On Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his congratulations to R Praggnanandhaa for his groundbreaking victory at the Norway Chess tournament, calling it a significant achievement and a pivotal moment in the young Grandmaster's career. He commended Praggnanandhaa for his ongoing success on the international chess scene and wished him even more accomplishments in the future.

Praggnanandhaa has made history by becoming the first Indian to secure the esteemed Norway Chess title, following a strong finish in Oslo.

In a post on X, Modi stated, "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."

Tamil Nadu's Chief Minister Joseph Vijay also congratulated Praggnanandhaa on his historic win, labeling it a proud moment for both Tamil Nadu and India. He praised the Grandmaster's exceptional performance in the tournament, particularly noting his achievement of defeating world champion Magnus Carlsen twice and securing four consecutive victories.

Vijay expressed his heartfelt congratulations in a post on X, stating, "My heartfelt congratulations to Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa, who created history by becoming the first Indian to win the Norway Chess 2026 title in Oslo through his brilliant and intelligent performance. I extend my best wishes to him for continued success in achieving more milestones in the future."

The 20-year-old Grandmaster clinched the title with a decisive final-round win against Germany's Vincent Keymer, marking one of the most remarkable comeback runs in the tournament's history.

This elite tournament featured a competitive lineup, including World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen, reigning world champion D Gukesh, Alireza Firouzja, Wesley So, and Vincent Keymer, making it one of the most prestigious events on the global chess calendar.

Praggnanandhaa's victory over Keymer followed impressive wins against Alireza Firouzja, Magnus Carlsen, and D Gukesh over the previous four days.

The tournament also highlighted Praggnanandhaa's rare double victory over Carlsen.

Entering the final round half a point behind Wesley So, Praggnanandhaa understood that a win would solidify his chances for the title. Playing with the white pieces against Keymer, he seized the opportunity and secured a crucial victory.

This win earned Praggnanandhaa a maximum of three points, bringing his total to 18, which was sufficient to claim first place in the standings.