The Chief Minister recognized Praggnanandhaa after he made history as the first Indian to win the esteemed Norway Chess title, clinching the victory with a final-round win against Germany’s Vincent Keymer in Oslo.
A video shared by the Tamil Nadu government captured Praggnanandhaa meeting Vijay alongside his parents before they settled down for a game of chess in the chief minister’s office.
#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.
(Source: TNDIPR) pic.twitter.com/Lf4dNgYrEX
— ANI (@ANI) June 8, 2026
As Vijay stood by his office table strategizing on defending his king, Praggnanandhaa, along with his parents, Tamil Nadu Public Works and Sports Development Minister Aadhav Arjuna, and Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu member secretary J Meghanatha Reddy observed closely.
The match concluded with Praggnanandhaa delivering a checkmate. CM Vijay smiled and applauded his young adversary.
The CM later awarded a cheque of ₹50 lakh on behalf of the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT) to Praggnanandhaa in recognition of his success.
“I didn’t anticipate the Chief Minister would play chess; he played quite well. We played for around 15 minutes, and I won,” Praggnanandhaa shared with reporters.
He mentioned that he was asked to bring a chessboard, and the game was organized for them to play.
Praggnanandhaa described his Norway Chess victory as the pinnacle of his career, noting that defeating some of the world’s top players, including Magnus Carlsen, made the title especially significant.
The 20-year-old made history as the first Indian to win Norway Chess since the tournament’s inception in 2013.
First Published: Jun 8, 2026 3:15 PM IST
