Tamil Nadu CM Felicitates Praggnanandhaa with ₹30 Lakh After Grand Chennai Homecoming

Chennai: Chess prodigy Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa was welcomed home to Chennai on August 30 after securing a silver medal in the Chess World Cup in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Praggnanandhaa, 18, became the second Indian, after Viswanathan Anand, to reach the World Cup final. He defeated several top players en route to the final, including Hikaru Nakamura and Fabiano Caruana.

Praggnanandhaa lost to Magnus Carlsen in the final, but his performance was still met with widespread acclaim. He was hailed as a future world champion and a source of inspiration for young chess players around the world.

Thousands of fans and well-wishers gathered at the Chennai airport to welcome Praggnanandhaa home. He was also honoured by the Tamil Nadu government with a Rs 30 lakh cheque and a memento.

அஜர்பைஜான் நாட்டில் நடைபெற்ற FIDE உலக கோப்பை செஸ் சாம்பியன்ஷிப் போட்டியில் சிறப்பாக விளையாடி இரண்டாவது இடத்தை பெற்று சாதனை படைத்த செஸ் கிராண்ட் மாஸ்டர் @rpragchess அவர்களை பாராட்டி ஊக்குவிக்கும் விதமாக உயரிய ஊக்கத் தொகையான ரூ. 30 இலட்சத்திற்கான காசோலை மற்றும் நினைவுப் பரிசை… pic.twitter.com/QTM4OIPeU5

— CMOTamilNadu (@CMOTamilnadu) August 30, 2023

Praggnanandhaa said that he was proud to represent India on the world stage and that he was grateful for the support of his fans and sponsors. He said that he would continue to work hard and strive to become the world champion.

Praggnanandhaa’s success has helped to boost the popularity of chess in India. The country hosted the Chess Olympiad earlier this year, and the sport is now being promoted in schools and other educational institutions.

Praggnanandhaa is an inspiration to young chess players around the world. He has shown that it is possible to achieve great things at a young age, and he has given hope to those who dream of becoming a world champion.