Chess physique investigates Vladimir Kramnik, who accused Daniel Naroditsky of dishonest : NPR

The Worldwide Chess Federation is investigating a Russian grandmaster for allegations of dishonest he levied at fellow elite gamers, together with 29-year-old U.S. grandmaster and YouTube sensation Daniel Naroditsky, who died earlier this week.

The world governing physique for chess, referred to as FIDE, mentioned Wednesday that it was trying into statements Vladimir Kramnik made “each earlier than and after the tragic loss of life of GM Daniel Naroditsky” to find out if the Russian chess legend ought to undergo disciplinary actions.

“In latest occasions, public debate inside the chess world has too typically moved past the boundaries of acceptable, harming not solely individuals’s popularity however their very well-being,” FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich mentioned in an announcement on the group’s web site.

“When this occurs, discussions can flip into harassment, bullying, and private assaults — a very critical concern in as we speak’s surroundings,” Dvorkovich added.

FIDE didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark detailing the steps of the investigation and what attainable disciplinary motion may be taken.

The information of Naroditsky’s loss of life rocked the chess group and left a lot of his followers and supporters searching for solutions.

The Charlotte Chess Middle in North Carolina, the place Naroditsky labored as a coach, didn’t instantly disclose a explanation for loss of life.

Naroditsky was remembered by his friends as a participant of immense ability who remained humble regardless of his skills.

Along with coaching different gamers, Naroditsky ran profitable YouTube and Twitch accounts the place he grew a fandom of fellow chess lovers and launched the sport to a brand new era of gamers.

In what gave the impression to be his ultimate stream on Twitch final week, Naroditsky appeared at occasions agitated and irritable as he described the stress that the Kramnik accusations had precipitated him. He defined why he felt the necessity to counter the Russian participant’s public dispersions.

“And you recognize, then there’s in fact individuals who shall be like, ‘OK, certain, no matter, however how does that affect your livelihood? … Even when some GM [grandmaster] will assume this like who cares?,’ ” Naroditsky mentioned on the stream.

“That’s stunning to me as effectively as a result of that actually is what a legacy is. That’s all I’ve,” he mentioned.

“If I knew that a number of the most influential movers and shakers of the chess world, you recognize, would carry the notion that I’m a totally morally bankrupt particular person, that might characterize the whole failure of actually all the things … my motive for waking up within the morning,” Naroditsky mentioned.

On social media, Kramnik, a former world champion who is taken into account one of many all-time greats, described what he known as the FIDE’s “insulting and unfair” “marketing campaign” towards him.

Naroditsky will not be the primary participant to get ensnared in battle with the Russian chess big. The 50-year-old Kramnik has baselessly accused a number of of his youthful rivals of dishonest, leading to his account on the favored web site chess.com being muted in 2023.

In a collection of ranting posts on social media on Wednesday, Kramnik doubled down on his accusations, writing: “From outstanding gamers, you all know their names, however won’t [disclose] it in public … #chessmafia should be held accountable.”

Kramnik wrote that Naroditsky supporters had been “falsely blaming” him for the chess streamer’s loss of life and threatened authorized motion towards individuals concerned in making these claims.

With out citing any proof, Kramnik alleged there have been efforts to hide the “actual reality concerning the [circumstances] and explanation for this [tragedy].”

To honor Naroditsky’s reminiscence, FIDE introduced this week it will set up a particular prize in his title.