Beloved Player, Teacher, and Online Star Remembered
Daniel Naroditsky, an American chess grandmaster and popular online educator, has died at 29, the Charlotte Chess Center announced Monday. The cause of death has not been released. The center, where Naroditsky served as head coach, described him as “a talented chess player, commentator, and educator,” and “a loving son, brother, and loyal friend.”
A Prodigy From the Bay Area
Born in the San Francisco Bay Area, Naroditsky learned chess at age six. He quickly rose through the ranks, winning two national titles and becoming the youngest-ever California K-12 Champion in fifth grade. Later that year, he became the under-12 World Youth Chess Champion, gaining international recognition.
Scholar and Author
Naroditsky took a gap year to focus on chess before earning a bachelor’s degree in history from Stanford University in 2019. At just 14, he published his first chess manual and went on to write for Chess Life magazine and The New York Times, where he began a chess column in 2022.
Champion of Online Chess Education
Known for his approachable style and passion for teaching, Naroditsky amassed nearly 500,000 YouTube subscribers and 340,000 Twitch followers. His live streams and tutorials helped popularize chess for new generations. “Hop into my stream for great chess, good tunes, and an amazing community!!” he wrote on his Twitch profile.
Community Mourns His Loss
The International Chess Federation and Saint Louis Chess Club both paid tribute, calling him a “beloved pillar of the chess community.” A moment of silence was held at the 2025 U.S. Chess Championship in his honor.
Naroditsky’s family has requested privacy but asked that he be remembered for “his passion for chess, and for the joy and inspiration he brought to us all every day.”
For more on this story, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.