Chess world mourns Daniel Naroditsky as tributes pour in after grandmaster’s sudden death at 29
The global chess community is mourning the sudden death of American grandmaster and popular streamer Daniel Naroditsky, who was found dead at his home in Charlotte, North Carolina, at the age of 29. His close friend and fellow chess player Oleksandr Bortnyk made the tragic discovery after becoming concerned when Naroditsky failed to respond to calls.
The Charlotte Chess Center, where Naroditsky had served as Grandmaster-in-Residence, confirmed the news on October 20, calling his passing “unexpected and deeply saddening.” In a statement shared with the centre’s announcement, his family wrote, “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.”
Naroditsky, known affectionately as “Danya” to fans, was celebrated for his educational videos and live-streamed matches, which attracted hundreds of thousands of viewers on Twitch and YouTube. A prodigy from California, he began playing chess at six, became World Youth Champion under 12, and earned his Grandmaster title at 18.
Tributes have flooded in from across the chess world. Grandmasters Ian Nepomniachtchi and Anish Giri expressed their condolences, while chess commentator Jennifer Shahade wrote, “Danya was a wonderful person as well as a genius player and educator.” Fellow streamer Levy Rozman, known as GothamChess, honoured him as “a talented grandmaster, exceptional commentator, and brilliant individual.”
Danny Rensch of Chess.com described Naroditsky as “more than an inspirational face of the game, he was a friend and brother.” FIDE also issued a statement urging fans to “remember Daniel for his brilliance and kindness.”
No official cause of death has been disclosed, and Naroditsky’s family has requested privacy. His passing leaves a deep void in both the professional and online chess communities, where he was known for his calm insight, generosity, and lifelong dedication to teaching the game he loved.