What Happened Between Naroditsky and Kramnik? Controversy explored in wake of former’s death

Daniel Naroditsky, the talented 29-year-old chess player, passed away on October 19, 2025, from unknown causes, a loss mourned by the global chess community. The Charlotte Chess Center announced his death via a statement on X (formerly Twitter), honoring him as a “cherished member” who inspired many with his passion and dedication to the game. The Saint Louis Chess Club also expressed their sorrow, remembering Naroditsky as a “gifted player” and a committed teacher who influenced countless players worldwide.

Naroditsky, widely known as Danya, had earned acclaim through his participation in the U.S. Chess Championships and contributed to The New York Times chess column. However, his career was marked by controversy stemming from allegations of cheating made by former World Chess Champion Vladimir Kramnik.

The dispute began in October 2024 when Kramnik posted on social media raising suspicions about Naroditsky’s gameplay, though without presenting concrete evidence. Kramnik challenged Naroditsky to a high-stakes match, writing, “Ok was enough time to answer my proposal of having a 100K stake match with Daniel Naroditsky, 50K each puts on the table, winner takes all. Since no answer is the answer, lets close this story and I will be publishing statistics of Danya and others instead, explaining my concerns.”

Kramnik further shared data from his team’s internal analysis, alleging irregularities in Naroditsky’s performance and calling for better systems to prevent cheating in chess. He stated, “For instance, a player increasing the amount of top level games within a month from 13% to 34%. Obviously, still playing there, making great living, Etc… Just for your understanding that all that campaign about ‘diletant old crazy grandpa’ is the fear of revealation.”

Kramnik’s accusations extended beyond Naroditsky, including other prominent players such as David Navara and Hikaru Nakamura.

Naroditsky himself addressed the allegations indirectly during an appearance on Take Take Take, expressing his frustration with supporters of Kramnik’s claims. He described them as “worse than dirt” and shared his emotional toll, stating:

“I don’t think I’m good… You know, not good enough of a person, but thick-skinned enough to say, honestly, that that isn’t affecting me at all. I would be, you know, failing the lie detector test if I said that. I’ve been nice and civil and courteous to this army of troglodyte lowlifes for way too long. I’m really sick of it. I’m not going to tolerate any of the hate any longer.”

Kramnik did not publicly respond to Naroditsky’s remarks. Known for his prestigious titles, including FIDE and Classical World Champion, Kramnik remains a significant figure in the chess world.

The controversy adds a complex layer to the legacy of Daniel Naroditsky, who will be remembered both for his chess prowess and the turbulent challenges he faced during his career.