American chess grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky has died at age 29, according to a statement from his family released via the Charlotte Chess Center on October 20, 2025; no cause of death was disclosed. U.S. Chess confirmed the news and published an obituary noting his long ties to the Charlotte chess community and his prominence as a player and commentator, prompting tributes across the global chess world.
Naroditsky earned the grandmaster title in 2013, the same year he won the U.S. Junior Championship; he later became Grandmaster-in-Residence at the Charlotte Chess Center and built one of the most-watched chess education channels online. A moment of silence opened play at the 2025 U.S. Chess Championship in St. Louis on October 20 as colleagues and fans honored his contributions to the game and to chess education. The International Chess Federation (FIDE) also memorialized him, highlighting his early start in chess and lasting impact as a player, commentator, and teacher.
