Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay honored chess prodigy R. Praggnanandhaa for his historic victory at the Norway Chess tournament by awarding him a cash prize of Rs 50 lakh. During the felicitation, CM Vijay engaged in a friendly chess match with the 20-year-old Grandmaster.
Praggnanandhaa made history in Oslo as the first Indian to win the Norway Chess title, achieving a remarkable feat by defeating Magnus Carlsen, the World No. 1, twice in classical matches, along with a crucial win against reigning World Champion D. Gukesh. CM Vijay praised the youngster’s exceptional talent and poise on the global stage and presented him with the cash award on behalf of the Tamil Nadu Sports Development Authority, along with a memento for bringing pride to Tamil Nadu and the country.
The felicitation ceremony was attended by Minister for Public Works and Sports Development Aadhav Arjuna, Member Secretary of the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu J. Meghanatha Reddy, Praggnanandhaa’s parents, and other high-ranking government officials. Despite slipping to 16th place in the world rankings, Praggnanandhaa’s outstanding performance in the Norway Chess tournament, where he won four consecutive games, including victories over Carlsen and Gukesh, led to his prestigious title win.
