Tamil Nadu's Chess Stars Shine in International Tournaments

Celebrating Chess Achievements

New Delhi [India], June 12: Udhayanidhi Stalin, the Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, expressed his heartfelt congratulations to the state's chess prodigies, including world champion D Gukesh, Aravindh Chithambaram, and R Praggnanandhaa, for their remarkable performances in recent international chess competitions held in Norway and Armenia.

A statement from the state government highlighted that on June 12, 2025, Udhayanidhi Stalin praised D. Gukesh, the current World Junior Champion and recipient of the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award, for achieving third place in the Norway Chess Tournament. He also commended Aravindh Chithambaram for winning first place in the Stepan Avagyan Memorial Chess Tournament, and R Praggnanandhaa for securing the second position in the same event.

Chithambaram's victory at the Stepan Avagyan Memorial Chess Tournament has propelled him into the top 10 of the FIDE world rankings. Notably, he also clinched first place in the Masters section of the Chennai Grandmasters Tournament last year, organized by the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT).

Both Gukesh and Praggnanandhaa are part of the Tamil Nadu Government's Elite Scheme, which supports exceptional athletes through the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu.

This Elite Scheme provides an annual grant of Rs 30 lakh to sportspersons who excel in international competitions, enabling them to enhance their skills, acquire top-notch sports equipment, train with world-class coaches abroad, and participate regularly in international events to showcase their abilities.

With three of the four Indian chess players ranked in the world top 10 hailing from Tamil Nadu, their success in tournaments like the Norway Chess and the Stepan Avagyan Memorial underscores the significant impact of the Chief Minister's initiatives to position the state as a global leader in sports.

This event was also attended by Atulya Misra, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary of the Youth Welfare and Sports Development Department, and J Meghanath Reddy, IAS, Member Secretary of the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu.