Former world chess champion Vladimir Kramnik refutes any involvement in the death of Daniel Naroditsky and is determined to vindicate himself in court. Naroditsky was discovered deceased on Sunday, October 20, at his residence in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Naroditsky, known for streaming his matches on Twitch with over half a million followers, had his gameplay videos previously available on YouTube.
During an interview with Al Arabiya presenter Michael Prendergast, Kramnik dismissed any responsibility for the American Grandmaster’s passing, emphasizing that he only sought examination of evidence amid accusations related to online chess cheating.
Expressing shock and sorrow over the incident, Kramnik insisted on his innocence, stating that he never accused Naroditsky of cheating but rather urged for a thorough investigation. Concerned for Naroditsky’s well-being, Kramnik took to Instagram to seek assistance for him.
Kramnik intends to clear his name with documented evidence and has criticized both FIDE, the governing body of chess, and Chess.com for allegedly targeting him unfairly.
Amid receiving death threats directed at him and his family, Kramnik advocates for a fair and transparent chess environment that is devoid of toxicity.
Naroditsky’s final moments during a streaming session involved conversations with his close friends, Peter Giannatos and Oleksandr Bortnyk, with Bortnyk urging Naroditsky to conclude the stream after a series of games.
Naroditsky hinted at feeling unfairly judged following comments by Kramnik, leading to discussions within the World Chess Federation about potential ethical violations in the matter.