Chess Grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky, a Bay Area Child Prodigy, Dies at 29

Chess grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky, a child prodigy and professional player who grew up in the Bay Area, died Monday. He was 29.

Naroditsky rose quickly through the ranks to the highest title in the sport — aside from World Chess Champion — at 18. Through social media and livestreaming, he became one of the most influential teachers and players in the sport.

“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,” his family said in a statement through the Charlotte Chess Center in North Carolina, where Naroditsky worked and trained professionally.

Naroditsky grew up in Foster City in San Mateo County. At 6, he began playing chess with his father, Vladimir, and brother, Alan, according to the San Mateo Daily Journal.

“To the world, Daniel is the chess grandmaster, passionate commentator and the gifted educator who we know and love. To me, he is all of those things — but he will always be Danya, my little brother,” Alan told KQED in a statement. He said the two loved watching Warriors games together, calling each other to discuss NBA highlights and swapping puns and inside jokes.

“He was my best friend, and one of the best human beings I have ever known,” he continued. “His death is a huge loss to us all.”

As a child, he won tournaments across the world, from his first locally in Burlingame to the under-12 world championship in Turkey.

“Chess is its own world,” Naroditsky told the San Mateo Daily Journal in 2007. “I enjoy being in it and staying in it; the tactics and strategies.”

He attended Crystal Springs Uplands School, a private middle and high school in Hillsborough.

“During his years at Crystal, Daniel was known not only for his extraordinary intellect and chess mastery, but also for his warmth, humility, and kindness,” Head of School Kelly Sortino said in a statement.

Through the years, the school has shared updates on Naroditsky’s burgeoning career, and he played against a chess computer there in an educational event organized by other alumni after his graduation.

“Our hearts go out to his family and loved ones, as well as to all who were inspired by his talent and character. His loss is felt deeply within the Crystal community,” Sortino’s statement continued.

As an undergraduate at Stanford University from 2015 to 2019, Naroditsky was part of the chess club. He served as president during his senior year, helping host events like a rivalry match between Stanford and UC Berkeley and sharing livestreams of the team’s matches on Twitch.

After graduating, he moved to North Carolina, where he continued to stream professionally and coached top junior chess players at the Charlotte Chess Center.

Naroditsky also posted frequent videos on YouTube that taught the sport to hundreds of thousands of followers, many of whom called him “Danya” or “Sensei.”

His most recent video last week marked his return after a monthslong break.

“You thought I was gone forever, but little do you know I am back and better than ever,” he said, adding that he’d been posting less frequently in recent months as part of a “creative break.”

Since his death, comments from fans thanked him for piquing their interest in the sport and helping them with their mental health.

“His passion for the game was contagious,” wrote one viewer, who said they watched his streams with their husband.

“I can’t even guess how many hours I spent watching his content and how much it comforted me in my own time of depression,” another said. “He didn’t only get me into chess, but also helped me — and I’m certain many others as well — through an extremely difficult time.”