Chess World in Shock: Nihal Sarin Blames Kramnik for Naroditsky’s Tragic Death
The sudden death of American Grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky has sent shockwaves through the chess community. Following the tragedy, Indian GM Nihal Sarin made a powerful statement, directly pointing to former World Champion Vladimir Kramnik’s repeated and public cheating accusations against Naroditsky.
Nihal Sarin told the media, “He (Kramnik) has kind of literally taken a life.” This grave accusation suggests that the mental toll of the baseless and relentless harassment by a highly influential figure like Kramnik contributed significantly to the young Grandmaster’s passing. Sarin, who had played over 2,000 online games with Naroditsky, recalled that Naroditsky’s last games were against him and that he could “totally imagine the pain he was going through.”
The Indian GM stressed that while cheating in chess is a serious issue, Kramnik’s method of “blurting out accusations every day” is “completely unacceptable.” Sarin’s statement highlights the severe mental health impact that unfounded public allegations can have, especially within the highly competitive and visible world of online chess. The chess world now mourns the loss of a brilliant mind and talented content creator, urging for greater accountability against reckless claims.