A chess grandmaster has died unexpectedly at the age of 29.
Daniel Naroditsky was one of America’s most recognisable chess figures, and a former world youth champion.
At just 14 years old, he had written and published a book on the game – and in later years, educated followers through livestreams on Twitch and YouTube.
Naroditsky served as head coach at the Charlotte Chess Centre in North Carolina, which announced his death.
In a statement, it said: “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 … Let us remember Daniel for his passion and love for the game of chess, and for the joy and inspiration he brought to us all every day.”
The cause of Naroditsky’s death has not been publicly disclosed.
He was consistently ranked in the top 200 worldwide for traditional chess, and also excelled at a fast-paced style called blitz chess.
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‘A privilege to play with’
Chess streamers paid tribute to someone who had sought to change how the game was perceived.
Fellow grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura said he was “devastated” by the news and described Naroditsky’s death as “a massive loss for the world of chess”.
Another, Oleksandr Bortnyk, added: “He was a very talented chess player. But more, he was a very good guy. Very kind guy. He was a good friend.”
Dutch chess grandmaster Benjamin Bok was a lifelong friend of Naroditsky, and wrote on X: “I still can’t believe it and don’t want to believe it. It was always a privilege to play, train, and commentate with Danya, but above all, to call him my friend.”
