Chess Grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky Dies at 29
October 21, 2025 – grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky, a rising star in the chess world known for his extraordinary talent and accessible chess education content, has died, the Kasparov Chess Foundation announced on Sunday. He was 29 years old.
“It is indeed with great sadness that the Kasparov Chess Foundation mourns the passing of GM Daniel Naroditsky,one of the brightest stars to emerge from our programs,” the foundation stated in a post on X (formerly Twitter). “DanyaS talent, creativity, and love for chess inspired everyone who knew him, from students to fellow competitors.”
Born in California in 1995 to Soviet Union immigrants,Naroditsky began playing chess at age six with his brother and father. He quickly demonstrated remarkable skill, winning the California K-12 Chess Championship in 2007 at a record-breaking young age, according to CNN. He earned the title of Grandmaster in 2013.
Naroditsky distinguished himself not only through his playing ability but also through his capacity to explain the complexities of chess in a clear and engaging manner. he amassed a considerable online following, with over 800,000 followers across YouTube and Twitch, and authored chess columns for The New York Times.
In the months leading up to his death, Naroditsky had publicly addressed accusations of cheating leveled against him by fellow player vladimir kramnik, a former world champion.Kramnik had repeatedly accused several players of using technology to gain an unfair advantage, often without providing evidence. According to The Country,Naroditsky discussed the accusations and offered rebuttals during a live stream on Saturday,before appearing to fall asleep while playing.
Following the live stream, Kramnik posted on X, stating, “Typical nowadays in the chess world they just want to look good and pretend there are no problems.” He later added, “I’m not a doctor, but it truly seems to me that there’s something going on beyond the sleeping pills. I hope a friend, if he has one, wants to know.”
After news of naroditsky’s death became public, Kramnik stated that Naroditsky “paid too high a price,” and claimed he was the only one raising concerns about the young grandmaster’s well-being.
