Overview
- TMZ, citing the North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, reported an accidental death caused by a combination of drugs, including opioid‑like substances.
- FIDE’s Ethics Commission says it will review Kramnik’s remarks made before and after Naroditsky’s death.
- Kramnik wrote that the tragedy was used to advance others’ interests, reported receiving death threats, and said he turned to the courts, noting he filed a case against FIDE on December 30.
- Social-media users had blamed Kramnik for psychological pressure, and he had earlier publicly questioned Naroditsky’s substance use and accused him of online cheating in 2024.
- Naroditsky, a top U.S. grandmaster and prominent streamer, was 29 and had recent national successes including the 2025 U.S. blitz title.