📌 Key Points
- Tamil Nadu CM Joseph Vijay felicitated Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa with a ₹50 lakh reward.
- Praggnanandhaa achieved a historic victory at the Norway Chess 2026 tournament, becoming the first Indian to win.
- CM Vijay engaged in a friendly chess match with the Grandmaster during the felicitation ceremony.
- Vijay, a former actor, recently became CM and launched the TVK party, marking his political debut.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph Vijay recently honored Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa with a ₹50 lakh reward for his historic Norway Chess victory. The CM also engaged in a friendly chess match with the young prodigy, marking a notable public appearance for the newly sworn-in political leader.
CM Vijay Honors Chess Prodigy Praggnanandhaa
The 20-year-old Grandmaster recently became the first Indian player to win the prestigious Norway Chess title.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay felicitated Indian Grandmaster Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa and presented him with a cash reward of ₹ 50 lakh on behalf of the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu. The 20-year-old chess prodigy scored a historic victory at the Norway Chess 2026 tournament.
A Friendly Chess Match: CM vs. Grandmaster
Sharing details of the honour on X, the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) wrote, “Honourable Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Thiru. Joseph Vijay, today at the Chief Secretariat, presented a cheque for 50 lakh rupees as a prestigious cash incentive to Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa, who became the first Indian to win the title in the Norway Chess 2026 series held in the Norwegian capital, Oslo, thereby creating a historic milestone, and played a game of chess with Grandmaster Praggnanandhaa.” The felicitation ceremony was held at the Chief Secretariat in Chennai.
Vijay’s Political Journey and Future Endeavors
Last month, C Joseph Vijay was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu in the presence of family members and hundreds of supporters. Meanwhile, his final film as an actor, Jana Nayagan , has remained stalled for more than five months. Vijay has joined the league of iconic actor-turned-leaders like NT Rama Rao, MG Ramachandran, and J Jayalalithaa. In February 2024, Vijay announced that he would contest in the 2026 elections. He launched the TVK party and held his first public rally in October 2024. Since then, the actor has toured many regions of TN to hold rallies and share his manifesto directly with the people.
This event highlights CM Vijay’s public engagement and support for sports, while also underscoring Praggnanandhaa’s continued rise in the chess world. It’s a blend of political presence and sporting recognition, setting a positive tone for both figures.
