Anurag Thakur Congratulates Praggnanandhaa on Norway Chess Win
Synopsis
BJP MP Anurag Thakur congratulated Grandmaster Praggnanandhaa on winning the Norway Chess Championship 2026, urging him to continue dominating world chess and making India proud. The tribute comes from a former Sports Minister who expanded government support for chess through Khelo India and TOPS.
Key Takeaways
BJP MP Anurag Thakur congratulated Praggnanandhaa on winning the Norway Chess Championship 2026 on June 6, 2026 .
The Norway Chess Championship in Stavanger is one of the world's premier elite chess events, featuring classical, rapid, and blitz formats.
Thakur, as former Union Sports Minister, expanded the Khelo India programme in 2022 to include chess as a priority discipline.
The Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) has covered training and travel costs for identified chess talents since 2016 .
India's chess pipeline has grown significantly in the post-Viswanathan Anand era, with multiple young Grandmasters now competing at elite level.
The 2026 Chess Olympiad is the next major milestone for India's young Grandmaster cohort.
BJP MP and former Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur on Saturday, June 6, 2026, congratulated Indian chess Grandmaster Praggnanandhaa on winning the Norway Chess Championship 2026, calling the feat a moment of national pride.
Context
Thakur took to X to write: 'Many congratulations to Grandmaster prodigy Praggnanandhaa on winning the Norway Chess Championship 2026. May you scale even greater heights in this cerebral game, continue to dominate the 64 squares, and make the nation proud.' The message was addressed directly to the player's official handle @rpraggnachess.
The Norway Chess Championship, held annually in Stavanger, Norway, is one of the most prestigious elite-level tournaments on the global chess calendar. It draws the world's highest-rated players and is contested across classical, rapid, and blitz formats, making a victory there a significant marker of world-class performance.
Policy Backdrop
Thakur's congratulatory message carries added weight given his direct role in shaping India's chess ecosystem. During his tenure as Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, the government expanded the Khelo India programme in 2022 to include chess as a priority discipline, directing funds toward academies and domestic tournaments.
Chess players also benefited from the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), which from 2016 onward covered training and international travel costs for identified talents. These policy interventions are widely credited with creating a pipeline of young Indian Grandmasters who now regularly compete at the elite level.
Stakeholders and Impact
Praggnanandhaa emerged as a prodigy in his early teens, becoming one of the youngest Grandmasters in history and consistently featuring in top-tier international events. His Norway Chess victory adds to a growing list of achievements by a cohort of young Indian players who have risen to prominence in the post-Viswanathan Anand era.
The Chess Federation of India (CFI), which coordinates player selection and support with the Sports Ministry, stands to benefit from the visibility such wins bring to the sport. Sustained elite performances help make the case for continued and expanded government investment in chess infrastructure across the country.
What's Next
Attention in Indian chess circles will now turn to the 2026 Chess Olympiad, where India's young Grandmasters are expected to be central to the national team's campaign. Performance in subsequent FIDE Candidates cycle events will also be closely watched as a measure of whether this generation can sustain its ascent to the very top of world chess.
Thakur's public acknowledgement reflects a broader pattern among Indian sports policymakers of using elite victories to underscore the argument for diversifying national sporting ambition well beyond cricket.
Point of View
His acknowledgement reinforces a deliberate narrative that government policy, not just individual talent, is driving India's rise in world chess. Praggnanandhaa's Norway Chess victory arrives at a strategically useful moment ahead of the 2026 Chess Olympiad, giving policymakers a high-profile data point to justify sustained investment. The broader arc here is India's conscious effort to build an elite multi-sport identity, and chess — with its global visibility and low infrastructure cost — sits neatly at the centre of that ambition.
NationPress
25 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Praggnanandhaa and why is he famous in chess?
Praggnanandhaa is an Indian chess Grandmaster who became one of the youngest players to achieve that title, rising to international prominence through strong performances in elite tournaments. He is considered a leading figure in India's new generation of world-class chess players.
What is the Norway Chess Championship?
The Norway Chess Championship is an annual elite-level tournament held in Stavanger, Norway, that attracts the world's top-rated players. It is contested across classical, rapid, and blitz formats and is regarded as one of the most prestigious events on the global chess calendar.
Why did Anurag Thakur congratulate Praggnanandhaa?
Anurag Thakur, BJP MP and former Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, congratulated Praggnanandhaa on winning the Norway Chess Championship 2026, expressing hope that the Grandmaster would continue to make India proud on the world stage.
What government schemes support chess players in India?
The Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) has supported chess players with training and travel funding since 2016, and the Khelo India programme was expanded in 2022 to include chess as a priority discipline, funding academies and domestic tournaments.
What is the next big chess event for India after Norway Chess 2026?
The 2026 Chess Olympiad is the next major milestone for India's chess contingent, where the country's young Grandmasters, including Praggnanandhaa, are expected to play a central role in the national team's campaign.
