In a captivating turn of events during Finance Minister Sitharaman's interim Budget speech, the limelight shifted to the young chess prodigy, Praggnanandhaa. Acknowledging his noteworthy contributions, Sitharaman underscored Prag's pivotal role in the thriving chess community. The Minister initially commended the growth of Indian athletics, specifically applauding the nation's exceptional performance in the 2023 Asian Games and Asian Para Games. Sitharaman went on to commend Praggnanandhaa for his tenacious match against the world champion Magnus Carlsen in 2023, extolling the young player's determination and skill. The Finance Minister also shed light on the remarkable expansion of the Indian chess community, citing a substantial increase in the number of grandmasters from just over 20 in 2010 to over 80 at present. The year 2023 marked a historic milestone for Praggnanandhaa as he became the youngest-ever World Cup finalist, earning accolades for his exceptional achievements in chess. In a significant departure from the past, India now boasts a considerable representation at the Chess Candidates tournament for 2024. Prag's coach and GM R.B. Ramesh expressed optimism, foreseeing a potential Indian contender for the World title in the future. Adding to the significance of the moment, siblings Praggnanandhaa and Vaishali are set to participate in the Chess Candidates tournament together for the first time.