TN CM Felicitates Praggnanandhaa With ₹50 Lakh, Plays Friendly Chess Match

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Monday felicitated Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa and presented him a ₹50 lakh cash incentive after his historic victory at the Norway Chess tournament.

Praggnanandhaa, who recently became the first Indian to win the prestigious Norway Chess title , was honoured at the State Secretariat in Chennai. The young grandmaster achieved the milestone after a final-round win over Germany’s Vincent Keymer in Oslo, marking a significant breakthrough in his career.

During the felicitation event, CM Vijay also played a friendly game of chess with Praggnanandhaa at his chamber. The Chief Minister was seen closely engaged in the match, even standing beside his office table while analysing and attempting strategic moves to defend his king. The informal game drew attention as officials, family members of the player, and sports administrators observed the interaction.

Among those present were Praggnanandhaa’s parents, State Public Works and Sports Development Minister Aadhav Arjuna, and member secretary of the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu J Meghanatha Reddy.

Later, the Chief Minister presented the cheque on behalf of the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT), acknowledging Praggnanandhaa’s achievement in bringing global recognition to Indian chess.

Speaking at the event, Praggnanandhaa described his Norway Chess triumph as the biggest achievement of his career so far , noting that victories over top-ranked players, including former world champion Magnus Carlsen, made the title especially memorable.

He also highlighted that the Norway Chess tournament, held since 2013, had never before seen an Indian winner, making his victory a historic moment for Indian chess.

The event concluded with appreciation for Praggnanandhaa’s consistent performance and growing stature in international chess, with the state government reiterating its support for emerging sporting talent.