Grandmaster Praggnanandhaa Regretful for Missing Gold, Felicitated by MK Stalin

On Wednesday, Chess grandmaster Praggnanandhaa felicitated by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin.

_{^{Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa with his mother Nagalakshmi. (Image Source: @photochess)}}

Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa expressed his regret at missing the gold in the 2023 FIDE World Cup and stated that his focus would be on winning the world title in the future. He was felicitated by Chief Minister M K Stalin, who awarded him a purse of Rs 30 lakh and a memento.

Praggnanandhaa, in response to a reporter’s question about any regrets over losing to Magnus Carlsen in the Chess World Cup, acknowledged some regrets but considered the silver medal a great achievement. He emphasized his determination to win the main event, the World Cup.

Upon returning to the city, Praggnanandhaa received a cheque for his performance at the 2023 FIDE World Cup and entry into the FIDE Candidates tournament from the Chief Minister. He also presented the Chief Minister with the silver medal he won at the World Cup.

Stalin expressed his delight at meeting the young Grandmaster, praising his accomplishments and stating that they brought glory to Tamil Nadu and the entire country.

The reception for Praggnanandhaa in Chennai was grand, with officials from the state sports department welcoming him at the airport. Fans eagerly awaited his arrival, presenting him with flowers, a shawl, and bouquets. Traditional Tamil dances were performed, and Praggnanandhaa expressed his happiness with the warm reception. He accepted the national tricolor flag and waved it proudly.

Although Praggnanandhaa lost to Magnus Carlsen in the FIDE World Cup, his achievement was celebrated and admired. Stalin congratulated him, stating that his performance resonated with the dreams of 140 crore people. Praggnanandhaa’s elder sister, R Vaishali, is a two-time youth chess champion. His parents, Rameshbabu and Nagalakshmi, have been a great source of inspiration for him.

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Toshika Chauhan