Chess mourns 'Danya': "This has to stop, real lives are being destroyed"

When he was just 14 years old, Daniel Naroditsky (1995, California), better known as Danya , published his first book on chess. By then, he was already considered a child prodigy of the science of chess. In 2013, at the age of 18, FIDE awarded him the title of Grandmaster for his enormous contribution to the sport, in which he almost always remained among the world's top 150 and even defeated his compatriot Fabiano Caruano, world number 2. His death at his home in Charlotte at the age of 29, announced yesterday, highlights one of the major problems some chess players face with the arrival of technology: unsubstantiated accusations of cheating in online games.

In recent years, Danya had become a successful content creator thanks to his appearances on Chess.com and Lichess.org . His ability to explain chess had earned him nearly half a million subscribers on YouTube and a Twitch channel with 350,000 subscribers.

The American was singled out for a year without proof by Vladimir Kramnik

However, in October 2024, his world was turned upside down by Vladimir Kramnik's accusations. The Russian, world champion in 2000 after defeating Garry Kasparov, claimed without evidence that Naroditsky had cheated in online games using a second device with a computer module. This is not the first time Kramnik has accused a colleague without evidence. He also did so with Peruvian José Martínez Alcántara and Czech David Navara, both with impeccable resumes. For a year, Kramnik maintained his claims, with arguments as prosaic as where Naroditsky looked during games. This situation affected Danya , who last Saturday appeared in a video half asleep, commenting on the Russian's words.

“I'm not a doctor, but everything indicates there's more to Danya than sleeping pills. I trust that if she has any, her true friends will take care of her,” Kramnik posted after seeing the now-deleted video. Upon learning of her death, this was his reaction: “It's a high price to pay, but I was the only person who shouted about Danya 's alarming long-term problems.”

This has to stop. When respected figures spread unfounded accusations without accountability, real lives are destroyed. Nihal Sarin Indian chess player

American Hikaru Nakamura, world number 3 and a close friend of the deceased, who had been very aggressive toward Kramnik in recent months, reacted yesterday: “I’ll say it again: Kramnik can go to hell and rot in hell.”

Danya 's case adds to the many unfounded accusations that have been leveled in chess in recent times, including that of Magnus Carlsen against Hans Niemman, whose complaint was later resolved in a secret out-of-court settlement.

The reaction of 21-year-old Indian Nihal Sarin sums up the opinion of many of his peers regarding this tragic death. “The baseless and relentless accusations [...] he has been subjected to have caused him immense pressure and pain. This has to stop. When respected figures spread baseless accusations without accountability, real lives are destroyed.”