Praggnanandhaa. 20 years old. Norway Chess 2026 champion. First Indian ever. 🏆
Lost 3 of his first 6 games. Was out of contention. Then won 4 consecutive classical games — beating Carlsen, Gukesh, and Keymer on demand.
But zoom out. India now has the World Champion (Gukesh, 18), the Norway Chess champion (Pragg, 20), and Anand’s legacy behind them all.
No other country in the world has this chess pipeline right now.
And the ecosystem value is real — chess academies, coaching apps, OTT deals, school programmes, sponsorships. Chess in India is becoming a legitimate industry, not just a hobby.
Vishy planted the seed 30 years ago. India is now harvesting a generation. 🇮🇳
#Praggnanandhaa #NorwayChess #Chess #India #Sports #Indiasports