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Screen & Stage • Chess

Daniel Naroditsky

Daniel Naroditsky was an American chess grandmaster, author, commentator, streamer, and teacher.

Updated September 11, 20261 min readCited sources

Daniel Naroditsky was an American chess grandmaster, author, and online educator. Known as Danya, he was a leading speed chess player and teacher.

What it is

Daniel Naroditsky was a grandmaster (GM) who earned the title in 2013 at age 17. He was widely recognized for his speed chess skills, commentary, and educational content. He also wrote chess books and worked as a columnist and streamer, reaching a large audience on YouTube and Twitch.

Key details

Born in San Mateo, California, on November 9, 1995, he grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and later graduated from Stanford University in 2019. His peak FIDE rating was 2647 in May 2017. He was regarded as one of the strongest speed chess players of his generation.

Death

Naroditsky died in Charlotte, North Carolina, on October 19, 2025, at age 29. Later reporting ruled the death accidental, caused by cardiac complications of systemic sarcoidosis.

In short

  • American chess grandmaster and online personality known as Danya.
  • Earned the GM title at 17; peak FIDE rating 2647.
  • Renowned for speed chess, teaching, commentary, and streaming.
  • Died at age 29 in October 2025 from cardiac complications of sarcoidosis.

Quick questions

Who is Daniel Naroditsky?
Daniel Naroditsky was an American chess grandmaster, author, commentator, streamer, and teacher known online as Danya.
What is Daniel Naroditsky's rating?
His peak recorded FIDE rating was 2647 in May 2017.
How did Daniel Naroditsky die?
He died in Charlotte, North Carolina, on October 19, 2025, at age 29. The death was ruled accidental and related to cardiac complications of systemic sarcoidosis.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Naroditsky
    Supports: Birth date/place, death date/place, grandmaster title, speed chess reputation, age, and general biography.
  2. Chess.com — https://www.chess.com/players/daniel-naroditsky
    Supports: Birth date/place, age, peak FIDE rating, chess career summary, Stanford graduation, and title.
  3. U.S. Chess — https://new.uschess.org/news/gm-daniel-naroditsky-1995-2025
    Supports: Grandmaster title, junior/youth results, authoring a book at age 14, and role as educator/streamer.
  4. FIDE — https://www.fide.com/daniel-naroditsky-1995-2025/
    Supports: Birth place, grandmaster title, and biography.
  5. The New York Times — https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/20/us/daniel-naroditsky-chess-grandmaster-dead.html
    Supports: Born in 1995, became grandmaster at 17, and broader significance as a player and commentator.
  6. BBC News — https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c15pz8vpjp9o
    Supports: Death at 29 and prominence as a YouTube chess creator.