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American chess Grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky died on October 19, 2025, at the age of 29, his family confirmed on Monday. Naroditsky, known as “Danya” in the chess community, was among the world’s top-ranked blitz players and a well-known chess commentator, author, and content creator. No official cause of death has been released. However, former World Chess Champion Vladimir Kramnik has publicly raised concerns, hinting at possible drug use and alleging that signs of distress were ignored by those close to Naroditsky. Kramnik Shares Private Message, Suggests Substance Abuse Vladimir Kramnik, who previously accused Naroditsky of cheating in 2024, shared screenshots on social media from a private message sent by a viewer who had watched Naroditsky’s final stream. The message expressed concern over Naroditsky’s condition and questioned whether he was under the influence of drugs. Alongside the screenshot, Kramnik tweeted, "What exactly happened? Because I received this two days ago from a friend of mine, chess fan, and at least did what I could to warn people to do something urgently in my posts. To those who prefer blaming and shaming instead of helping. Awful tragedy, hope properly investigated." Before Naroditsky’s death was confirmed, Kramnik had posted several tweets suggesting the streamer was “on something else than sleeping pills.” After the news broke, he continued to criticize those close to Naroditsky, alleging they ignored signs of serious problems. In another tweet, he wrote, "Too high price paid, but if I was the only person shouting about obvious long-term problems of Danya becoming alarming, requiring urgent measures from people around, while 'friends' only cared about hiding it and erase evidence, it’s rotten to the core." Last Stream Raised Concerns Among Fans Naroditsky’s last stream on Twitch took place days before his death. Viewers on Reddit noted unusual behavior during the session, describing him as incoherent, visibly anxious, and physically unwell. Some fans said he appeared to be falling asleep, rambling, and speaking in Russian. One Redditor claimed that someone had to go to Naroditsky’s residence to stop the stream. These reports have led fans to speculate that the Grandmaster was struggling with mental or physical health issues before his death. Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from US News and around the World.
