Daniel Naroditsky, US chess grandmaster and online commentator, has tragically passed away at the age of 29. His family confirmed the “unexpected” news in a statement issued by the Charlotte Chess Center on Monday. The cause of death has not been disclosed.
The statement, released by Naroditsky’s club, expressed profound sadness: “It is with great sadness that we share the unexpected passing of Daniel Naroditsky. 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.”
Who was Daniel Nardoitsky?
Naroditsky’s journey in chess began at the age of six, when his older brother Alan introduced him to the game during a birthday party, creating a lifelong passion.
His natural ability was soon recognised by his father, Vladimir, and several coaches. Looking back on his early years, Naroditsky said, “As far as I was concerned, I was just playing games with my brother,” in a 2022 interview with The New York Times.
His breakthrough moment came in 2007 when he claimed the title of Under-12 World Youth Champion in Antalya, Turkey. Just a few years later, at the age of 14, Naroditsky became one of the youngest ever published chess authors.
His book, ‘Mastering Positional Chess’, focused on practical strategies and advanced technical maneuvers.
In 2013, at the age of 18, Naroditsky won the US Junior Championship, a victory that propelled him to grandmaster status. This achievement pushed him to be among the world’s elite chess players.
Beyond his competitive success, Naroditsky pursued academics, graduating from Stanford University, before becoming a chess coach at the Charlotte Chess Center in North Carolina.
Naroditsky found a wider audience through his online presence. His YouTube channel amassed nearly 500,000 subscribers, and his Twitch stream garnered 340,000 followers.
His chess tutorials and live-streamed matches captivated audiences around the world with fans calling him “Danya.”
In 2022, The New York Times tapped Naroditsky as its new chess columnist, inviting him to contribute chess puzzles and commentary. In the accompanying interview, Naroditsky shared his enduring love for the game: “Even at my level, I can still discover beautiful things about the game every single time I train, teach, play or am a commentator at a tournament.”
‘This is a massive loss’
Renowned American grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura expressed his deep sorrow on social media, describing the loss as “massive.” “This is a massive loss for the world of chess,” Nakamura wrote.
Indian chess legend Viswanathan Anand expressed his sorrow on X, He wrote, “Really shocked at the passing away of GM Daniel Naroditsky. An excellent chess commentator and educator. A genuinely nice person. A life gone too soon. My deepest condolences to his family. The chess world will miss his presence.”
GM Susan Polgar expressed her grief writing on X, “This is shocking! I knew Daniel since he was a young kid. His parents sent him to stay at my home so he can train with my other SPICE students. Always a nice and polite kid! Just saw him at the @CLTchesscenter.”
“This is absolutely shocking! My deepest condolences,” wrote Indian GM Vidit Gujrathi.
Fans also reacted to his untimely death. A user wrote on X, “Loved his commentary. His genuine shock when Ding blundered against Gukesh is one of my favourite moments of commentary ever in any sport.”
“Such a kind soul and made me fully fall in love with chess. Gutted. Truly gutted. “Be at peace now, Danya,” added another. “Massive loss to the chess world. Words are not enough, RIP Danya,” wrote a user.
“What the heck!? I am so sad. So terribly saddened by this. He was an amazing chess streamer, and I really admired his intellectual dissection and conversation of complex, for me, positions in chess. Simply too soon. RIP,” stated a fan.