American chess grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky died at age 29 from cardiac arrhythmia, an autopsy has confirmed. The 29-year-old was found dead in his Charlotte, North Carolina, home on October 19, 2025, with traces of methamphetamine and kratom in his system at non-lethal levels. His death was ruled accidental by the medical examiner.
Daniel Naroditsky, a California native and chess prodigy, achieved grandmaster status at age 17, the highest title from the International Chess Federation. He attended Stanford University and became a chess columnist for The New York Times in 2022. He trained and coached at the Charlotte Chess Center, where he resided.
Friends discovered Naroditsky's body at his Charlotte home on October 19, 2025. The center announced his passing the next day on X, stating: “The Naroditsky family shares the sad news of Daniel’s unexpected passing. Daniel was a talented chess player, educator, and beloved member of the chess community. We ask for privacy as the family grieves.”
Days earlier, during a livestream, friends noted Naroditsky's altered mental status. They checked on him afterward and took approximately 40 pills, described as probably Adderall, according to the medical examiner's report.
The autopsy, reported by The Charlotte Observer, listed cardiac arrhythmia as the cause, with the manner of death accidental. Methamphetamine and kratom were present but at toxic/non-lethal levels.
Naroditsky had faced controversy when former world champion Vladimir Kramnik accused him of cheating, which he denied. In his final livestream, Naroditsky reflected: “Ever since the Kramnik stuff, I feel like if I start doing well, people assume the worst of intentions. The issue is just the lingering effect of it.”
Kramnik responded to the news on X: “I wish to once again express my thoughts for the family and loved ones of Daniel Naroditsky. The loss of such a young prominent chess player is an immense tragedy not just for them but for entire chess community. The authorities have now publicly released the medical examiner’s conclusions, confirming the true cause of death (anticipated by many who witnessed Daniel’s final stream). I deeply regret that this profound tragedy was exploited by various individuals and groups to advance their own agendas. There can be no justification for such immoral conduct.”
The chess world mourns the loss of a rising star whose contributions extended beyond the board.
