🔗 Share this article

Vladimir Kramnik has spoken out after the tragic passing of American grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky, calling the 29-year-old's demise as a heartbreaking event while accusing critics for mounting what he termed an "unprecedentedly cynical and illegal campaign of harassment" against him and his family.

Kramnik's Statement

The 50-year-old ex-champion, who has faced widespread condemnation for alleging Naroditsky of online cheating without evidence, offered sympathies but denied any individual targeting.

"Despite the tensions, I was the sole individual in the chess community who, observing through footage Daniel's apparent health concerns a day before his death, publicly called for him to get assistance," Kramnik declared. "The subsequent attempts, immediately following his passing, to explicitly connect this sorrowful incident to my name … violate every limit of basic human morality."

Kramnik said his earlier calls for a review of Naroditsky's digital games had been ignored "despite a significant amount of evidence", and claimed he would provide material to "any relevant authority". He noted his lawyers were preparing civil and criminal suits over "unfounded claims" that have resulted in dangers against him and his family.

Investigation Details

The demise of the grandmaster may have been the result of a drug overdose and is being examined as a potential self-harm case, according to a police report issued last Thursday. A report from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg police department indicates Naroditsky was discovered deceased Sunday evening and describes the case as a "Death/suicide/overdose/Sudden/Natural Death Investigation."

"Last Sunday, October 19 at around 7:11 PM, officers answered an emergency medical request in the vicinity of Colin Crossing," the document states. "When they reached the scene, an unresponsive subject was located and later pronounced deceased by a medical professional."

Chess World Response

Outrage regarding Kramnik's behavior has dominated the chess world. Grandmaster Nakamura called his behavior "appalling", while five-time world champion Magnus Carlsen described it as "terrible". GM from India Nihal Sarin, who faced Naroditsky in his last digital game, accused Kramnik of "causing a death", saying his vigilante campaign against suspected cheaters was ineffective and "completely unacceptable".

Grandmaster's Impact

A graduate of Stanford and ex-youth titleholder, Naroditsky gathered more than 800k fans on Twitch and YouTube. Referred to as Danya, he was celebrated for his wit, insight and modesty, becoming a prominent figure in chess's COVID-period surge. He was also among the globe's top competitors under shorter time controls, placing ninth at last year's speed chess title event in New York.

Naroditsky repeatedly refuted the accusations but acknowledged the toll they had taken on his psychological well-being. "Ever since the Kramnik stuff, I feel like if I begin performing strongly, people assume the worst," Naroditsky remarked in his last online broadcast.

Official Responses

The World Chess Federation said this week it was "investigating" Kramnik's actions. "The way Kramnik approaches it simply is unacceptable," Fide chief executive Sutovsky commented. The federation plans to honor Naroditsky with a tribute prize.

Fide president Dvorkovich later verified that all of Kramnik's public statements about Naroditsky, prior to and following his passing, would be referred to the organisation's Ethics and Disciplinary Commission "for independent consideration".

"Life and human worth are fundamental values shared by all of us," Dvorkovich emphasized. "Our global chess family has always valued the achievements of GM Vladimir Kramnik, but such stature brings a responsibility to maintain the standards of equity and consideration."

Loved Ones' Wish

Naroditsky's family have expressed they wish he is recalled not because of the confrontation he faced but for "the happiness and motivation he provided others every day". Magnus Carlsen described him "a resource to the chess community", while Hikaru Nakamura referred to him as "the best of us".

• In the US, individuals may contact the Suicide Prevention Hotline on 988, chat on 988lifeline.org, or message HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor.
• Throughout Britain and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123, or message [email protected] or [email protected].
• In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline Australia is 13 11 14.
• Global support contacts can be located through befrienders.org.