Early life and prodigy days
Daniel Naroditsky was born November 9, 1995 in San Mateo, California. He was taught how to play chess when he was six by his father and soon became a prodigy. At age 11, he became the youngest winner of the Northern California K–12 Chess Championship. His international breakthrough came in 2007 after winning the World Youth Under-12 Chess Championship, and soon he earned the FIDE Master title. At 14, he was the youngest published chess author, having come out in 2010 with “Mastering Positional Chess.
Chess Career Milestones
He became a grandmaster in 2013 at age 18, and had previously earned norms at prestigious tournaments, such as two at the Benasque Open and one at the Philadelphia Open. He was U.S. Junior champion in 2013 and earned a berth into the 2014 U.S. Championship. Throughout his career, he has been ranked in the top 200 classical players worldwide (highest FIDE ranking: 2647). He was particularly strong at fast time controls, often being ranked among the world’s top 25 blitz players. His crowning glory was in August 2025 when he not only won the US National Blitz Championship, but did so with a 14-0 score.
| Achievement | Year | Notes |
| World Youth Under-12 Champion | 2007 | Earned FIDE Master title |
| Youngest published chess author | 2010 | Age 14, book: Mastering Positional Chess |
| U.S. Junior Champion | 2013 | Qualified for 2014 U.S. Championship |
| Grandmaster Title | 2013 | Earned at age 18 |
| Samford Chess Fellowship | 2014 | Prestigious U.S. chess fellowship |
| US National Blitz Champion | 2025 | Perfect 14-0 score |
| Peak FIDE Classical Rating | 2647 (2017) |
Contributions as Writer, Commentator and Teacher
In addition to his tournament exploits, Daniel was celebrated as a chess commentator, author and online teacher. He wrote columns for Chess Life magazine, and also The New York Times, and he began publishing chess books as a youngster. In a warm, accessible style, he built up hundreds of thousands of followers on Twitch and YouTube and streamed and explained games with clarity and humor. He taught and mentored many players, as well as popular streamers, being a respected Grandmaster-in-Residence at Charlotte Chess Center.
Legacy and Tragic Passing
Death Naroditsky died unexpectedly on October 19, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina at the age of 29. His passing was met with astonishment in the international chess world. Renowned for his brilliance on the board and his benevolence off it, he was lauded not just as a formidably skilled opponent but also as an inspirational teacher and influence to an entire generation of chess aficionados. The community lamented a short life of a bright talent gone, but celebrates his remaining legacy: over the board chess and online education.
Also read:
Steve Bridges Life Story – The Inspiring life of a Legend
Diane Keaton: The Untold Story