The chess world is in shock after hearing that American Grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky died suddenly on Sunday, October 19, at the age of 29. The family of the well-known athlete, teacher, and broadcaster acknowledged in a statement released on social media that he died suddenly.
Naroditsky had a FIDE rating of 2619 as of October 2025, making him a well-known and well-liked personality in US chess. Many of the best players in the world have sent their condolences, including American Hikaru Nakamura and Russian GM Vladimir Kramnik, both of whom were very shocked by the news.
The Charlotte Chess Center, a North Carolina club where he was a member, shared the Naroditsky family’s message.
“The Naroditsky family shares the sad news of Daniel’s unexpected death,” the statement said. “Daniel was a great chess player, teacher, and well-liked member of the chess community. We ask that you respect our family’s privacy while they grieve.
There was no immediate explanation for the death.
There is speculation on what caused the death.
His devoted fans called him Danya, and they loved him for his smart comments about chess. But because there isn’t much information about his demise, there is a lot of mystery and supposition online.
A lot of the talk is around his previous live stream, which some followers say shows Naroditsky having a “mental break.”
“One fan is said to have said on Reddit, “If you watched his previous stream, you’d understand.” “It appears like he was really suffering a mental breakdown. While he talked, his jaw shook back and forth and his eyes got really big. He sometimes spoke in Russian, and he didn’t make any sense. There are also some rumors online claiming Ukrainian chess player Olexandr Bortnyk found his body, but these details have not been substantiated.
Russian GM Vladimir Kramnik has publicly questioned Naroditsky’s death, which adds to the mystery. Kramnik, who was in a very public online cheating incident with Naroditsky in 2024, posted something on his X page that hinted at possible foul play or extreme distress.
Kramnik asked, “What happened? I got this from a buddy who is a chess aficionado two days ago, and at least I did all I could to warn people in my posts that they needed to do something right away. To those who would rather blame and shame than aid. Awful tragedy; I hope it is thoroughly looked into.
Authorities have not confirmed any of the rumors, and the family has not said anything else about how he died.
People from all across the world are paying tribute to him.
Naroditsky was born and reared in California, and he knew a lot of people in the chess world. Many well-known people paid respect to how he changed the game.
Hikaru Nakamura, the best chess player in the US, was one of the first to send his condolences. “I’m heartbroken. Nakamura remarked on X, “This is a huge loss for the world of chess.”
The International Chess Federation (FIDE) also put out a statement saying, “GM Daniel Naroditsky has died.” He was a great chess player, commentator, and teacher. FIDE sends its heartfelt sympathies to Daniel’s family and friends.