Chess grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky’s unexpected death is being investigated as a possible suicide or drug overdose, according to a Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department incident report, People reported.
Newsweek reached out to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department via email for comment on Monday.
The Context
Naroditsky’s passing at just 29 years of age comes amid a period of escalating scrutiny and controversy surrounding online chess, including high-profile accusations of cheating.
What To Know
Naroditsky died suddenly at his home in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Charlotte Chess Center, where Naroditsky was a beloved figure and instructor, announced his death on October 20.
“It is with great sadness that we share the unexpected passing of Daniel Naroditsky,” the statement read via X. “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.”
“We ask for privacy for Daniel’s family during this extremely difficult time. Let us remember Daniel for his passion and love for the game of chess, and for the joy and inspiration be brought to us all every day.”
Police and medical emergency personnel responded to a call at a private residence in Charlotte’s southern suburbs at 7:11 p.m. on October 19, where Naroditsky was found unresponsive and later pronounced dead by medics, according to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department incident report, per People.
The report states that Naroditsky’s death is being treated as a sudden or natural death and is under investigation as a possible suicide or drug overdose. No official cause of death has been confirmed, and toxicology results remain pending.
Naroditsky was discovered unconscious on a couch by his friends, fellow grandmaster Oleksandr Bortnyk and Charlotte Chess Center founder Peter Giannatos, who visited his home after being unable to reach him, NBC News reported.
Born in the Bay Area and playing chess since the age of 6, Naroditsky rose to international fame after winning the Under-12 World Youth Chess Championship in 2007. He achieved the grandmaster title at 18 and remained regularly ranked among the world’s elite. Beyond competition, he was an author, writing two books—including one at age 14—a popular educator and a major online chess influencer with over 500,000 YouTube subscribers and a robust Twitch presence.
Following his death, several chess players brought up Vladimir Kramnik—a Russian grandmaster and former world champion—who repeatedly accused Naroditsky of cheating.
“He’s [Kramnik] a great player, a world champion, a very influential one. He gave a lot to chess. He’s one of the greatest players of all time,” Indian grandmaster Nihal Sarin, who was also accused of cheating by Kramnik, wrote in an essay on October 27 in The Indian Express. “But these days, he has destroyed his own reputation and now he’s causing much more harm.”
American chess master Levy Rozman, known as GothamChess, said, per The New York Times: “It’s very difficult to separate the horrible news of Danya’s passing with the treatment he received from the former world champion, an idol of his.”
Kramnik, however, maintained his innocence in a statement posted to X: “I have never made any personal attack or insult towards Daniel Naroditsky. Despite the tensions in our relationship, I was the only person in the chess community who, noticing on video Daniel’s obvious health issues a day before his death, publicly called for him to receive help,” he said.
“Unfortunately, this plea was ignored by everyone. The subsequent attempts, immediately following his passing, to directly link this tragic event to my name—especially in light of this fact—cross all boundaries of basic human morality, in my view.”
What People Are Saying
Chess grandmaster Oleksandr Bortnyk stated in a YouTube video: “I never found anybody in my life like that. And that’s my friend, my best friend. I’m so sorry for this loss to his family and to everyone. I’m so sorry for this. I’m trying to be strong.”
Daniel Naroditsky’s older brother, Alan Naroditsky, said in a statement, per NBC News: “His death is a huge loss to us all. To the world, Daniel is the chess grandmaster, passionate commentator, and the gifted educator who we know and love…He was my best friend, and one of the best human beings I have ever known.”
Daniel and Alan Naroditsky’s mother, Elena Naroditsky, discussed the toll of repeated cheating allegations on her son in an interview with the Daily Mail: “There was nothing more important to Daniel than his dignity and his name as a chess player. And the ex-world champion was trying to say he’s a cheater…Daniel tried to defend himself so much. The whole world was on Daniel’s side. He played more and more because he was trying to prove that he’s not what he was accused of.”
What Happens Next
The official cause of Naroditsky’s death remains undetermined as the Mecklenburg County Medical Examiner continues to await toxicology reports.
The World Chess Federation’s Ethics and Disciplinary Commission is evaluating whether to take disciplinary action against Kramnik for making public accusations of cheating against Naroditsky before and after his death, with possible penalties ranging from fines to a ban, NBC News reported.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health challenges or substance use, resources are available by calling or texting 988, or visiting 988lifeline.org for support 24/7.
