Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on Monday honoured chess Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa with a cash reward of ₹50 lakh following the young star’s historic victory at the Norway Chess 2026 tournament.
The award, presented through the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT), recognised Praggnanandhaa’s remarkable achievement of becoming the first Indian player to win the prestigious Norway Chess title.
Praggnanandhaa Defeats CM Vijay in Friendly Chess Match
The felicitation ceremony featured an unexpected and memorable moment when Chief Minister Vijay sat down for a friendly game of chess with the 20-year-old Grandmaster.
Praggnanandhaa later revealed that he had not anticipated playing a match with the Chief Minister.
“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,” Praggnanandhaa told reporters.
The friendly encounter drew smiles from those present and highlighted Vijay’s appreciation for the sport and its athletes.
Tamil Nadu Honours a Historic Achievement
Along with the ₹50 lakh cheque, Vijay presented Praggnanandhaa with a commemorative memento. The event was attended by Minister for Public Works and Sports Development Aadhav Arjuna, SDAT Member-Secretary J. Meghanatha Reddy and the chess star’s parents.
The Chief Minister had earlier congratulated Praggnanandhaa on social media, describing the achievement as a proud moment for Tamil Nadu and India.
He praised the Grandmaster for his outstanding performances during the tournament, including victories against some of the world’s strongest players.
First Indian to Win Norway Chess
Praggnanandhaa scripted history on June 5 by winning the Norway Chess 2026 title in Oslo, one of the most prestigious events on the international chess calendar.
The Chennai-born Grandmaster finished with 18 points after defeating Germany’s Vincent Keymer in the final round. American Grandmaster Wesley So finished second with 17 points, while France’s Alireza Firouzja secured third place with 15.5 points.
His victory marked the first time an Indian player has lifted the Norway Chess trophy.
Remarkable Comeback Defines Tournament
The triumph was even more impressive considering Praggnanandhaa’s position midway through the competition.
After six rounds, he found himself at the bottom of the six-player standings. However, he produced an extraordinary turnaround by winning four consecutive classical games to surge to the top of the leaderboard.
His remarkable run included two victories over World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen and a crucial win against reigning world champion D. Gukesh.
The performance has been widely hailed as one of the most memorable comebacks in modern elite chess.
Praise from National Leaders
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Praggnanandhaa on his historic achievement, calling it an incredible milestone that reflects his consistent excellence on the global stage.
Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan also praised the young Grandmaster, noting that he had become the first Indian to win the elite Norway Chess tournament.
Rising Star of Indian Chess
Born in Chennai in August 2005, Praggnanandhaa earned the Grandmaster title in 2018 and has since emerged as one of the brightest talents in world chess.
His achievements include finishing runner-up at the 2023 Chess World Cup, helping India win gold at the 2024 Chess Olympiad and claiming the Tata Steel Chess Tournament title in 2025.
Praggnanandhaa is among a new generation of Indian chess stars transforming the country into a global chess powerhouse.
Tamil Nadu Continues to Produce Chess Champions
Tamil Nadu remains one of India’s strongest centres for chess excellence. Three of the four Indian players currently ranked in the world’s top 10 hail from the state.
Both Praggnanandhaa and world champion D. Gukesh receive support through the Tamil Nadu government’s Elite Scheme for sportspersons, which aims to nurture world-class talent across disciplines.
With his historic Norway Chess victory, Praggnanandhaa has further strengthened Tamil Nadu’s reputation as the cradle of Indian chess and inspired a new generation of aspiring players across the country.
