R Praggnanandhaa has been awarded a ₹50 lakh cash prize by the Tamil Nadu government after creating history by becoming the first Indian to win the prestigious Norway Chess championship.
Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay announced the reward to recognize Praggnanandhaa’s outstanding achievement and contribution to Indian chess.
The young Grandmaster secured the title after an impressive performance against some of the world’s highest-ranked chess players, marking one of the biggest achievements of his career.
His victory has been widely hailed as a breakthrough moment for Indian chess, highlighting the country’s emergence as a global chess powerhouse.
Tamil Nadu has long been associated with producing elite chess talent, including former world champion Viswanathan Anand and current reigning world chess champion Gukesh Dommaraju, and Praggnanandhaa’s success further strengthens that legacy.
The state government’s reward underscores its continued support for sporting excellence and international achievements by athletes from Tamil Nadu.
Praggnanandhaa’s triumph is expected to inspire young players across India and contribute to the growing popularity of chess among the country’s youth.
