A toxicology report released by North Carolina authorities has revealed that American chess grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky had a combination of stimulant and psychoactive substances in his system at the time of his death in October 2025. The 29-year-old was found dead at his home in Charlotte, a loss that deeply affected the global chess community.
The report from the North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner showed methamphetamine, amphetamine, mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine in his system. The latter two are primary psychoactive ingredients in kratom, a plant-based supplement that can act as a stimulant or sedative. Methamphetamine and amphetamine are synthetic stimulants linked to severe cardiovascular strain and fatal overdoses.
Naroditsky was discovered unconscious by fellow grandmaster Oleksandr Bortnyk and Peter Giannatos, founder of the Charlotte Chess Center, where Naroditsky served as head coach. Bortnyk said he went to check on Naroditsky after repeated calls went unanswered, and noted that his friend had been deeply distressed in the days before his death, particularly over a public dispute with former world champion Vladimir Kramnik, who had accused Naroditsky of cheating in online games.
Kramnik issued a statement expressing condolences while rejecting claims that his conduct played a role in the death. He said he and his family had been subjected to harassment and death threats, and added that he had previously urged Naroditsky’s friends to seek help for him after observing health concerns. The International Chess Federation (Fide) is examining whether Kramnik should face disciplinary measures for his statements.
Naroditsky, known to fans as “Danya”, was a prodigy who became a grandmaster at 18 and later graduated from Stanford University. He amassed more than 800,000 followers on YouTube and Twitch through his instructional streams and commentary, and won the US Blitz Championship months before his death. Tributes poured in from players including Magnus Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura, and Fide has announced plans for a memorial award in his name.
