American chess grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky had a combination of stimulant and psychoactive substances in his system when he died last year, according to a toxicology report released by North Carolina authorities.
Naroditsky, 29, was found dead at his home in Charlotte in October 2025, a loss that sent shockwaves through the global chess community. At the time, police said his death was being investigated as a possible overdose or suicide. No official cause was announced.
A toxicology report obtained from the North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner shows that Naroditsky had methamphetamine, amphetamine, mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine in his system at the time of death. The latter two compounds are the primary psychoactive ingredients in kratom, a plant-based supplement that can act as a stimulant or sedative depending on dosage.
Methamphetamine and amphetamine are synthetic stimulants that can cause severe cardiovascular strain, organ damage and fatal overdoses. Kratom, which is legal in much of the United States but unregulated at the federal level, has been linked by the Drug Enforcement Administration to dependency, psychosis and withdrawal symptoms. All four substances are potentially addictive.
Naroditsky was discovered unconscious by two of his close friends, Oleksandr Bortnyk, a fellow grandmaster, and Peter Giannatos, founder of the Charlotte Chess Center, where Naroditsky served as head coach and grandmaster-in-residence. Bortnyk said he went to check on Naroditsky after repeated calls and messages went unanswered.
After Naroditsky’s death, Bortnyk said his friend had been deeply distressed in the days beforehand, particularly over a public dispute with former world champion Vladimir Kramnik, whom Naroditsky had once admired. Kramnik had accused Naroditsky of cheating in online games, allegations that were never substantiated and that Naroditsky consistently denied.
On Tuesday, Kramnik issued a statement expressing condolences to Naroditsky’s family while forcefully rejecting claims that his conduct played a role in the grandmaster’s death. Kramnik said that after Naroditsky died, he and his family were subjected to harassment and death threats, prompting him to consider legal action.
“I deeply regret that this profound tragedy was exploited by various individuals and groups to advance their own agendas,” Kramnik said. “There can be no justification for such immoral conduct.”
Kramnik added that he had previously urged Naroditsky’s friends to seek help for him after observing what he described as visible health concerns. He did not address the specific substances cited in the toxicology report.
The International Chess Federation (Fide) has said it is examining whether Kramnik should face disciplinary measures for his statements about Naroditsky both before and after his death. The governing body said potential sanctions could include fines or suspension. Fide did not immediately respond to a request for comment after the release of the toxicology findings.
Naroditsky’s death marked a devastating end to one of the most influential careers in modern American chess. A prodigy who learned the game as a child in California, he rose to national prominence by his early teens and became a grandmaster at 18. He later graduated from Stanford University with a degree in history and built a reputation not only as an elite competitor but as one of chess’s most gifted communicators.
Known to fans as “Danya”, Naroditsky helped shape the game’s pandemic-era boom through his instructional streams and commentary on YouTube and Twitch, where he amassed more than 800,000 followers across the platforms. His ability to explain complex positions with clarity and warmth made him a fixture for beginners and experts alike.
While he remained among the world’s top blitz players – winning the US Blitz Championship just months before his death – Naroditsky had also spoken openly about the psychological toll of the cheating accusations. In his final livestreams, he acknowledged feeling increasingly scrutinized whenever he performed well.
Tributes poured in after Naroditsky’s death from players across generations. Magnus Carlsen described him as “a resource to the chess community”, while Hikaru Nakamura called him “the best of us”. The US Championship observed a moment of silence, while Fide has announced plans for a memorial award in Naroditsky’s name.
