Mansukh Mandaviya congratulates Praggnanandhaa for winning St. Louis Rapid & Blitz title
New Delhi, August 8
Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya, on Saturday, congratulated Indian grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa for securing the Grand Chess Tour St. Louis Rapid and Blitz title on Friday.
The 20-year-old drew against Javokhir Sindarov during the penultimate round to seal the tournament with a score of 23/35 points, finishing 1.5 points ahead of everyone else.
In a post on X, Mandaviya congratulated Praggnanandhaa on winning his maiden Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz title, praising his exceptional performance and dedication as a source of pride and inspiration for India.
"Congratulations to Grandmaster R. Praggnanandhaa on winning his maiden Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz title. His brilliant gameplay and dedication are a tremendous source of pride and inspiration for the entire country," Mandaviya said.
Earlier in June, Praggnanandhaa scripted history by claiming the Norway Chess 2026 crown in Oslo after defeating Germany's Vincent Keymer in the tenth and final round. The victory completed a remarkable late surge by the Indian star, who registered four consecutive classical wins to secure one of the biggest titles of his career.
Following this, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Monday felicitated the Indian Grandmaster and presented him with a cash reward of Rs 50 lakh on behalf of the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu. The felicitation ceremony was held at the Chief Secretariat in Chennai, where the Chief Minister also played a game of chess with the 20-year-old Grandmaster.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Absolutely brilliant! At just 20 years old, winning back-to-back major titles is no small feat. The way he handled the pressure in the final rounds shows remarkable maturity. Great to see the government acknowledging his efforts too. Well deserved recognition! 🏆
So proud of Praggnanandhaa! 🎉 From Chennai to the world stage, he's an inspiration to every young Indian. The Tamil Nadu government's support with the Rs 50 lakh reward is also great to see. Chess is finally getting the recognition it deserves in India!
Impressive consistency from Praggnanandhaa this year. Winning Norway Chess and now the St. Louis title shows he's not just a flash in the pan. The 1.5 point margin is quite significant at this level of competition. India's chess ecosystem must be doing something right!
Hats off to Praggu! 🙌 But I also want to acknowledge the support system - his family, coaches, and the chess federation. It takes a village to raise a champion. The cash reward from TN CM is a nice gesture, but I hope we invest even more in grassroots chess development. There are many more talents waiting to be discovered!
😍 What a star! The way he dominated the tournament was just incredible. It's so heartening to see Indian chess players consistently performing at the highest level. The government's recognition is important but the real credit goes to his hard work and determination. Proud moment for all Indians! 🇮🇳
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