The Charlotte Chess Center on behalf of Daniel Naroditsky’s family on Monday, announced unexpectedly passing away of the American Chess Grandmaster on Sunday.
“it is with sadness that we shared the unexpected passing of Daniel Naroditsk,” the statement read in part.
The family had requested for privacy from the public, to mourn their beloved in peace.
Charlotte further wrote, “let us remember Daniel for his passion and love for his game of chess and for the joy and inspiration he brought to us all”
Naroditsk unexpected death sent shockwaves through the global chess community.
The prodigy who earned the grandmaster title at 17 excelled in speed chess, authored a book at 14, and amassed over 400,000 YouTube subscribers as a streamer and educator.
A fan had wrote: “This is incredibly sad. He was one of the greats. The chess community has lost tremendously. You will be missed, good sir.”
Another chess enthusiast had posted: “The chess world is left with a deep void and feels a standstill in the wake of loss of a gem of a person. One can only imagine what Daniel must have endured. RIP.
Death reminds us of the fragility of life & importance of love and kindness which can make this world a better place.”
Naroditsky had started the sport as a child prodigy according to International Chess Federation “Chess entered his life at the age of six, when his older brother, Alan, brought several board games to entertain children at a party.
“Their father, Vladimir, an immigrant from Ukraine, taught them how to play chess. “I think a lot of people want to imagine that it was love at first sight and that my brother couldn’t pull me away from the chessboard… It was more of a gradual process, where chess slowly entered the battery of stuff we did to pass the time.
“A lot of my best memories are just doing stuff with my brother,” he told the New York Times in 2022, in an article announcing that he would be writing a chess column for the paper.”
The 29-year-old deceased had been described as great commentator and player whose legacy will lives on through his online lessons and profound impact on chess education.
The supreme governing body for international chess competitions FIDE extends its deepest condolences to Daniel’s family and loved ones.
Some of his achievement includes:
•🌟 World Youth Champion
•♟️ Grandmaster since 2013
•🎓 Stanford Class of 2019
•📺 Beloved commentator, streamer & teacher
Born on 9 November 1995 in San Mateo, California, Daniel Naroditsky became a prominent Grandmaster, author, coach and streamer whose influence extended far beyond the chessboard. He died just three weeks before his 30th birthday.
By: Adeoye Olorunseun Elizabeth
