In a statement, Vijay hailed the 20-year-old chess prodigy for his remarkable performance at the Norway Chess 2026 tournament held in Oslo, Norway, where he secured the championship title with a decisive victory over Germany\u2019s Vincent Keymer in the final round.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The Chief Minister noted that Praggnanandhaa had achieved several milestones during the tournament, including defeating reigning world No.1 Magnus Carlsen twice and registering four consecutive victories in a single Norway Chess campaign. He said the young Grandmaster had set new records while showcasing exceptional skill and determination against some of the strongest players in the world.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cHeartfelt congratulations to Grandmaster Praggnanandhaa for becoming the first Indian to win the Norway Chess tournament and for bringing immense pride to Tamil Nadu and India,\u201d Vijay said in his message.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Praggnanandhaa\u2019s victory marks a historic milestone for Indian chess. Widely regarded as one of the brightest talents of his generation, the Chennai-born player has been rewriting records since childhood. He became the world\u2019s youngest International Master at the age of 10 and went on to earn the Grandmaster title at just 12 years, 10 months and 13 days, making him one of the youngest Grandmasters in chess history.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cHeartfelt congratulations to Grandmaster Praggnanandhaa for becoming the first Indian to win the Norway Chess tournament and for bringing immense pride to Tamil Nadu and India,\u201d Vijay said in his message.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The Norway Chess title is widely regarded as the biggest achievement of Praggnanandhaa\u2019s career so far. By overcoming a field featuring many of the world\u2019s top-ranked players and becoming the first Indian champion in the tournament\u2019s history, the young Grandmaster has further cemented his place among the elite of world chess while inspiring a new generation of Indian players.<\/p>\r\n\r\n