On Friday, Union Sports Minister Anurag Singh Thakur honored the runner-up of the 2023 International Chess Federation (FIDE) World Cup, R Praggnanandhaa, and his parents for their exceptional performance in New Delhi. Expressing his gratitude for the support he has received, Praggnanandhaa stated that it serves as a source of motivation for him to intensify his efforts.
“We are delighted to receive this support, and it is truly inspiring us to dedicate ourselves to hard work and achieve success in tournaments, thereby bringing honor to our nation,” commented the young Indian chess prodigy during an interview with ANI.
During the felicitation ceremony, Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur extended his congratulations to Praggnanandhaa, commending him for his remarkable achievement and for representing India with distinction. Thakur acknowledged the role of Praggnanandhaa’s success in motivating other aspiring chess players.
“I extend my heartfelt congratulations to him. He has made India proud. Achieving such a feat at the age of 16 is extraordinary. His accomplishments serve as an inspiration to many young chess enthusiasts. Although chess originated in India, it took centuries to host a successful Chess Olympiad in the country, and we achieved that milestone,” stated Anurag Thakur.
Following his outstanding performance in the World Cup, 18-year-old chess sensation R Praggnanandhaa had the opportunity to meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the preceding Thursday. On his Twitter account, he expressed gratitude to PM Modi for his encouragement, sharing, “It was a tremendous honor to meet Hon’ble Prime Minister @narendramodi at his residence! Thank you, sir, for your encouraging words to both me and my parents.”
On August 24, the world’s top-ranked chess player, Magnus Carlsen, secured victory in the International Chess Federation World Cup in Baku, Azerbaijan, defeating India’s grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa. Carlsen clinched the title by winning the first game of the Rapid Chess tie-breaker with the black pieces and subsequently securing a draw in the second game with the white pieces. This tiebreaker format is played under a faster time control. Despite Praggnanandhaa’s valiant efforts, Carlsen’s extensive experience proved decisive in crucial moments.
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