Daniel Naroditsky, a prominent American chess grandmaster, died on Monday at the age of 29. His passing was announced by the Charlotte Chess Center in North Carolina, where he trained and served as a coach. The center described him as "a talented chess player, educator, and beloved member of the chess community." In a statement shared by the center, Naroditsky's family urged people to remember him for his passion for chess and the joy he brought to others. The cause of his death has not been disclosed. Naroditsky achieved the title of grandmaster, the highest rank in chess aside from World Chess Champion, at just 18 years old. He first gained international recognition as a child prodigy, winning the Under 12 world championship. Throughout his teenage years, he authored several chess strategy books while climbing the world rankings. He consistently ranked among the top 200 players globally in traditional chess and maintained a top 25 ranking in blitz chess throughout his adult career. Most recently, he won the U.S. National Blitz Championship in August. Known to many as Danya, Naroditsky was credited with popularizing chess through livestreaming. He regularly shared live commentary on his matches, attracting thousands of viewers on platforms like YouTube and Twitch. American grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura remarked, "He loved streaming, and he loved trying to be educational. The chess world is very grateful." In his final YouTube video, posted just days before his death, Naroditsky expressed excitement about returning to streaming after a creative break. He engaged viewers by discussing his moves during live chess matches from his home studio. The chess community has expressed shock and sorrow over his passing. Dutch grandmaster Benjamin Bok, who had known Naroditsky since their childhood, shared his grief on social media. "I still can't believe it and don't want to believe it," Bok wrote. "It was always a privilege to play, train, and commentate with Danya, but above all, to call him my friend." Naroditsky was born in San Mateo County, California, to Jewish immigrants from Ukraine and Azerbaijan. His parents described him as a serious child with a remarkable attention span and memory. He studied history at Stanford University, earning his bachelor's degree in 2019 after taking a year off to compete in chess tournaments. After graduating, he moved to Charlotte, where he coached top junior chess players in the area.