Praggnanandhaa gets ₹50 lakh from TN CM Vijay after Norway Chess triumph
Synopsis
Ranked 16th in the world and dead last after round six, Praggnanandhaa won four games in a row — including two classical wins over Magnus Carlsen — to become the first Indian champion in Norway Chess history. Tamil Nadu CM Vijay marked the feat with a ₹50 lakh award and a friendly game across the board.
Key Takeaways
Praggnanandhaa became the first Indian to win the Norway Chess title, finishing on 18 points .
Joseph Vijay presented him with a ₹50 lakh cash award on 8 June on behalf of the Tamil Nadu Sports Development Authority .
Praggnanandhaa defeated World No.
1 Magnus Carlsen twice in the classical format during the tournament.
He was ranked sixth and last after round six before winning four consecutive games — the first such streak in the event since Carlsen's in 2021 .
Praggnanandhaa was ranked World No.
16 in the list released on 1 June 2025 before his title run.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on Monday, 8 June felicitated chess prodigy R. Praggnanandhaa for his landmark victory at the Norway Chess 2025 tournament, presenting him with a cash award of ₹50 lakh on behalf of the Tamil Nadu Sports Development Authority. The ceremony took a memorable turn when the Chief Minister and the 20-year-old Grandmaster sat down across a chessboard for a friendly game.
Historic Norway Chess Win
Praggnanandhaa scripted history in Oslo by becoming the first Indian to win the prestigious Norway Chess title. His campaign featured a rare double — defeating home favourite and World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen twice in the classical format — alongside a decisive win over reigning World Champion D. Gukesh. The four-game winning streak he produced in the tournament's closing rounds was the first such run in the event since Carlsen's in 2021.
How the Title Was Sealed
Praggnanandhaa entered the final stretch ranked sixth and last after the sixth round, half a point behind leader Wesley So. He then strung together four consecutive victories, including a second classical win over Carlsen and a crucial penultimate-round triumph over compatriot Gukesh. Facing Vincent Keymer with the white pieces in the decisive game, he converted the win to reach 18 points, securing first place outright.
Felicitation in Chennai
Chief Minister Vijay lauded the youngster's intellect and composure on the global stage before handing over the ₹50 lakh cheque and a memento. Minister for Public Works and Sports Development Aadhav Arjuna, Member Secretary of the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu J. Meghanatha Reddy (IAS), Praggnanandhaa's parents, and senior government officials attended the ceremony.
Rankings Context
Praggnanandhaa had slipped to World No. 16 in the rankings released on 1 June, making his Norway Chess surge all the more striking. The title is expected to push him back up the live ratings and cement his standing among the world's elite ahead of upcoming classical events.
Point of View
Pragg and Gukesh, are both Tamil Nadu products under 21, and both beat Carlsen on the same circuit within months of each other. The ₹50 lakh state award is symbolic, but the deeper question is whether Tamil Nadu and Indian chess institutions are building the coaching, travel, and preparation infrastructure to sustain this pipeline rather than merely celebrate its outputs.
NationPress
6 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Tamil Nadu CM Vijay present to Praggnanandhaa?
Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay presented Praggnanandhaa with a ₹50 lakh cash award and a memento on behalf of the Tamil Nadu Sports Development Authority on 8 June 2025. The two also played a friendly chess game during the felicitation ceremony in Chennai.
Why is Praggnanandhaa's Norway Chess win historic?
Praggnanandhaa became the first Indian player ever to win the Norway Chess title. The feat is especially notable because he defeated World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen twice in the classical format and overcame a last-place standing after round six to clinch the title.
How did Praggnanandhaa win the Norway Chess 2025 title?
He was ranked sixth and last after six rounds, half a point behind leader Wesley So. He then won four consecutive games — including a second win over Carlsen and a win over World Champion D. Gukesh — before beating Vincent Keymer in the final decisive game to finish on 18 points.
What was Praggnanandhaa's world ranking before Norway Chess?
Praggnanandhaa had slipped to World No. 16 in the FIDE rankings released on 1 June 2025, just days before his title-winning run in Oslo.
Who else was present at the felicitation ceremony?
Sports Development Minister Aadhav Arjuna, Tamil Nadu Sports Development Authority Member Secretary J. Meghanatha Reddy (IAS), Praggnanandhaa's parents, and senior government officials attended the ceremony in Chennai.
