Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay presented a ₹50 lakh [1] incentive to Grandmaster Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa on Saturday.
The reward recognizes a historic milestone in Indian sports, marking the first time an Indian player has won the prestigious Norway Chess tournament [2].
The ceremony took place at the Tamil Nadu Secretariat in Chennai. During the event, the chief minister congratulated the chess prodigy for his performance in the 2026 [2] competition held in Oslo.
"My heartfelt congratulations to Grandmaster Praggnanandhaa on achieving the historic feat of becoming the first Indian to win the Norway Chess 2026 tournament held in Oslo," Vijay said.
The incentive of ₹50 lakh [1] serves as a state-level acknowledgment of the grandmaster's global achievement. The meeting included a game of chess between the chief minister and the champion — a gesture highlighting the state's support for the sport.
Praggnanandhaa's victory in Norway has drawn significant attention to the rise of Indian chess on the international stage. The state government's decision to provide a substantial financial reward reflects a broader effort to incentivize elite athletic performance in the region.
“The first Indian to win the Norway Chess 2026 tournament.”
The financial reward from the Tamil Nadu government underscores the strategic importance of chess as a point of national and regional pride in India. By rewarding a historic first in a top-tier European tournament, the state signals a commitment to fostering a new generation of grandmasters and leveraging individual sporting success to promote educational and intellectual achievement.
