Bihar and Tamil Nadu CM Celebrate Chess Achievements of Young Prodigies

Bihar CM Honors Chess Talent Reyan MD

The Chief Minister of Bihar, Samrat Choudhary, recently honored young chess player Reyan MD for his outstanding performance at the Commonwealth Chess Championship 2026. Reyan, representing GD Goenka School in Patna, earned two gold medals and one bronze during the event. At a special ceremony, he received a cash prize of ₹22.5 lakh, along with a shawl and a commemorative memento.

Reyan's exceptional skills were on display at the Commonwealth Youth Blitz Chess Championship 2026, which took place in Sri Lanka from May 16 to May 26. The tournament featured participants from 14 countries, showcasing some of the brightest young talents from Commonwealth nations. Competing in the Under-18 Open category, Reyan demonstrated remarkable consistency and skill, finishing among the top competitors. His success is seen as a significant achievement for both Bihar and Indian chess, emphasizing the country's growing influence in international youth chess events.

Tamil Nadu CM Recognizes Praggnanandhaa's Norway Chess Triumph

In a related event, Tamil Nadu's Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay honored Indian Grandmaster Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa on Monday, presenting him with a cash reward of ₹50 lakh from the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu. This recognition followed Praggnanandhaa's historic win at the Norway Chess 2026 tournament. The ceremony took place at the Chief Secretariat in Chennai, where the Chief Minister engaged in a friendly chess match with the 20-year-old Grandmaster, who made history as the first Indian to claim the prestigious Norway Chess title.

The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister's Office shared the details on X, stating, "Honourable Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Thiru. Joseph Vijay, today at the Chief Secretariat, presented a cheque for 50 lakh rupees as a prestigious cash incentive to Grandmaster R. Praggnanandhaa, who became the first Indian to win the title in the Norway Chess 2026 series held in Oslo, thereby creating a historic milestone, and played a game of chess with Grandmaster Praggnanandhaa."

Praggnanandhaa achieved this remarkable feat by defeating Germany's Vincent Keymer in the tenth and final round, completing a stunning late surge with four consecutive classical victories, marking one of the most significant titles in his career.