Tributes from the Chess Community

Heartfelt messages honoring Daniel Naroditsky

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The Naroditsky family shares the sad news of Daniel’s unexpected passing. Daniel was a talented chess player, educator, and beloved member of the chess community. We ask for privacy as the family grieves.
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It is with great sadness that the Kasparov Chess Foundation mourns the passing of GM Daniel Naroditsky, one of the brightest stars to emerge from our programs. Danya’s talent, creativity, and love for chess inspired everyone who knew him, from students to fellow competitors.
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Daniel Naroditsky (1995–2025) 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 two weeks before his 30th birthday. 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. Read more:
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Daniel Naroditsky (1995–2025), photographed after winning the Under-12 section of the 2007 World Youth Chess Championship. A Stanford History graduate, he became not only a formidable grandmaster but also one of the game’s most thoughtful authors and commentators.
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I’ve learned so much from Daniel Naroditsky, especially from his lessons on the Jobava London. I had just won a game using this exact opening when I found out that he had passed away. His contribution to chess is immense. Rest in peace, Danya. Thank you for everything.
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