R ARIVANANTHAM
CHENNAI, FEB 25
Indian Chess prodigy Praggnanandhaa who defeated the World No. 1 Grand Master Magnus Carlson in the Airthings Masters online competition held on February 21 wants to meet the latter in an offline game.
Praggnanandhaa was feted by the Rela Hospital in Chromepet here on Friday.
On the sidelines of the felicitation function, the young GM Praggnandandhaa said he played the game very casually and capitalized a mistake done by Carlson during the Airthings Masters, a prestigious rapid Chess Tournament.
‘‘I started playing Chess at the tender age of 5 and won many state and national games. I was inspired and got interest in Chess from my sister,’’ he added.
While addressing the media after the felicitation function, Prof Mohammed Rela, Chairman and Managing Director, Rela Hospital said, “The hospital management is indeed gratifying to see a young boy in achieving this feat. Rela Hospital always supportive and encouraging youngsters to excel in various fields and wishes R Praganandhaa to achieve more success in the years to come’’.
Reply to a query, Dr Mohammed Rela said that hospital would consider Grand Master Praggnanandhaa as ‘Brand Ambassador’’ of Rela Hospital in future.
Earlier the young star was given a rousing welcome by the Hospital Management and staff members and it was followed by a formal cake cutting event to mark the occasion.
