Fresh from a landmark victory on the global chess stage, Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa received a warm honour from Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay in Chennai on Monday. The 20-year-old chess star was presented with a ₹50 lakh cash reward by the state government after becoming the first Indian to win the Norway Chess title. The ceremony also produced a memorable moment when CM Vijay sat down for a friendly chess game with Praggnanandhaa. The young Grandmaster won the match after about 15 minutes, but later praised the Chief Minister's interest in the game and his encouragement for sportspersons.
The light-hearted contest ended with Praggnanandhaa winning the match, he reflected on the moment, the chess star said, “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 felicitation took place at the Tamil Nadu Secretariat and was organised through the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT). Along with the cash incentive, Praggnanandhaa received a commemorative memento. His parents, sports officials and government representatives were present during the event. The meeting highlighted the state's continued support for elite athletes and chess talent from Tamil Nadu.
The ₹50 lakh reward was announced in recognition of Praggnanandhaa's historic achievement in Norway Chess 2026. Chief Minister Vijay personally handed over the cheque and congratulated the Grandmaster for bringing international recognition to both Tamil Nadu and India. During the interaction, Praggnanandhaa revealed that he had been asked to bring a chessboard, leading to an unexpected game with the Chief Minister. The Grandmaster won the contest but said Vijay played well and shared that he used to play chess with friends. The cash incentive was described as a motivating gesture for athletes aiming to excel at the highest level.
Norway's Win for R Praggnanandhaa
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Praggnanandhaa's triumph in Oslo marked a major milestone in Indian chess. He secured the Norway Chess 2026 title by defeating Germany's Vincent Keymer in the final round and finished with 18 points. The victory placed him ahead of Wesley So, who ended on 17 points, while Alireza Firouzja finished third with 15.5 points. The tournament featured some of the strongest players in the world, including World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen, reigning world champion D. Gukesh, Wesley So, Alireza Firouzja and Vincent Keymer.
Notably, Praggnanandhaa produced one of the tournament's strongest comebacks. After being at the bottom of the standings following Round 6, he won four consecutive classical games to claim the title. His campaign included two victories over Magnus Carlsen and a crucial win against D. Gukesh. The achievement made him the first Indian champion in the tournament's history since its launch in 2013 and further strengthened his position among the world's leading chess players.
