Chess grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky has unexpectedly died at the age of 29.
The American’s passing was announced by his club, the Charlotte Chess Center, on Monday. A cause of death has not yet been announced.
They said in a statement on behalf of his family: ‘It is with great sadness that we share the unexpected passing of Daniel Naroditsky. Daniel was a talented chess player, educator, and cherished member of the chess community, admired and respected by fans and players around the world.
‘He was also a loving son, brother, and loyal friend. We ask for privacy for Daniel’s family during this extremely difficult time. Let us remember Daniel for his passion and love for the game of chess, and for the joy and inspiration he brought to us all every day.’
Naroditsky, a California native and Stanford graduate, achieved his grandmaster title when he was just 18-years-old in 2013. He played in five U.S Championships and won junior and youth tournaments.
As well as an accomplished chess player, Naroditsky was also a popular online chess content creator. He published a book titled ‘Mastering Positional Chess’ when he was just 14 in 2010.
Chess grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky has unexpectedly died at the age of 29
His videos helped him grow his online audience to 340,000 followers on Twitch and just short of 500,000 on YouTube.
The No. 1 ranked American chess player Hikaru Nakamura was among those to pay tribute to Naroditsky.
He said: ‘I’m devastated. This is a massive loss for the world of chess.’
In a statement on social media, the International Chess Federation said: Daniel Naroditsky passed away. He was a talented chess player, commentator, and educator. FIDE extends its deepest condolences to Daniel’s family and loved ones.’
