Chess grandmaster and commentator Daniel Naroditsky has died at the age of 29, it has been announced. Naroditsky was a chess prodigy and became a world champion and grandmaster before his sad passing.
Tributes have poured in for the American, with devastated players and the chess community left in shock at the news of his death.
The Charlotte Chess Centre in North Carolina, where Naroditsky taught, announced his death on Monday. "The Naroditsky family shares the sad news of Daniel’s unexpected passing," the statement read.
"Daniel was a talented chess player, educator, and beloved member of the chess community. We ask for privacy as the family grieves."
There was also a statement from the Naroditsky family after his sudden passing. “Let us remember Daniel for his passion and love for the game of chess,” it read. “And for the joy and inspiration he brought to us all every day.”
Naraditsky was a child prodigy in chess. At just 18 years old, he became the World Chess champion.
In 2013, he was named a grandmaster, the International Chess Federation's highest-ranked chess competitor. Recently, he worked as a chess coach in Charlotte.
He was also known for his YouTube channel and Twitch stream, where he would provide regular video tutorials and livestream matches against competitors. He also became the new chess columnist at the New York Times in 2022.
His role involved contributing to a series of chess puzzles for the newspaper's games section.
Naraditsky also continued to compete, most recently winning the US National Blitz Championships back in August, where he recorded a perfect score.
US National team coach John Donaldson said: “Daniel enjoyed everything about chess, whether it was playing, studying or learning about the history of the game. He was a voracious reader of chess literature."
Responding to the news, the US Chess federation wrote on social media: "US Chess is saddened to learn that GM Daniel Naroditsky has died. Naroditsky was a World Youth and U.S. Junior champion, and also a beloved educator, streamer, Chess Life columnist, and part of the @CLTchesscenter community."
World number two Hikaru Nakamura also wrote: "I'm devastated. This is a massive loss for the world of chess."
He wasn't the only chess player to give his reaction. “I still can’t believe it and don’t want to believe it,” Dutch grandmaster Benjamin Bok said on X.
“It was always a privilege to play, train, and commentate with Danya, but above all, to call him my friend.”
Armenian grandmaster Levon Grigori Aronian said: “It’s heartbreaking. I knew Danya quite well and I can say he was always a good friend and a nice guy.”
