Nihal Sarin Speaks Out on Daniel Naroditsky’s Death
On October 19, 2025, the chess world lost one of its brightest voices—American Grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky, aged just 29. The Charlotte Chess Center, where he served as head coach, announced his sudden passing without revealing a cause.
To many, he was more than a player; he was a gifted teacher who made complex ideas accessible, a formidable opponent, and an eloquent presenter of the game. No one felt the loss more acutely than Indian prodigy Nihal Sarin. The 21-year-old Grandmaster took to X with a shattered heart: “Completely heartbroken. Daniel was a brilliant mind and a gifted teacher.” They built a friendship through rivalry, playing over 2,000 online games on Chess.com and Lichess, where mutual respect grew with each match. Tragically, Naroditsky’s final games were against Nihal.
Speaking to The Indian Express, Nihal, who is known for his calm demeanour, didn’t hold back. “Daniel told me he was under immense stress due to baseless accusations—headed by Vladimir Kramnik,” he said. The Former World Champion had spent over a year targeting Naroditsky with statistical claims of cheating, lacking evidence. Nihal, who had endured similar attacks, watched his friend’s smile fade. In a direct charge, Nihal declared that the former world champion was almost directly responsible. “He (Vladimir Kramnik) has kind of literally taken a life,” he said. And it wasn’t just Nihal. Hikaru Nakamura, Nemo Zhou (Nemsko), Keti Tsatsalashvili, and many others came out in the open and condemned Kramnik’s online crusade. Nemo (Canadian chess player and influencer) demanded FIDE’s Ethics and Disciplinary Commission “revoke his titles and erase his record,” calling it “bullying, harassment, and slander.”
Calls mounted for sanctions—fines, bans, or stripping honors. Even Magnus Carlsen, streaming Titled Tuesday, broke his usual reserve. “When Kramnik went after Naroditsky so hard… I told him privately I was sorry and supported him,” he said. “Probably I should have done that publicly. The way Kramnik was going after him was horrible.”
Now in Greece for the European Club Cup, Nihal plays under a cloud of grief and resolve. “This has to stop,” he wrote on X. “When respected figures spread unfounded allegations without accountability, real lives are destroyed.” In a sport built on logic and dignity, the board has gone silent—but the demand for justice echoes louder than ever.
Photo courtesy: Lennart Ootes
