CM Vijay meets chess champion Praggnanandhaa
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and actor-politician Vijay met Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa in Chennai on Monday, honoring the young prodigy for his historic victory at the Norway Chess Tournament. Praggnanandhaa became the first Indian to win the prestigious title, and Vijay presented him with a cash reward of Rs 50 lakh on behalf of the state government.
Pictures and videos of their meeting are already doing the rounds online, showing the two engaging in a friendly chess match. While Praggnanandhaa won the game, the grandmaster later revealed that he was impressed by the Chief Minister’s understanding of the sport.
Praggnanandhaa praises Vijay’s chess skills
Speaking about the unexpected game, Praggnanandhaa shared, “I didn’t expect it. I haven’t heard from anyone that he plays chess. He asked me to bring the board. We assembled the pieces on the board and began playing impromptu. He played well.”
He added, “I asked him when he plays chess. He said he played with his friends. I won, but I didn’t expect he would play that well.” Praggnanandhaa’s mother Nagalakshmi was also present during the meeting, along with Minister for Public Works Department and Sports Development Aadhav Arjuna.
Fans wait for ‘Jana Nayagan’
On the film front, Vijay’s last movie remains the much-anticipated political action drama ‘Jana Nayagan’, which is yet to hit the big screens. Originally scheduled for a January 9, 2026 release, the film faced delays due to prolonged certification disputes with the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). An official new release date is yet to be announced.