Overview
- Charlotte Chess Center and FIDE confirmed Naroditsky’s unexpected death in Charlotte, North Carolina, with no cause disclosed.
- Tournaments and leading players observed tributes, including a moment of silence at the ongoing U.S. Championship.
- Known as “Danya,” he became a leading voice in online chess instruction with sizable YouTube and Twitch audiences, alongside work as an author and commentator.
- He rose from World U12 champion in 2007 to Grandmaster in 2013, received the Samford Fellowship in 2014, and won the 2025 U.S. National Blitz Championship with a perfect 14/14.
- Some figures have shared unverified claims about the circumstances of his death that drew criticism, while peers emphasized remembrance and respect for his family.