Watch: Rs 50 Lakh Reward! Tamil Nadu CM Vijay plays chess with Norwegian chess champion R Praggnanandhaa

Tamil Nadu CM Vijay with Norwegian Chess Champion R Praggnanandhaa (Screengrab) NEW DELHI: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay felicitated chess star R. Praggnanandha on Monday after his historic victory in the Norwegian Chess Tournament and presented him with a cash prize of Rs 50 lakh and a memento. The event also included a friendly chess game between the Chief Minister and the 20-year-old Grandmaster. The ceremony was attended by senior government officials, sports authorities and Praggnanandha’s parents. Praggnanandhaa made history in Oslo by becoming the first Indian to win the prestigious Norwegian chess title. His remarkable campaign included two classic format wins over world number one Magnus Carlsen and an important win against reigning world champion D Gukesh. Appreciating his calmness and brilliance on the international stage, the Chief Minister presented the award on behalf of the Tamil Nadu Sports Development Authority.Watch:The triumph was all the more impressive given Praggnanandha’s difficult start. After six rounds, he was at the bottom of the standings in sixth place and had recently fallen to 16th in the world rankings. However, he turned things around with four straight wins, including another win over Carlsen and a crucial win over Gukesh. The streak was the tournament’s first four-game winning streak since Carlsen accomplished the feat in 2021.READ ALSO: R Praggnanandhaa Exclusive Interview: “Winning Against Magnus Carlsen Is Something I’ve Always Wanted”In the final lap, Praggnanandhaa trailed leader Wesley So by half a point and knew victory was essential. Playing with the white pieces against Vincent Keymer, he seized his opportunity and secured a crucial victory. The result earned him a full three points, taking his tally to 18 points and moving into first place overall.The title marked a major milestone in Indian chess and highlighted Praggnanandha’s resilience and ability to bounce back from adversity to claim one of the sport’s most prestigious crowns.