The chess world is cloaked in a profound and unexpected sadness following the sudden passing of Daniel Naroditsky, a brilliant American grandmaster and a beloved teacher who brought the game to life for a digital generation. He was only 29 years old. The news was confirmed by the Charlotte Chess Center in North Carolina, where he served as head coach, leaving a community of fans, students, and fellow players grappling with the loss of a true luminary. While the specific cause of his death has not been disclosed, his family has requested that he be remembered for the deep passion and love he held for the game of chess throughout his life.
To the hundreds of thousands who followed him online, Daniel was more formally known as “Danya,” a friendly and approachable presence who demystified the complexities of chess with remarkable patience and wit. His YouTube and Twitch streams were not just lessons; they were engaging adventures where he shared his incredible knowledge with generosity and good humor. Fellow grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura, in an emotional tribute, highlighted that Daniel genuinely loved streaming and had a gift for making his content educational, a quality for which the entire chess world is deeply grateful.
Daniel’s journey with chess began in San Mateo, California, as the son of Jewish immigrants. He first learned the game at the tender age of six from his older brother, Alan. He once described it not as love at first sight, but as a gradual process that grew into a defining passion, with many of his fondest memories involving time spent with his brother. This gradual interest quickly blossomed into prodigious talent, leading him to become the top-ranked player for his age in the U.S. by nine, the World Youth Champion at eleven, and a published chess author and grandmaster by eighteen.
After graduating from Stanford University, Daniel dedicated himself fully to teaching, moving to Charlotte and becoming a cornerstone of the modern chess resurgence. His competitive achievements were formidable, ranking him among the world’s top 200 players and culminating in a stunning perfect-score victory at the U.S. Blitz Championship just this past August. Yet, it was his unique combination of elite skill and genuine warmth that truly set him apart, making him one of the game’s first genuine digital stars with a combined following of over 800,000 people.
Colleagues and friends remember Daniel not only for his intellect but for his profound kindness and humility. International master Levy Rozman joked that Daniel could “explain the game to an ant,” perfectly capturing his ability to bridge the gap between masterful play and brilliant explanation. In a heartbreaking moment, his close friend Grandmaster Oleksandr Bortnyk shared his final words to Daniel, telling him, “I love you so much.” The chess world has lost a rare talent and a beautiful soul, and he is survived by his mother, Lena, and his brother, Alan.
