A Beloved Teacher and Player

Daniel Naroditsky, the American chess grandmaster and online educator known as “Danya,”

has died at just 29. The Charlotte Chess Center confirmed his passing, calling him “a talented chess player,

educator, and beloved member of the chess community.”

His family asked that he be remembered “for his passion and love for the game.”

A Digital Mentor

Loved for his calm and witty online teaching, Naroditsky inspired hundreds of thousands through YouTube and Twitch.

“He loved streaming, and he loved trying to be educational,” said grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura.