CM Vijay plays chess with Praggnanandhaa, felicitates Grandmaster with Rs 50 lakh after historic Norway Chess 2026 win

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on Monday felicitated Grandmaster R. Praggnanandhaa with a cash reward of Rs 50 lakh in recognition of his historic victory at Norway Chess 2026, making him the first Indian player to win the prestigious tournament.

The honour was presented during a meeting at the Tamil Nadu Secretariat, where the Chief Minister and the Grandmaster also sat down for a friendly game. Praggnanandhaa reportedly checkmated Vijay within a few moves, but later appreciated the Chief Minister’s enthusiasm for the sport and described the interaction as a memorable experience.

Visuals released by the state government showed the two sharing a light-hearted moment over a chessboard before Vijay handed over the cheque to the Chennai-born Grandmaster.

Speaking after the meeting, Praggnanandhaa said the invitation and recognition came as a pleasant surprise. He revealed that he was unaware of Vijay’s interest in chess until officials requested that a chessboard be brought to the Secretariat.

According to Praggnanandhaa, the Chief Minister told him that he used to play chess with friends. While the Grandmaster emerged victorious in their brief encounter, he noted that Vijay played well and made the experience enjoyable.

Praggnanandhaa recently scripted history by clinching the Norway Chess 2026 title in Oslo after defeating Germany’s Vincent Keymer in the final round. His triumph was powered by an impressive late surge, including four consecutive classical victories that helped him finish at the top of the standings.

One of the standout moments of his campaign came against World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen, as Praggnanandhaa completed a rare double victory over the Norwegian chess legend during the tournament.

The Norway Chess title is regarded as one of the most significant achievements of Praggnanandhaa’s career and further cements his status among the world’s leading chess players.