In Memory of Daniel Naroditsky — A Teacher Beyond the Board (1995–2025)
As everyone knows, GM Daniel Naroditsky tragically passed last Sunday, at the age of 29. I must admit, this news shocked me to the core. To those who met him, he seemed so young, enthusiastic, and full of hope and dreams. Known affectionately by countless fans as his nickname of 'Danya', Naroditsky became a very successful chess streamer, cultivating a huge follower base on the platform Twitch. However, before his early success, he was a prodigy, winning the Under-12 World Youth Chess Championship in 2007, before achieving the title of Grandmaster at the tender age of 17.
I’d like to share a personal memory of Naroditsky from 2017. I was a voracious player at 10 years old, and Naroditsky was a bright student at Stanford, majoring in History. I participated in group lessons taught by him, organized by the affiliate Bay Area Chess; these weren't just any ordinary group lessons, these were specially reserved for ambitious 2000+ USCF elo players seeking to become International Masters and Grandmasters in the foreseeable future. (For context, talents like Christopher Yoo attended the class).
GM Naroditsky wasn't just any ordinary teacher; he respected our time and sought to give us the best education possible. I enjoyed his calm demeanor and fantastic way of breaking down and explaining complex concepts. Naroditsky's trademark of teaching was to have each of us set a chessboard right in front of us. He'd instruct us to clear the board and list out each piece's coordinates, one by one. He was serious about our chess improvement and instructed us to treat the given scenario as a competitive tournament game. It was clear that he thoroughly nd professionally planned out each lesson, in order to give us our money's worth. It is difficult to name many chess teachers with the same caliber and character as Mr. Naroditsky.
On a particular weekend, I missed a class, as I played in a tournament instead. Most teachers would simply offer a refund or even just keep the money without any compensation. However, GM Naroditsky personally took 1 hour out of his time to teach me online. He asked me what I was struggling with, and I replied, "The Alekhine Defense." He then clearly taught me the best variations and setups for White, concisely answering all my pressing concerns.
In my later teenage years, I recalled my disappointment when I found out that he had moved to the Charlotte, NC area. He'd been a true chess role model to me, but I understood his decision, given the boom of chess interest there, led by the wonderful Charlotte Chess Center. It's difficult to imagine a more tragic and disappointing event than this.
Although many may remember GM Naroditsky for his comedic streams, I will remember him for his wonderful teaching style. Every time I see the Alekhine's Defense on the board, I shall be reminded of you, Mr. Naroditsky.
