Youth chess championships and 2007, 2010 &2012 world junior chess championships in which he exceptionally competed.
2. Paulius Pultinevicius
Full Name: Paulius Pultinevicius
Title: Grandmaster
Born: November 24, 2001
Federation: Lithuania
Ratings
World ranking: 442
Rapid: 2524
Blitz: 2385
Classical: 2539
Profiles
In 2019, Pultinevicius was accorded the title of Grandmaster and the International Master title in 2017, whereas he has a FIDE rating of 2539 and a Peak rating of 2512. He was undefeated in more than nine games at the 42ndv chess olympiad while representing his country. He was a runner-up at the Lithuania chess championship. He earned the chance through qualifications to compete at the 2019 chess world cup.
1. Tomas Laurusas
Full Names: Tomas Laurusas
Title: Grandmaster
Birth: February 13, 1996
Federation: Lithuania
Ratings
World ranking: 349
Rapid: 2524
Blitz: 2458
Classical: 2561
Profiles
Tomas Laurusas earned the title of Grandmaster in 2021 and the International Master title in 2013. Between 2004 and 2022, he has played 410 games in which he has won 155, drawn 160, and lost 95, giving him a winning score of 57.32 percent. The most recent tournaments he participated in include; ch-LTU 2022 & 2021, 23rd European Teams 2021, and 15th Teplica Open 2022.
That concludes the list of the best Lithuanian Chess players. If you like list posts like this, you may also be interested in seeing the ten best American Chess players or the best Mexican Chess players.
Sources
- Bartelski, Wojciech. “European Men’s Team Chess Championship:: Tomas Laurušas”. OlimpBase.org.
- Bartelski, Wojciech. “11th World Youth U16 Chess Olympiad, Istanbul 2012, Lithuania”. OlimpBase.org.
- XXV International Chess Festival Liepajas rokade-2018 Blitz. Chess-Results.com.
- “Chess-Results Server Chess-results.com – 2018 m. Lietuvos šachmatų čempionatas”. chess-results.com. Retrieved 2019-09-23.
- “OlimpBase :: 42nd Chess Olympiad, Baku 2016, Lithuania”. www.olimpbase.org. Retrieved 2019-09-23.
- “Eduardas Rozentalis Qualified for the C Tournament of the Main Festival in Wijk-aan-Zee”. Chess-News.ru. 2012-11-29. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
- “The Correct Exchange in the Endgame – Extended New Edition”. Thinkers Publishing. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
- Crowther, Mark (2006-01-09). “The Week in Chess 583: 35th Rilton Cup”. London Chess Center. Retrieved 2009-07-08.
- RIP Yury Dokhoian (1964–2021), Chess Federation of Russia, 1 July 2021, retrieved 2 July 2021
- Men’s Chess Olympiads: Eduardas Rozentalis. OlimpBase.