It’s with heavy hearts that we report the passing of Daniel Naroditsky, a gifted chess grandmaster from the U.S. who gained immense popularity online through his live streams and incredible teaching skills. He was just 29 years old when he left us.
The news of his untimely death was shared by the Charlotte Chess Center, a chess academy in North Carolina where Daniel worked as the head coach. Unfortunately, they didn’t disclose the cause of death or the location where it occurred.
In a heartfelt message, the Charlotte Chess Center expressed, “With great sadness, we’re informing you about the unexpected loss of Daniel Naroditsky. Not only was he a brilliant chess player and commentator, but he also loved teaching and had a significant place in all our hearts. He was a wonderful son, brother, and loyal friend.” This touching statement was endorsed by Naroditsky’s family.
Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Daniel first picked up a chess piece at six years old. He quickly made waves in the chess world, earning the title of grandmaster, which is the pinnacle of achievement for chess players, even before graduating high school, as noted by the center.
His incredible talent shone bright from an early age; he was a two-time winner of national championships and famously became the youngest player to secure the California K-12 Championship while still in fifth grade. In 2007, he earned international recognition by becoming the under-12 World Youth Chess Champion, proving to be one of America’s most promising young chess stars.
After taking a year off to dive deep into chess, he went on to attend Stanford University and celebrated his graduation with a degree in history in 2019.
Aside from his playing skills, Daniel had a flare for teaching. He published his first chess manual at just 14 and continued by contributing to Chess Life magazine and other chess-related media. In 2022, he was appointed as a chess columnist for The New York Times.
Online, he amassed enormous followings across various platforms, with nearly 500,000 subscribers on YouTube and around 340,000 followers on Twitch. Naroditsky brought the game of chess alive through his engaging livestreams, aiding viewers in navigating through even the trickiest moves.
His Twitch profile invites viewers, saying, “Hop into my stream for great chess, good tunes, and an amazing community!!” A welcoming call to everyone interested in the beautiful game.
The International Chess Federation extended their condolences, recognizing Naroditsky as a talented chess player, commentator, and educator.
At the ongoing 2025 US Chess Championship in St. Louis, participants honored his memory with a moment of silence, as noted by Chess.com.
The Saint Louis Chess Club described Daniel as “a beloved pillar of the chess community,” applauding his passion for the game and his dedication to teaching that inspired many players across the globe.
In light of this devastating loss, Naroditsky’s family requested privacy. They reminded everyone, saying, “Let’s cherish Daniel for his love of chess and the joy he spread to all of us.”
Remember him well and keep his legacy alive in the world of chess.
