Daniel Naroditsky, the 29‑year‑old U.S. chess grandmaster who built a massive online following on YouTube and Twitch, was found dead in his Charlotte, North Carolina, apartment on Sunday.
Police say the investigation is still underway and no foul play has been ruled in yet, but early reports suggest a possible suicide or accidental overdose. Toxicology results are still pending.
Naroditsky’s mother, Elena, broke her silence in a new interview, saying her son was “distressed” by online rumors that he and other players were using computer programs – “chess engines” – to cheat.
The accusations began last October when Russian grandmaster Vladimir Kramnik posted on social media that he suspected Naroditsky of cheating in online games. Kramnik has said he never had concrete proof, but he continued to repeat the claim over the next year.
Naroditsky, who earned the grandmaster title at 18, denied the allegations and accused Kramnik of trying to ruin his reputation. “He played more and did more to prove he wasn’t one of those accusations,” Elena said. “The whole world was on Daniel’s side.”
FIDE, the International Chess Federation, has opened an ethics probe into Kramnik’s conduct. FIDE’s president, Arkady Dvorkovich, said the organization would take appropriate action if the accusations were found to be harassment or bullying. Kramnik has hinted that he may sue FIDE, claiming the federation misrepresented his remarks about Naroditsky after his death.
The day before his death, Naroditsky returned to a live stream in a “creative break” and pledged, “You thought I was gone forever, but little do you know I’m back and better than ever.” His sudden passing has shocked the chess community, with grandmasters Hikaru Nakamura, Nihal Sarin, and others calling for a deeper look into the harassment he experienced.
Police described how fellow grandmaster Oleksandr Bortnyk discovered Naroditsky’s body. Bortnyk said he and a friend checked the apartment after noticing the TV was still on and found the body on the couch. Authorities have said there are no signs of violence, but they are still reviewing the toxicology reports to determine the exact cause of death.
Naroditsky was a chess prodigy who won the Under‑12 world championship before becoming a grandmaster and later a key figure in bringing the classical game into the digital age. His death marks a tragic loss for the online chess community, and the investigation continues as new details emerge.
Source: Fox News
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