Praggnanandhaa honoured by Tamil Nadu CM Vijay with Rs 50 lakh reward after historic Norway Chess triumph
Chennai, June 8
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Monday felicitated Indian Grandmaster Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa and presented him with a cash reward of Rs 50 lakh on behalf of the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu, following the chess prodigy's historic victory at the Norway Chess 2026 tournament.
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, who recently became the first Indian player to win the prestigious Norway Chess title.
Sharing details of the honour on X, the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister's Office (CMO) wrote, "Honourable Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Thiru. Joseph Vijay, today at the Chief Secretariat, presented a cheque for 50 lakh rupees as a prestigious cash incentive to Grandmaster R. Praggnanandhaa, who became the first Indian to win the title in the Norway Chess 2026 series held in the Norwegian capital, Oslo, thereby creating a historic milestone, and played a game of chess with Grandmaster Praggnanandhaa."
Praggnanandhaa scripted history on Friday 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.
After meeting CM Vijay, Praggnanandhaa told the media, "I was asked to bring a chessboard, and I played a game with the Chief Minister. I never expected that he would actually play chess with me. We played for about 15 minutes, and I won the game. He was very supportive and encouraging."
The Chennai-born Grandmaster finished ahead of a star-studded field that featured World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen, reigning world champion Dommaraju Gukesh, Alireza Firouzja, Wesley So and Vincent Keymer.
Praggnanandhaa's title-winning campaign gathered momentum in the closing stages of the tournament, with crucial victories over Firouzja, Carlsen, Gukesh and Keymer. His triumph over Carlsen was particularly significant as he completed a rare double victory over the Norwegian legend during the event.
American Grandmaster Wesley So finished second in the standings after defeating Firouzja in an armageddon game in the final round, while Carlsen ended a challenging tournament on a positive note by defeating Gukesh and finishing fourth.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Finally, state governments recognizing sports achievements properly! Rs 50 lakh is a good gesture, but I hope there's also long-term support for these young prodigies. Pragg is only 20, and with this win, he's shown he can compete with the best in the world. Imagine what he'll achieve in the next decade! 🙌
Absolutely brilliant! India's chess renaissance continues - first Gukesh became world champion, now Pragg wins Norway Chess. The future of Indian chess is incredibly bright. CM playing chess with him is a nice touch too - shows the government is taking interest beyond just photo ops. 🇮🇳♟️
This is fantastic recognition! As someone who follows international chess, Praggnanandhaa's rise has been amazing to watch. Four consecutive classical wins against such elite competition - including Carlsen and Gukesh - is no small feat. Well done to the Tamil Nadu government for honoring this achievement properly!
Great news! But I hope this isn't just a one-time thing. Our state needs proper chess academies and infrastructure. Many talented kids from smaller towns don't get such opportunities. Still, proud of Pragg - he's carried India's flag high! 🏆
Just incredible - an Indian winning Norway Chess is a massive achievement! The field was absolutely stacked with Carlsen, Gukesh, Firouzja... Praggnanandhaa's composure under pressure is world-class. This cash reward is well-deserved and hopefully the first of many such honors for him. Congratulations
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