The American chess grandmaster, influencer, and tutor Daniel Naroditsky was pronounced dead on October 20, 2025, by the Charlotte Chess Centre.
His sudden passing at the young age of 29 has left the chess world in deep shock, with many wondering about the cause of his untimely death.
“It is with great sadness that we share the unexpected passing of Daniel Naroditsky.
Daniel was a talented chess player, commentator, and educator – a cherished member of the chess community, admired and respected by fans and players around the world.
He was also a loving son, brother, and a loyal friend to many.
We ask for privacy for Daniel’s family during this extremely difficult time. Let us remember Daniel for his passion and love for the game of chess, and for the joy and inspiration he brought to us all every day,”- the Naroditsky family and charlotte chess said in a statement.
Naroditsky began his chess journey at the age of six and quickly rose to prominence. He won the U-12 Section of the World Youth Chess Championship in 2012 and the U.S. Junior Championship in 2013. That same year, he earned the title of Grandmaster at just 18 years old.
Following the tragic news, several chess prodigies and professionals from across the world expressed their condolences to his family. However, former World Champion Vladimir Kramnik stirred controversy by questioning the circumstances surrounding Naroditsky’s death instead of offering condolences.
Kramnik, who had previously accused Naroditsky of cheating in an online chess match, wrote:
“Weird, noticed yesterday morning some people talking about strange recent streams of Naroditsky, but checking again in a few hours, many things erased, all videos from his Twitch, a thread about it, recognizable working style. Anyone knows what happened that forced them to act in such a rush?
What exactly happened? Because I received this two days ago from a chess fan friend of mine and did what I could to warn people. To those who prefer blaming and shaming instead of helping, awful tragedy, hope it’s properly investigated.”
He further added:
“Typical of the chess world today, everyone only cares about ‘looking great’ and pretending there are no problems, even when there are long-term major issues. Stop being hypocrites and help solve them. Image is not everything.”
Daniel Naroditsky’s passing marks a devastating loss to the global chess community. He was not only a brilliant mind over the board but also an inspiring teacher and voice for the next generation of players. While questions remain about the circumstances of his death, what stands above all is the legacy of a man who dedicated his life to spreading the beauty of chess. His passion, humility, and impact will continue to live on in the hearts of players and fans around the world.
