The gentle genius of chess: Daniel Naroditsky (9.11.1995 - 19.10.2025)
It’s been a week since the chess world lost one of its brightest lights. The news of GM Daniel Naroditsky’s passing was shared on 20th October 2025 by Charlotte Chess Center, leaving everyone in deep shock and sorrow. Some knew him as a commentator, some as a player, some as a teacher, but to everyone, he was an inspiration. His detailed insights mixed with humour drew players in from all corners of the world. Daniel was loved by millions! Despite his immense talent, he always stayed humble, curious, and eager to learn from anyone! This article is a tribute to this great soul! Photo: Charlotte Chess Center
Remembering Danya...
On 20th October 2025, the chess world was struck by heartbreaking news. It was shared by the Charlotte Chess Center that GM Daniel Naroditsky passed away at the age of 29. It was a shock to everyone. We lost a gifted player, an unforgettable teacher, commentator, and a truly kind person at such a young age. Daniel was admired and respected by fans and players worldwide. His passion lit up the game for so many. Those who knew him, watched him, or learned from him found words that echoed the same feeling. In this article, you can see how the chess world reacted to this very sad news.
Daniel Naroditsky's journey
Daniel started young and climbed fast. He became the U-12 World Champion in 2007. He wrote the book Mastering Positional Chess when he was just 14, becoming one of the youngest chess authors. The book also got great reviews. He later wrote Mastering Complex Endgame: Practical Lessons, Critical Ideas and Plans. He attended Stanford, studied history, and completed a master’s degree. A prodigy in every sense! Later, he combined his academic curiosity with a deep love for chess and teaching.
IM Sagar Shah shared his personal stories with Daniel Naroditsky in this video:
Sagar and Daniel both played in the Porticcio Open Chess Tournament in 2016.
They even played a blitz game once, which turned out to be quite an interesting encounter.
The position was fine until 21... e5, but White blundered a piece by playing 22. Qxb7. Daniel spotted it immediately, playing 22...Rab8. Black is completely winning now. Can you find the mating sequence?
One of the moments that stuck with the chess fans was Daniel’s famous win against Vasyl Ivanchuk at World Blitz 2024. Ivanchuk, who was winning the game, blundered in time trouble and Daniel turned a lost position into a win.
In the video, you can see that after the win, instead of celebrating loudly, Daniel sat across from Ivanchuk and shared the pain of the moment. He did not gloat. You could see the respect in his face for such a great player. It showed how much Daniel loved and respected chess and chess players.
Daniel, the teacher and entertainer!
Teaching and creating content were at the core of Daniel’s work. He had a gifted ability to explain ideas clearly, make chess accessible and entertain at the same time. One of the most memorable moments for ChessBase India viewers was when Daniel appeared in the final episode of Grandmaster Chess. The format involved top players explaining their game and stand-up comedians guessing critical moments in games. His impersonations, especially his Grischuk and Kasparov impressions and his concise, direct explanations, were a hit. Daniel could deliver accurate chess guidance and entertain with brilliant mimicry!
Daniel launched a Jobava opening course along with GM Olexandr Bortnyk and did a stream with ChessBase India to explain his course. One of the great qualities of Daniel was his candour about pricing and value. He lived by simple rules. Know your audience and deliver impact. He wanted joy in learning. Such honesty reflected his broader teaching spirit: be helpful, be clear, and stand by your product!
Memorable Games of Daniel Naroditsky
Daniel had many beautiful wins. His games were all about deep calculation with practical techniques. A few memorable examples:
This game was played at the Teplice Open 2024. Daniel had the white pieces against GM Evgeny Gleizerov. The position was equal from the start, but White had better piece maneuvering. There was no blunder from Black's side, but White just kept finding better moves that slowly turned the position into a complete win for him.
Daniel Naroditsky vs Evgeny Gleizerov
Solution: Bf6! It’s a beautiful tactical motif that traps Black’s rook on h4. The position had no escape squares, and Evgeny resigned shortly after.
The next game is a good example of dazzling calculation. It happened two years ago at the Charlotte Super Swiss tournament.
Daniel Naroditsky vs Andy Woodward
Daniel made a stunning sacrifice with 24. Rxf6. Black was forced to capture the rook, followed by 25. Rf1+ Ke6 26. Bf5+ and the Black rook is hanging. Can you find a sequence of checks here?
Another amazing win by Naroditsky came against GM Fabiano Caruana at the US Chess Championship in 2021. It was a complicated position where one slip could decide everything. Fabiano, usually one of the most accurate calculators in the world, misjudged a critical moment due to time trouble, whereas Daniel calculated precisely.
Fabiano Caruana vs Daniel Naroditsky
The important piece that Caruana missed was the b3 pawn. Daniel kept the pressure on and used that pawn to take control of the game. And as expected, it helped him secure a clear win.
Daniel’s lasting legacy
Daniel’s YouTube channel was a gold mine for players at all levels. He had nearly 500,000 subscribers and produced over 600 videos for beginners to strong players. He wanted to build resources that genuinely helped players improve. That desire to teach and to make chess accessible will remain as one of his greatest legacies.
What we lose and how we remember him
Daniel was not only a brilliant chess mind; he was a warm human being who believed in honest teaching, creative content and respect for the game. His smile and his enthusiasm touched so many. We will miss his commentary, his humour, his lessons and his ability to bring chess to millions.
Daniel wanted to visit India as he had a huge following here. Sadly, that trip will never happen. But his warmth will continue to be felt across every corner of the chess community here.
To honor Daniel Naroditsky, GM Magesh Chadran conducted a special session at his chess academy, Chess Kings and Queens Academy. Magesh and Daniel crossed paths often at chess camps. They taught at the annual Castle Chess Camp in Atlanta at Emory University. Daniel handled the top players, while Magesh taught the intermediate players. He shared that Daniel played chess with anyone who asked, no matter their level. “Daniel was the most polite guy in the room.” Magesh shared. He also talked about how they would play 60 to 70 bullet games a day. Daniel won most, but he never turned away a challenge. He would explain moves kindly and always help others grow. That openness made him a favourite among players!
Magesh shared his memorable blitz game against Daniel Naroditsky with his students. Magesh was playing with Black pieces.
Daniel played a brilliant move 28. Re7 and snatched the a5 pawn with 28... Rxe7 29. Qxa8+ Kh7 30. Rxe7 Qxe7 31. Qxa5.
In the endgame, the pawn structure decided it all. Black's pawns were doubled and isolated, easy targets. Magesh's king couldn't block the advance.
Daniel has left us inspired. He touched every soul he met. Many discovered chess because of him. The best way to honour Daniel is to watch his videos, play a game in his memory, and share what he taught us. His story reminds us to keep learning, to keep giving, and to keep moving forward, just as he always did!
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How the Chess World reacted to Grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky's death
@ 23/10/2025 by Himank Ghosh (en) |
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ग्रांड मास्टर डेनियल के निधन से शोक में शतरंज जगत
@ 22/10/2025 by Niklesh Jain (hi) |