US chess grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky dies at 29
Daniel Naroditsky, a US chess grandmaster and educator, passed away at 29.
His family announced his death in a statement shared by his chess club Charlotte Chess Center.
"It is with great sadness that we share the unexpected passing of Daniel Naroditsky," they said. "Daniel was a talented chess player, commentator, and educator, and a cherished member of the chess community, admired and respected by fans and players around the world. He was also a loving son and brother, and a loyal friend to many."
"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," they added.
Chess.com, the platform that Naroditsky frequented, released its own statement: "Danya’s warmth was felt by all those he touched in North Carolina, the Bay Area, and the countless players, fans, and competitors who Danya helped fall in love with chess."
Fellow key figures in the chess community shared their reaction to Naroditsky's death online.
"I'm devastated," five-time US chess champion Hikaru Nakamura said. "This is a massive loss for the world of chess."
In a report from Australian Broadcasting Corporation, another prominent player on Chess.com, Danny Rensch, shared, "The news is devastating for the chess world and all who knew him. It’s impossible to put words to this kind of loss."
Rensch considered Naroditsky as "more than an amazing, inspirational face of our game—he was a friend and brother."
Naroditsky had a distinguished run in the chess community.
A native of California, born of immigrant parents, Naroditsky first emerged in the international chess community after he won the Under 12 category at the World Youth Chess Championship in 2007. At 18 in 2013, he claimed his grandmaster title. Two years later, he placed fifth among the world's highest-ranked junior players.
At his death, Naroditsky had a FIDE (Fédération International des Échecs or International Chess Federation) ranking of 2619, making him the 17th highest-ranked chess player in the US. Internationally, Naroditsky was among the top 150 players.
He frequented online chess platforms, such as Chess.com, where he was especially proficient in faster time formats.
Many, however, knew him through YouTube, where he was a popular streamer. He posted his last "speedrun" episode just three days before his death. In his last entry, Naroditsky explained why the episodes were "few and far between." He said, "I've been... taking kind of a creative break; deciding future avenues of content."
Naroditsky, who passed away three weeks before turning 30, was regarded as an influential player, author, and educator in the chess community. Among his friends and followers, Naroditsky was more commonly known as Danya—someone who took his time to make chess accessible and fun for everyone.
He shared his passion for the sport through writing, as well, publishing several books on the subject and writing a series of chess puzzles for The New York Times.
Until his death, Naroditsky was the resident grandmaster for the Charlotte Chess Center, where he continued to create chess content for his YouTube channel and on Twitch.
