American chess Grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky has died unexpectedly at the age of 29. His family announced the news on Monday, October 20.
The statement was published by the Charlotte Chess Center. "With great sadness, we share the unexpected passing of Daniel Naroditsky," the statement read.
"Daniel was a talented chess player, commentator, and educator. He was a beloved member of the chess community, admired and respected by fans and players worldwide." The family also described him as a "loving son and brother, and a loyal friend to many."
The statement requested privacy during this difficult time. It encouraged remembering Daniel for "his passion and love for chess, and for the joy and inspiration that he brought us daily."
The cause of his death has not yet been released to the public.
Naroditsky first gained prominence in 2007. He won the U12 World Youth Championship that year.
He earned the Grandmaster title in 2013 at 17 years old. This followed his victory in the U.S. Junior Championship.
After attending Stanford University, Naroditsky worked as a chess coach in Charlotte, North Carolina.
He is widely credited with making chess accessible to a younger and modern audience. He achieved this through his popular Twitch and YouTube channels.
His YouTube channel boasts nearly 500,000 subscribers. His final YouTube video was uploaded on Friday, October 17. It was titled "Thought I was gone? Speedruns are back!"
Naroditsky also became a chess columnist for The New York Times in 2022. There, he often explained his deep love for the game.
He once stated, "It takes a tremendous amount of patience." Naroditsky added, "Because, more so than any other game, you’re going to be bad for a while."
He also highlighted the need for dedication. "If you want to be good at the game, you have to be willing to do the same thing over and over again," he explained.
Naroditsky found constant challenge in chess. "Even at my level," he told the Times, "I can still discover beautiful things about the game every time I train, teach, play, or commentate at a tournament."
The chess community has deeply felt Naroditsky’s passing. World No. 2 player Hikaru Nakamura, 37, expressed his sorrow.
"When it came to creating beginner-friendly chess content, his was the best," Nakamura told the BBC. "I’ve played over a thousand chess games with Daniel."
Nakamura noted Naroditsky’s calm demeanor in the competitive world of chess. He added that Naroditsky’s online presence was not about money.
"He had a real passion for the game," Nakamura affirmed.
British chess player Zara Graham, 20, was inspired by Naroditsky. She credits him for sparking her interest in the game.
"I was devastated to hear the news," Graham told the BBC, despite never meeting him. "I actually cried when I found out."
She further explained, "He was a brilliant chess teacher who inspired me to start playing at 14. He explained things in his YouTube videos so everyone could understand them."
Graham concluded, "He impacted thousands of people worldwide."