Indian chess prodigy and FIDE World Cup 2023 runner-up Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa returned to his home in Chennai today after a successful campaign at the tournament held in Baku, Azerbaijan where he went toe to toe with the Top 3 chess players in the world. He received a rousing welcome from the southern city.
Updated On: 2023-08-30 04:02 PM IST
Compiled by : Sanjana Deshpande
Students were waiving the tricolour outside the airport as Praggnanandhaa walked out of the Chennai airport. Some of them even held up banners reading 'World Cup Runner up' to welcome him. Pic/ PTI
The chess prodigy was overhwlemed with the welcome and told media that it felt really great. "I think it is good for Chess," he told the press. Pic/PTI
Praggnanandhaa's sister Vaishali said the welcome her brother received is reminiscent of the welcome Vishwanathan Anand had received 10 years ago. Pic/ PTI
The young chess master R Praggnanandhaa met Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin and Sports Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin in Chennai on Wednesday. His coach Ramesh RB, parents Rameshbabu and Nagalakshmi were also present during the chat. Pic/PTI
In the FIDE World Cup final match, the Indian Chess prodigy put up a stellar performance against World No 1 Magnus Carlsen. However, the Norwegian chess grandmaster defeated Praggnanandhaa to clinch the title of the International Chess Federation World Cup. Pic/ X
