CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) - A Charlotte chess phenomenon died unexpectedly at just 29 years old, his club announced on Monday .

Daniel Naroditsky, a grandmaster at the fast-growing Charlotte Chess Center, was one of the top-ranked players in the country and had a massive following.

It was not immediately clear what caused Naroditsky’s death.

“We ask for privacy for Daniel’s family during this extremely difficult time,” the Chess Center wrote in part. “Let us honor Daniel by remembering his passion for chess and the inspiration he brought to us all.”

About Naroditsky

As of October 2025, Naroditsky was ranked as the No. 150 chess player in the world, and No. 17 in the United States.

We had previously reported on Naroditsky , as his daring, blindfolded win earlier this year went viral

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