Overview
- The Charlotte Chess Center announced his death on behalf of the Naroditsky family, which described him as a beloved player, educator and friend.
- Naroditsky rose from World Youth under-12 champion to grandmaster at 18 and most recently won the U.S. National Blitz Championship in August 2025.
- He became one of chess’s most influential online voices, coaching in Charlotte and building large followings on YouTube and Twitch as a commentator and teacher.
- Top players and organizations, including Hikaru Nakamura, Viswanathan Anand, FIDE and Chess.com’s Danny Rensch, posted tributes highlighting his talent and generosity.
- Days before his death he uploaded a return video on YouTube; separate posts from Vladimir Kramnik and some viewers raised unverified concerns about his recent streams, and no official information about the circumstances has been released.