Daniel Naroditsky was a gifted American chess grandmaster who left an indelible imprint on the chess community. Tragically, he lost his own battle unexpectedly at the age of just 29. Raised in San Mateo County, California, Naroditsky emerged as an early talent in chess. In recognition of his profound contributions to the game, he gained wide acclaim. His unexpected passing has left family, friends, and the whole chess community around the world in mourning.
Naroditsky was the son of Jewish immigrants from the Ukraine and Azerbaijan. By all accounts, he was a serious young boy with an incredible attention span and memory according to his parents. This early commitment almost certainly set the stage for his phenomenal future success at the game of Kings. In 2007 he won the Under 12 World Championship. This accomplishment put him on the map as one of the most promising young players to keep an eye on.
As Naroditsky approached 18, he had earned the GM title, officially entering the ranks of elite players. In fact, he was one of the top 200 chess players in the world throughout his professional career in classical formats. In blitz chess, he was untouchable — a top-25 overall ranking. In August of this year, he scored a crowning triumph by capturing the United States National Blitz Championship. He finished an incredible 9th in the Blitz World Championship last year.
Aside from his competitive accomplishments, Naroditsky was known to friends and family as Danya. He spent the rest of his life teaching others the game of chess as a commentator and a coach. Next, mentoring—he mentored some of the best junior chess players down in Charlotte, North Carolina. To place more responsibly, this was where he had lived and worked.
That influence reached into the virtual world too. In his free time, Naroditsky runs a popular YouTube and Twitch channel. Thousands of viewers regularly watch him play or simply absorb his insights. While President, he connected with audiences like no other. His life-long love for the game endeared him to the area’s chess community.
The news of his unexpected death led to many fellow chess players paying tribute. “It is with great sadness that we share the unexpected passing of Daniel Naroditsky,” stated the Naroditsky family. Viswanathan Anand, a former World Chess Champion, remembered him as “an excellent chess commentator and educator” and “a genuinely nice person.”
Benjamin Bok expressed his disbelief over Naroditsky’s passing, saying, “I still can’t believe it and don’t want to believe it.” Fellow chess player Hikaru Nakamura highlighted Naroditsky’s passion for streaming, remarking, “He loved streaming, and he loved trying to be educational. The chess world is very grateful.”
