Vijay also presented a memento to honour Praggnanandhaa for bringing global recognition to Tamil Nadu and India through his achievements.
TN CM Vijay plays chess with Praggnanandhaa, awards Rs 50 lakh for Norway Chess triumph. (PIC: IANS)
Fresh from scripting one of the greatest achievements in Indian chess, Grandmaster R. Praggnanandhaa received a warm reception from Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on Monday. What began as a formal felicitation for the young chess star’s landmark Norway Chess triumph soon transformed into an unexpected and memorable face-off across a chessboard, adding a personal touch to the celebration of a historic sporting achievement.
The highlight of the meeting came when CM Vijay and the 20-year-old Grandmaster sat down for a friendly game of chess. The informal contest lasted around 15 minutes, drawing smiles and admiration as the state’s top political leader tested his skills against one of the world’s brightest chess talents.
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#WATCH | Chennai | Tamil Nadu CM Vijay meets Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa and awards him Rs 50 lakh on behalf of the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu after the chess player won the Norway Chess 2026 title.
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(Source: TNDIPR) pic.twitter.com/Lf4dNgYrEX
— ANI (@ANI) June 8, 2026
Recalling the interaction, Praggnanandhaa 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.”
Chennai, Tamil Nadu | On meeting Tamil Nadu CM Vijay, Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa says, “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… https://t.co/2NnR98LRvn pic.twitter.com/nB6cMyJyFz
— ANI (@ANI) June 8, 2026
During the felicitation ceremony, Tamil Nadu CM Vijay presented Praggnanandhaa with a cash award of Rs 50 lakh in recognition of his remarkable success at the Norway Chess tournament.
Praising the young Grandmaster’s brilliance, determination and composure on the international stage, CM Vijay handed over the cheque on behalf of the Tamil Nadu Sports Development Authority. He also presented a memento to honour Praggnanandhaa for bringing global recognition to Tamil Nadu and India through his achievements.
Minister for Public Works and Sports Development Aadhav Arjuna, Member Secretary of the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu J. Meghanatha Reddy, I.A.S., Praggnanandhaa’s parents and senior government officials were present during the event.
Praggnanandhaa etched his name into the record books in Oslo by becoming the first Indian player to win the prestigious Norway Chess title.
His championship run featured some of the biggest victories of his career, including two classical-format wins over World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen on home soil. He also registered a crucial victory against reigning World Champion D. Gukesh during the tournament.
The title victory became even more extraordinary because of the way Praggnanandhaa fought back after a difficult start. Following the sixth round, he was placed sixth and last in the standings, seemingly out of contention.
However, the Indian Grandmaster produced an exceptional turnaround, winning four consecutive games to force his way back into the title race. The streak included his second triumph over Carlsen and a decisive victory against Gukesh, helping him emerge as a serious contender. It was the tournament’s first four-game winning run since Carlsen achieved the feat in 2021.
Heading into the final round, Praggnanandhaa trailed Wesley So by half a point and knew only a strong finish would keep his title hopes alive.
Playing with the white pieces against Vincent Keymer, he seized his opportunity with a composed and clinical performance. The victory earned him the maximum three points, taking his tally to 18 points and securing the Norway Chess crown.
The triumph completed a stunning resurgence for the Indian star, who had dropped to World No. 16 in the rankings released on June 1, but responded with one of the most memorable performances of his career to claim a title that had never before been won by an Indian player.
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