🔗 Share this article

The former world champion has spoken out after the death of US chess star Daniel Naroditsky, describing the 29-year-old's demise as a tragedy while accusing critics for launching what he termed an "deeply cynical and unlawful targeted harassment" against him and his family.

Former Champion's Response

The fifty-year-old ex-champion, who has faced broad criticism for alleging Naroditsky of online cheating without evidence, expressed condolences but rejected any individual targeting.

"Despite the tensions, I was the sole individual in the chess community who, observing through footage Daniel's apparent health concerns a day before his death, publicly called for him to get assistance," Kramnik stated. "The subsequent attempts, immediately following his passing, to explicitly connect this sorrowful incident to my name … cross all boundaries of fundamental human decency."

Kramnik said his earlier requests for examination of Naroditsky's online play had been overlooked "despite a significant amount of evidence", and stated he would submit documentation to "any relevant authority". He noted his lawyers were preparing legal actions over "unfounded claims" that have led to threats against him and his family.

Investigation Details

The demise of the grandmaster may have been the consequence of substance overuse and is being examined as a potential self-harm case, according to a police report released Thursday. A report from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg police department indicates Naroditsky was discovered deceased Sunday evening and describes the case as a "Death/suicide/overdose/Sudden/Natural Death Investigation."

"Last Sunday, October 19 at around 7:11 PM, officers responded to an emergency medical request in the vicinity of Colin Crossing," the document states. "Upon arrival, an unresponsive subject was found and later declared dead by a medic."

Community Reaction

Outrage regarding Kramnik's conduct has dominated the chess world. Hikaru Nakamura called his behavior "appalling", while reigning champion Carlsen described it as "horrible". GM from India Sarin, who faced Naroditsky in his last digital game, accused Kramnik of "causing a death", saying his vigilante campaign against alleged rule-breakers was ineffective and "totally inappropriate".

Naroditsky's Legacy

A graduate of Stanford and ex-youth titleholder, Naroditsky gathered more than 800k fans on streaming platforms. Referred to as Danya, he was celebrated for his wit, insight and modesty, becoming a prominent figure in chess's pandemic-era boom. He was also among the globe's top competitors under shorter time controls, finishing ninth at last year's speed chess title event in New York.

Naroditsky consistently denied the accusations but acknowledged the toll they had taken on his mental health. "Since the Kramnik controversy, I feel like if I begin performing strongly, people suspect foul play," Naroditsky remarked in his last online broadcast.

Official Responses

The World Chess Federation said this week it was "looking into" Kramnik's actions. "The way Kramnik approaches it simply can't be accepted," Fide chief executive Emil Sutovsky stated. The federation plans to honor Naroditsky with a memorial award.

Federation president Arkady Dvorkovich later confirmed that all of Kramnik's official remarks about Naroditsky, prior to and following his passing, would be submitted to the federation's disciplinary body "to be reviewed independently".

"Life and human worth are core principles universally upheld," Dvorkovich emphasized. "The chess community has always valued the accomplishments of GM Vladimir Kramnik, but such status brings a duty to maintain the standards of fairness and respect."

Family's Hope

Naroditsky's relatives have said they wish he is remembered not for the hostility he endured but for "the happiness and motivation he brought people every day". Carlsen described him "an asset to chess", while Nakamura described him as "the best of us".

• In the US, you can call or text the Suicide Prevention Hotline on 988, communicate via 988lifeline.org, or text HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor.
• In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123, or message [email protected] or [email protected].
• In Australia, the emergency help line Lifeline is 13 11 14.
• Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.org.