Chess grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky dies at age 29

(Dan Tri) - Daniel Naroditsky, an American chess grandmaster famous for his world-class blitz chess skills, has suddenly passed away of unknown causes at the age of 29.

The Charlotte Chess Center, where Naroditsky worked, officially announced that Grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky had passed away at the age of 29. In a statement shared on social media, the organization called the former junior world champion's passing a "huge and unexpected loss" that shocked the international chess community.

Chess fans around the world mourn the passing of Grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky (Photo: Chess).

There has been much speculation online about potential health or mental health issues, but nothing has been confirmed.

“The Naroditsky family shares the sad news of the sudden passing of Daniel. He was a talented player, a dedicated teacher, and a beloved member of the chess community. The family asks for their privacy during this time of grief,” the Charlotte Chess Center wrote in a statement early on October 21.

Daniel Naroditsky was born in 1995 in San Mateo, California (USA). He started playing chess at the age of 6 under the guidance of his father and soon emerged as the hope of American chess. In 2007, he won the U12 World Championship. 6 years later, Naroditsky was officially awarded the title of Grandmaster (GM) at the age of 18.

In addition to his competitive success, Naroditsky is also widely known around the world as a renowned chess educator . Naroditsky has also authored several books since his childhood, commented on major chess events, and built a strong presence on platforms such as YouTube and Twitch.

During his illustrious playing career, Daniel Naroditsky made a big splash by defeating many top players. Notably, he won against Fabiano Caruana, the world's number two player with an Elo rating of over 2,800 at the time, at the 2021 US Championship.

2025 was his peak year when he won the US Blitz Championship with a perfect record of 14 wins. In October of this year, Naroditsky had an Elo rating of 2.619 (standard chess), 2.636 (rapid chess) and 2.705 (blitz chess), confirming his world-class status in the Blitz category.

Naroditsky graduated from Stanford University in 2019 (New York Post).

"Grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky was a talented player, commentator and inspirational person. FIDE shares this great loss with his family and those who loved him," the World Chess Federation (FIDE) sent its condolences.

Daniel Naroditsky is not only an elite chess player but also a key figure in the popularization of modern chess. Through his teaching talent and his ability to connect with fans across generations and skill levels, he has inspired thousands, bringing this intellectual sport closer to young people around the world.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-thao/dai-kien-tuong-co-vua-daniel-naroditsky-qua-doi-o-tuoi-29-20251021061727858.htm