Tributes from the Chess Community

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.

GM Daniel Naroditsky passed away. He was a talented chess player, commentator, and educator. FIDE extends its deepest condolences to Daniel’s family and loved ones.

I have no words. He was a very kind person, a strong chess player, a great chess commentator. Rest in peace, Daniel Naroditsky.

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.

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:

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.

The chess world mourns the loss of GM Daniel Naroditsky. Rest in peace, Danya.

Deeply heartbroken by the passing of GM Daniel Naroditsky. He was not only a brilliant player but also an exceptional teacher who made hard ideas feel simple & made countless people fall in love with chess. His voice, his clarity, & his kindness shaped the modern chess world. RIP

Rest in peace, Daniel Naroditsky . We miss your flashy moves and legendary speedruns.

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.