Fresh off his historic triumph on the global stage, Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa was formally felicitated by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay at the Chief Secretariat in Chennai.
In recognition of his monumental achievement at the Norway Chess 2026 tournament, the Chief Minister presented the young chess prodigy with a well-deserved cash reward of ₹50 lakh on behalf of the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu.
The ceremony featured a delightful, light-hearted moment that quickly captured the attention of social media. The 20-year-old chess sensation engaged in a friendly, exhibition game of chess against Chief Minister Vijay right at the secretariat desk. Displaying his trademark calm and tactical precision, Praggnanandhaa smoothly outmaneuvered the political leader to seal a friendly checkmate, drawing enthusiastic applause from the ministers and officials gathered in the room.
The celebration comes on the heels of a historic campaign in Oslo, where the Chennai-born Grandmaster etched his name into the history books as the first-ever Indian player to capture the prestigious Norway Chess title. Praggnanandhaa clinched the championship in breathtaking fashion by rattling off four consecutive classical victories in the closing stages, culminating in a decisive final-round masterclass against Germany’s Vincent Keymer to secure the crown.
What makes Praggnanandhaa’s victory truly legendary is the caliber of the field he conquered. The tournament featured the absolute elite of modern chess, including reigning World Champion D. Gukesh, Alireza Firouzja, Wesley So, and World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen. Among the absolute highlights of his campaign was a spectacular victory over Carlsen, allowing the young Indian to complete a rare, historic double over the Norwegian icon on his own home soil and solidifying his status as a dominant powerhouse in international chess.