Wednesday 22 / October / 2025
Chess enthusiasts and players rushed to pay tribute to 29-year-old grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky on Tuesday, following the shock news of his death the previous evening.
The eloquent chess celebrity had issued a YouTube video after a few weeks' hiatus just days before the news of his unexpected passing, with few signs of anything being amiss except perhaps for the playful title which began: "You thought I was gone!?"
'A genuinely nice person. A life gone too soon.'
The Charlotte Chess Center where Naroditsky was based shared the news of his death, noting that his family asked for privacy and was not commenting on the cause.
"Daniel was a talented chess player, educator, and beloved member of the chess community," Naroditsky's home club said.
"RIP my great friend Daniel Naroditsky, I still can't believe," Charlotte's other speed chess superstar, Ukrainian grandmaster Olexandr Bortnyk wrote.
The Kasparov Chess Foundation set up by former world champion Garry Kasparov also mourned the passing of "one of the brightest stars to emerge from our programs."
It shared an image of a young Naroditsky, in the spotlight since a very early age as a chess prodigy, training with Kasparov.
"Danya's talent, creativity, and love for chess inspired everyone who knew him, from students to fellow competitors," the foundation wrote.
