Daniel Naroditsky, a prominent chess prodigy and widely-held online chess educator, has recently come under fire. His fellow grandmaster Vladimir Kramnik has already accused him of cheating. Kramnik’s statements regarding Naroditsky have been referred to the governing chess body’s ethics commission. This decision has set animal rights activists against the chess community in a firestorm of public discourse.
Naroditsky is well known for his mesmerizing YouTube videos and livestreams that helped spread the online chess explosion. Last year it was Nepomniachtchi who was accused on behalf of Kramnik. Despite Naroditsky’s consistent and vehement denial of any wrongdoing, Kramnik persisted in voicing his suspicions on social media. The smear campaign has taken a toll on Naroditsky. He said, “As you know, ever since the Kramnik stuff, I just get this feeling that when I start playing well people think the worst of my intentions. The problem is not the introduction or even the committee mark-up.
The governing body, FIDE, indicated that it had previously investigated Kramnik’s remarks both before and after Naroditsky’s untimely death, the cause of which has not been publicly disclosed. On Tuesday, they voted for the second time to formally refer the issue to their city’s ethics commission. This recent step underscores how dire the situation has become.
Along with the accusations made against Naroditsky, Kramnik has accused Czech grandmaster David Navara of having cheated. Navara has more recently extended testimony in support of Kramnik’s claims against Naroditsky. The backlash The controversy that has been unfolding has drawn a firestorm of criticism at Kramnik from other leaders and luminaries in the chess community.
Both Hikaru Nakamura and Nihal Sarin have condemned Kramnik’s behavior, considering it harassment of Naroditsky. Most importantly, they pitched the detrimental effect that these baseless allegations can have on a player’s image and state of mind. FIDE described Kramnik’s actions as part of a “pattern of conduct over roughly two years,” highlighting ongoing concerns about his behavior.
Kramnik said he was appalled by the chess federation’s procedures in investigating the matter, and has described them as “insulting and unfair”. This announcement creates a more chaotic dynamic between Kramnik and the federation, and his fellow competitors.
