Mumbai, Dec 12 (NationPress) In his almost ten-year journey as a chess player, Grandmaster R. Praggnanandhaa has never encountered an incident resembling a stampede at a chess event.

At just 20 years old and ranked World No. 7, Pragg has participated in countless chess competitions featuring legendary players, but what he encountered on Friday at the District Sports Club near Dharavi, Mumbai, was truly one-of-a-kind.

He was in Mumbai to take part in the one-day Dharavi Chess Championship 2025, organized by the Navbharat Mega Developers and Adani Group, aimed at school children from Dharavi who are benefiting from an ongoing development project.

The young chess prodigy was surrounded by approximately 450 enthusiastic students from 30 schools in Dharavi and the neighboring Sion Koliwada area, necessitating security intervention to ensure his safety, as Pragg recently qualified for the upcoming Candidates 2026.

The excitement displayed by the children astonished the chess champion. "It was a delightful surprise. This is an incredible event. The enthusiasm from the kids for a chess tournament is fantastic, and witnessing their passion for chess is truly heartwarming. They all seem very inspired, which is wonderful to see," Praggnanandhaa expressed to IANS on Friday.

Every word spoken by Pragg was met with cheers from his eager audience, as children rushed towards the stage to meet him, even breaking through the makeshift barriers set by the organizers. Although he is accustomed to the adoration of fans, this was his first experience of being mobbed in such a manner.

For many of these students, it was their inaugural meeting with a chess grandmaster, amplifying their excitement.

The atmosphere was both inspiring and nostalgic for Pragg, as it reminded him of his early chess-playing days and school life in Chennai. He conveyed this sentiment during his brief address to the participants, wishing them luck in their future endeavors.

A highlight of the day was for Shivam Chaurasiya, who clinched victory in the senior category of the Dharavi Chess Championship, as he had the chance to meet his chess idol and accept his award from Praggnanandhaa.

"I have seen their pictures online, but this is the first time I've actually met a chess grandmaster. He is very approachable," remarked the Class 9 student from Guru Nanak National High School.

Shivam, who comes from a modest background, with his parents running a small leather goods business in Dharavi, was thrilled to be competing in his first chess tournament.

"We rarely have such events in our neighborhood. This is my first participation in such a tournament. I hope that with the ongoing development of Dharavi, we will see more events like this," he shared with IANS after the event.

In addition to participating in the chess tournament, Shivam and the other winners had the chance to play a chess game against GM Praggnanandhaa during a ten-player simultaneous exhibition.

"Meeting him was an unforgettable experience. We seldom get opportunities like this. Interacting with sports stars and playing alongside them is rare. He is extremely kind," said Sumit, a classmate of Shivam who finished second in the senior category.

Both students expressed hopes for more opportunities like this, as they played impressively despite lacking formal coaching in chess.

While Shivam and Sumit secured first and second place in the seniors,

As Navbharat Mega Developers and Adani Group continue their development efforts in Dharavi, they aspire to host more such events in the area.

The Dharavi Chess Championship was organized by the Adani Group to demonstrate their commitment to fostering sports at the grassroots level.

Such events are expected to contribute to the social development of Dharavi alongside its physical transformation.