GM Daniel Naroditsky 1995-2025

[LawrenceCooper]

https://x.com/CLTchesscenter/status/1980312444762546352

[John Moore]

Just seen it, Loz. 29 years old - dreadful news.

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Shocking. And sadly it appears that there will eventually be more to be told about this.

https://www.reddit.com/r/chess/comments ... ssed_away/

I am not sure how long that reddit thread will be publicly visible, and the family have asked for privacy (and clearly that would include not having public speculation over what happened), but this is not a normal death (if any death can be normal).

There is a livestream right now from Hikaru Nakamura:

https://kick.com/gmhikaru

[LawrenceCooper]

https://x.com/STLChessClub/status/1980342697232650717

[Matt Mackenzie]

Yes, it is claimed a certain ex world champion recently insinuated he was cheating.

[Rob Coles]

I was very shocked to see this earlier. A tragic loss at no age at all. Naroditsky was always so positive and almost guileless in his enthusiasm when commentating, I know he was beloved for his video series but also just as a person. He did seem like a really nice chap. It hardly seems real. Even though I haven't especially enjoyed watching speed chess I have enjoyed his coverage of it.

There has been some awful behaviour aimed at him the last couple of years and more information will doubtless come out. In the short term it's probably best if those who don't know or only half-know focus on commemorating a really well-loved and accomplished man.

[Christopher Kreuzer]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-oFmqzXf7j4

There is an interview here with Naroditsky at a young age, in 2010, after publishing his first chess book (Mastering Positional Chess):

https://www.uschess.org/index.php/March ... itsky.html

[LawrenceCooper]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-oFmqzXf7j4

There is an interview here with Naroditsky at a young age, in 2010, after publishing his first chess book (Mastering Positional Chess):

https://www.uschess.org/index.php/March ... itsky.html

I'm just watching his final stream from 17th October: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rqPeGKVPbA His love of chess shone as brightly as ever.

[Nick Burrows]

Completely heartbroken. Daniel was not just someone I played thousands of games with on he was a brilliant mind and a gifted teacher.
The relentless, baseless accusations and public interrogations he faced in recent months caused him immense pressure and pain. This has to stop. When respected figures spread unfounded allegations without accountability, real lives are destroyed.Daniel's smile faded after the attacks began. We all saw it. The chess world has lost one of its brightest lights - someone who made our game accessible to millions. Rest in peace, Danya. You deserved so much better.

Nihal Sarin

[LawrenceCooper]

Levon Aronian: https://x.com/STLChessClub/status/1980389921606234445

[LawrenceCooper]

At the start of round 8 of the US Championship: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xFVwWLtbeE

[NickFaulks]

Hikaru offers a succinct view.

https://kick.com/gmhikaru/clips/clip_01 ... W5PWM04WRP

[LawrenceCooper]

Hikaru offers a succinct view.

https://kick.com/gmhikaru/clips/clip_01 ... W5PWM04WRP

Two powerful tweets which I can relate to:

https://x.com/keti_chess/status/1980398827858513990
https://x.com/keti_chess/status/1980359993863074056

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Obituaries in the mainstream media:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c15pz8vpjp9o (BBC)

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/ ... randmaster (Guardian)

https://www.guardian-series.co.uk/news/ ... s-aged-29/ (PA News Agency)

There are also articles from the US press and from the press in India. At least one of the ones from India (the Hindustan Times one) covers more than the traditional sources would. It remains to be seen how much coverage that side of this will get now or later.

[James Hooker]

Quite a sad clip, looks like he had the weight of the world on his shoulders:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQbX3Cw2WM8