'More important than a Michelin star': Lithuanian chef named best sushi master

Oslo-based Lithuanian chef Airis Zapašnikas has become the first Lithuanian to be awarded the title of best sushi master in the world. He beat 14 other finalists vying for this prestigious accolade.

"For me, as a sushi master and also the first Lithuanian with such an achievement, this is of great significance. It is a direct confirmation of my skills. I will say more - for me it is more valuable than awarding my restaurant a Michelin star," - Zapašnikas said in an interview with the LRT.lt portal.

Zapašnikas, who runs a Michelin-starred restaurant in Norway, talked about the immense intensity of the competition on Friday and the strict rules that had to be followed to win.

"The rules are extremely strict - if someone doesn't follow them, for example, continuing to work past the allotted time, they are disqualified. Cutting your finger means losing a large number of points. Even throwing away a piece of fish you didn't use involves a deduction of points," he explained.

To win first place, each finalist had to prepare an original dish showing the full extent of their skills.

"At this stage, the rules were much more flexible and we were able to show our creativity and innovation. Compared to the tasks on the first day, which were very traditional and firmly rooted in classical Japanese cuisine, here we had much more freedom," he said.

The World Sushi Championship is held annually in Tokyo, Japan, to promote food safety and authentic sushi cuisine. It is organised by the World Sushi Skills Institute, established with the support of the Japanese government. It is its top members who sit on the competition jury.