Daniel Naroditsky's Cause of Death Revealed: Disturbing Drug Cocktail Found In Chess Grandmaster's System

Daniel Naroditsky died last year, leaving the global chess community stunned as the circumstances surrounding the American grandmaster's death were initially unclear. He was discovered unresponsive on his couch at his home in Charlotte, North Carolina, by fellow grandmaster Oleksandr Bortnyk.

Naroditsky was just 29 when he died on 19 October 2025. At the time, the official cause of death had not been established, as the coroner was still awaiting the results of his toxicology report.

Medical Examiner Confirms Accidental Death

The chess prodigy was discovered by Bortnyk, who went to check on him after he failed to respond to messages. The circumstances surrounding how he was found sparked widespread questions about his sudden death, prompting an official investigation.

This month, the medical examiner finally has an answer regarding Naroditsky's cause of death. His toxicology report revealed the chess master ingested a toxic mixture of substances.

The report found multiple dangerous drugs in his system at the time of his death. The North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner reported that Naroditsky's death resulted from accidental poisoning. The dangerous substances that were detected in his bloodstream include methamphetamine, amphetamine, and mitragynine. There were also smaller amounts of 7-hydroxymitragynine, another kratom-related compound that contains opioid-like properties.

The death was classified as accidental because authorities found no evidence of foul play. Officials also determined that he did not intend to take his life, as circumstances did not point to intentional harm.

Cherished Member of the Chess Community

Naroditsky was a beloved figure in the chess world, widely admired as a gifted player, educator, and respected commentator despite his young age. He was born in San Mateo, California, on 9 November 1995. He was a child of Jewish immigrants from the Soviet Union and the chess community fondly called him 'Danya.'

He began playing chess at the age of six and, thanks to his exceptional talent, he quickly rose through the ranks, earning the Grandmaster title at just 17. Over the years, Naroditsky became known not only for his success on the board but also for his energetic and influential online presence. The grandmaster said he did not realise he had found his true path so early in life, explaining that chess initially felt like nothing more than a game he played to pass the time.

'I think a lot of people want to imagine that it was love at first sight, and that my brother couldn't pull me away from the chessboard,' he told the New York Times. 'It was more of a gradual process, where chess slowly entered the battery of stuff we did to pass the time. A lot of my best memories are just doing stuff with my brother.'

On YouTube, Naroditsky is a popular chess commentator who also publishes educational content. He has a large following on Twitch and other social media platforms where he shares game analysis and instructional videos about chess. He was a favourite commentator for Chess.com and a contributor to some major publications.

At the time of his death, Naroditsky was working as the Grandmaster-in-Residence at the Charlotte Chess Center. In this role, he spent much of his time teaching and coaching young, aspiring chess players.