PM Modi Congratulates Praggnanandhaa on Historic Norway Chess Triumph

New Delhi, June 2026: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday congratulated Indian chess sensation R Praggnanandhaa after the 20-year-old scripted history by becoming the first Indian to win the prestigious Norway Chess title in Oslo.

Taking to social media platform X, the Prime Minister praised the Chennai-born Grandmaster for achieving a landmark feat in international chess and wished him continued success in the years ahead.

“Congratulations to Praggnanandhaa for this remarkable feat! This is indeed an incredible milestone that highlights his continued excellence. My best wishes to him for his future endeavours,” Modi wrote.

Praggnanandhaa’s title-winning performance marked one of the most dramatic turnarounds ever witnessed in elite chess. Entering the final round trailing overnight leader Wesley So by half a point, the Indian youngster seized his opportunity when So was held to a draw by Alireza Firouzja.

Facing Germany’s Vincent Keymer in the decisive final-round encounter, Praggnanandhaa produced a composed and clinical display. Playing with the white pieces, he gradually built an advantage from the middlegame and converted it into a victory on the 45th move. The win lifted him to 18 points, one ahead of So, securing the championship and the top prize of $100,000.

The achievement becomes even more remarkable when viewed in the context of his tournament journey. After six rounds, Praggnanandhaa was languishing at the bottom of the standings, with few expecting him to emerge as a title contender. However, he responded with an extraordinary resurgence, winning his final four classical games in succession to storm back into contention.

His remarkable winning streak included two memorable victories over world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen, a crucial triumph against reigning world champion D Gukesh in the penultimate round, and the decisive victory over Keymer. The run was particularly significant as it marked the first instance of a player winning four consecutive classical games at Norway Chess since Carlsen achieved the feat in 2011.

Praggnanandhaa’s victory is being celebrated as another landmark moment for Indian chess, which continues to produce world-class talents on the global stage. The young Grandmaster demonstrated exceptional resilience and composure, transforming a seemingly disappointing campaign into a historic title-winning performance.

In the final standings, Praggnanandhaa finished on top with 18 points, followed by Wesley So on 17 points. Firouzja secured third place with 15.5 points, while Carlsen finished fourth on 13 points after defeating Gukesh in the final round. Keymer ended fifth, and Gukesh concluded the tournament in sixth place.

The victory further cements Praggnanandhaa’s status as one of the brightest stars in world chess and adds another major achievement to India’s growing legacy in the sport.