After Daniel Naroditsky’s death, India’s Nihal Sarin blasts Vladimir Kramnik – ‘Baseless accusations caused him immense pain’ | Chess News
Indian Grandmaster Nihal Sarin has indirectly criticised Russian chess legend Vladimir Kramnik following the unexpected death of American Grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky at the age of 29. Vladimir Kramnik had previously accused Naroditsky of cheating during chess matches. The allegations suggested Naroditsky used a chess engine on a second screen for unfair advantages against opponents. “Completely heartbroken. Daniel was not just someone I played thousands of games with on @chesscom and @lichess- he was a brilliant mind and a gifted teacher,” Sarin wrote on X.“The relentless, baseless accusations and public interrogations he faced in recent months caused him immense pressure and pain. This has to stop. When respected figures spread unfounded allegations without accountability, real lives are destroyed.”“Daniel’s smile faded after the attacks began. We all saw it. The chess world has lost one of its brightest lights – someone who made our game accessible to millions. Rest in peace, Danya. You deserved so much better.”Naroditsky responded to these allegations on the Take Take Take podcast, describing Kramnik as “worse than dirt”.Naroditsky, who earned his Grandmaster title at age 17 in 2013, expressed that Kramnik’s continuous campaign of insinuations and public harassment was severely impacting his mental health. The situation also affected his relationships and reputation in the chess community.The dispute drew in other chess personalities, including Anish Giri, who became involved in 2024. Giri used his social media presence on X, formerly known as Twitter, to question Kramnik’s behaviour and his pattern of online attacks. Professional chess player Hikaru Nakamura’s recent stream revealed that Anish Giri had privately discussed Kramnik’s accusations with him.
