Elena Naroditsky about her son Daniel, “The whole world was on Daniel’s side”

Daniel Naroditsky, the acclaimed American chess grandmaster, author, streamer, and beloved commentator affectionately known as “Danya,” tragically passed away. The sad and shocking news overwhelmed the chess world and left the community in dismay and shock. Daniel Naroditsky was not only a great player, but a fantastic streamer and educator, a true ambassador of the chess game. One of the frequents tributes on social media today reads, “I started playing chess because of Daniel Naroditsky”

Daniel Naroditsky’s mother, Elena Naroditsky, opened up in an interview for Fox News. “The mother of Daniel Naroditsky, the former grandmaster chess player who died earlier this week, has broken her silence on her son’s death and said that he had been tormented by online accusations that he and others were using computer “chess engines” to cheat.” says the Fox News article. “There was nothing more important to Daniel than his dignity and his name as a chess player,” Naroditsky’s mother, Elena Naroditsky, said. She continued, “The ex-world champion was trying to say he’s a cheater. […] Daniel tried to defend himself so much. The whole world was on Daniel’s side. He played more and did more and more because he was trying to prove that he’s not what he was accused of.”

The Fox News article concludes, “Several grandmasters, including Hikaru Nakamura and Nihal Sarin, have called out Kramnik’s conduct, saying the Russian pro had harassed Naroditsky and tried to destroy his reputation.”

Daniel Naroditsky passes away timeline

20.10 Daniel Naroditsky passes away
20.10 2700 club players mourn the passing of Daniel Naroditsky
20.10 The chess world mourns the passing away of Daniel Naroditsky
20.10 Fellow streamers react to the passing of Daniel Naroditsky
21.10 NY Times, where Daniel Naroditsky was columnist, with a tribute for Danya
21.10 Honoring Daniel Naroditsky, a video tribute to Danya
21.10 Magnus Carlsen on Daniel Naroditsky, “It’s a great loss. It’s very sad for all of us”
22.10 Reuters, “FIDE was “looking into” Kramnik’s year-long campaign accusing Naroditsky of online cheating”
23.10 Grant Oen, “Danya Naroditsky, I know you are already up there blitzing with the legends”

Disclaimer: Unfounded cheating allegations and accusations are a powerful form of emotional manipulation that can cause lasting psychological and even physical harm. More about it here