Chennai, July 9 -- Indian chess sensation R Praggnanandhaa on Wednesday lauded the Chola Chess initiative, highlighting its free-of-cost facilities and also pointed out the growing popularity of the game.

The 19-year-old was speaking to ANI at the inauguration of the Chola Chess facility in Chennai, the initiative being a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative by Cholamandalam Investment and Finance in association with Chess Gurukul, and aims to identify young chess talent across India.

Speaking to ANI, he said, "I myself have attended a Chola Chess camp three months ago. There are regular camps every month, and we go to train with grandmasters. There are so many facilities here that you can play blitz. It is all free of cost....