Daniel Naroditsky’s mysterious death pushed FIDE to investigate Vladimir Kramnik over cheating allegations

The International Chess Federation (FIDE) has announced it is formally investigating former world chess champion Vladimir Kramnik for persistent cheating allegations leveled against US grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky in the year leading up to Naroditsky's untimely death.

The disciplinary action follows criticism from the global chess community regarding Kramnik’s conduct, which many deem as harassment and reputational harm. An online petition asking Fide to ban Kramnik has reached more than 13,000 signatures.

Vladimir Kramnik has denied any bullying or personal insults directed at Daniel Naroditsky and announced his intention to file a lawsuit against FIDE, accusing the organization of launching a smear campaign against him.


Meanwhile, Naroditsky’s mother, in her first personal statement since her son’s death, spoke about the emotional toll the campaign of accusations had on Daniel.

Daniel Naroditsky, a 29-year-old American grandmaster celebrated for his streaming and coaching, passed away recently. While the cause of death remains undisclosed, the prolonged period of allegations against him is believed to have taken a significant toll on his mental health. Naroditsky publicly denied cheating accusations and expressed distress over Kramnik’s relentless claims during his final Twitch broadcasts.

Vladimir Kramnik, who held the world title from 2000 to 2007, began accusing Naroditsky in 2024, sharing suspicions on multiple occasions without substantive evidence.

Kramnik claimed that Naroditsky often looked away from the board when moving, implying that he had an engine connected within his vision but off camera.

FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich has referred all relevant public statements to FIDE’s Ethics and Disciplinary Commission for review, emphasizing that harassment and bullying violate the sport's ethical standards.

The chess community, including top grandmasters such as Magnus Carlsen, Hikaru Nakamura, Wesley So, and Arjun Erigaisi, have condemned Kramnik’s actions, calling the relentless accusations “appalling” and “heartless.”

Wesley So questioned the morality of destroying a young player’s reputation over unproven claims, while Arjun Erigaisi urged FIDE to take firm action to prevent such damage to players’ mental wellbeing.


The widely respected chess figure has a history of accusing players of cheating, including a 2023 suspension of his Chess.com blog for baseless allegations against numerous players.