R Vaishali & RB Ramesh receive the Arjuna and Dronacharya awards respectively from the President of India! Pragg is shining bright! He has won the CNN News 18 award of Indian of the year in the rising sports star category.

It has been a celebratory season for Indian chess as its brightest talents receive prestigious national honors in recognition of their meteoric rise.

Chess prodigy Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa was bestowed the CNN News18 Indian of the Year award in the Rising Star category. He received the honor from chess legend Viswanathan Anand himself.

At just 18, Praggnanandhaa has already achieved things players can only dream of. In 2022, he stunned the chess world by defeating world champion Magnus Carlsen. His title as the youngest ever World Cup finalist underscores his unlimited potential.

Praggnanandhaa has spearheaded India’s chess renaissance, ably assisted by his coach, GM Ramesh RB. Ramesh was conferred the Dronacharya Award for producing world beaters of the highest pedigree.

Another of his students, Vaishali Rameshbabu, carved her name in history as the third Indian woman chess Grandmaster. She was awarded the prestigious Arjuna Award, highlighting the rise of women in Indian chess.

Praggnanandhaa expressed gratitude for the encouragement that fueled his journey. He dedicated the award to his family, coach and supporters for believing in him.

At a glittering ceremony graced by chess royalty, India’s future king, Praggnanandhaa, received a standing ovation. It underscored his status as the flagbearer of India’s coming of age in global chess.

With prodigious talents like Praggnanandhaa at the helm, the chess world will soon be at India’s feet. As Anand remarked, the future of Indian chess is brighter than ever.