Indian Grandmaster Nihal Sarin has accused former World Chess Champion Vladimir Kramnik of contributing to the death of American GM Daniel Naroditsky, who passed away earlier this week at the age of 29.
Sarin, 21, described Naroditsky as both a close friend and online rival. He revealed that he was Naroditsky’s last opponent on Chess.com before the tragic incident.
“He [Kramnik] has kind of literally taken a life,” Sarin told The Indian Express. “He said he was under immense stress due to a lot of baseless accusations — headed by Kramnik, of course.”
Kramnik’s Repeated Cheating Accusations
For months, Kramnik had publicly accused several players — including Naroditsky — of cheating. His claims, made across social media and online forums, lacked clear evidence. Yet, they reportedly caused severe emotional distress to Naroditsky.
After Naroditsky’s death, Kramnik posted a controversial message on X (formerly Twitter):
“Don’t do drugs,”
a comment widely interpreted as a reference to Naroditsky, sparking outrage in the global chess community.
“He Needs to Face Consequences,” Says Sarin
Sarin, one of India’s brightest young chess stars, said Kramnik’s actions have gone too far.
“Cheating in chess is a huge problem,” Sarin said. “But what Kramnik does is completely unacceptable. He just blurts out accusations every day. You kill a thousand innocent players to catch one or two.”
He also claimed that Kramnik’s baseless allegations have affected other top-level players, including Czech GM David Navara, who reportedly felt suicidal due to the psychological toll.
“He’s after David Navara… I’m really worried about him,” Sarin added. “Navara even wrote to FIDE asking for sanctions against Kramnik, but nothing happened.”
Call for FIDE Intervention
Sarin urged the world chess governing body FIDE to take immediate disciplinary action against Kramnik for what he termed “sustained online bullying.”
“I sincerely hope that Kramnik gets some big sanctions,” Sarin said. “He’s a great player, a world champion — but the harm he’s causing is just too much.”
Chess Community Pays Tribute to Naroditsky
The Charlotte Chess Center, where Naroditsky taught and trained, released an emotional statement calling him “a beloved member of the chess community.”
“He brought passion, joy, and inspiration to the game every day,” the statement read.
As tributes continue to pour in, many in the global chess world echo Sarin’s demand for accountability — insisting that Kramnik’s actions must have consequences.
