π Share this article Vladimir Kramnik Rejects Wrongdoing in Passing of American Grandmaster Naroditsky Vladimir Kramnik has spoken out after the death of American grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky, describing the 29-year-old's loss as a heartbreaking event while accusing critics for launching what he termed an "unprecedentedly cynical and illegal campaign of harassment" against him and his loved ones. Kramnik's Statement The fifty-year-old ex-champion, who has faced broad criticism for accusing Naroditsky of online cheating lacking proof, expressed condolences but denied any personal attacks. "Despite the tensions, I was the sole individual in the chess community who, noticing on video Daniel's apparent health concerns a day before his death, publicly called for him to get assistance," Kramnik stated. "The subsequent attempts, right after his passing, to directly link this tragic event to my name β¦ cross all boundaries of basic human morality." Kramnik said his earlier calls for a review of Naroditsky's online play had been overlooked "despite a significant amount of evidence", and stated he would submit documentation to "appropriate officials". He mentioned his lawyers were preparing legal actions over "false accusations" that have led to threats against him and his family. Police Findings The death of Naroditsky may have been the result of a drug overdose and is being investigated as a possible suicide, according to a law enforcement document released Thursday. A report from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg police department says Naroditsky was discovered deceased Sunday evening and classifies the case as a "Death/suicide/overdose/Sudden/Natural Death Investigation." "On Sunday October 19th at approximately 07:11pm, officers responded to an emergency medical request in the vicinity of Colin Crossing," the report says. "When they reached the scene, an unresponsive subject was located and later pronounced deceased by a medical professional." Community Reaction Outrage regarding Kramnik's behavior has shaken the chess world. Hikaru Nakamura described his actions "appalling", while reigning champion Magnus Carlsen labeled it "horrible". GM from India Sarin, who faced Naroditsky in his final online match, accused Kramnik of "causing a death", saying his vigilante campaign against alleged rule-breakers was fruitless and "totally inappropriate". Grandmaster's Impact A graduate of Stanford and former world youth champion, Naroditsky amassed over 800,000 followers on Twitch and YouTube. Known as Danya, he was celebrated for his humor, clarity and humility, becoming a prominent figure in chess's COVID-period surge. He was also one of the world's finest players under rapid formats, placing ninth at last year's speed chess title event in New York. Naroditsky consistently denied the accusations but admitted the impact they had taken on his mental health. "Since the Kramnik controversy, I feel like if I start doing well, people suspect foul play," Naroditsky remarked in his last online broadcast. Organizational Statements The International Chess Federation (Fide) announced recently it was "investigating" Kramnik's behavior. "Kramnik's methodology simply can't be accepted," Fide CEO Emil Sutovsky stated. The federation intends to commemorate Naroditsky with a memorial award. Fide president Dvorkovich later confirmed that all of Kramnik's public statements about Naroditsky, before and after his death, would be submitted to the organisation's Ethics and Disciplinary Commission "to be reviewed independently". "Life and human worth are fundamental values universally upheld," Dvorkovich emphasized. "Our global chess family has always valued the achievements of GM Vladimir Kramnik, but such stature brings a duty to maintain the standards of fairness and respect." Family's Hope Naroditsky's relatives have expressed they wish he is remembered not for the confrontation he faced but for "the happiness and motivation he brought people every day". Magnus Carlsen described him "a resource to the chess community", while Nakamura described him as "among the finest". Within the United States, individuals may contact the Suicide Prevention Hotline on 988, communicate via 988lifeline.org, or message HOME to 741741 to reach a crisis counselor. In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123, or message [email protected] or [email protected]. In Australia, the emergency help line Lifeline Australia is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.org.