Kramnik hits back at critics, defends anti-cheating measures following Naroditsky’s death: ‘I became a subject of murder threats’

Russian Grandmaster Vladimir Kramnik has defended his anti-cheating campaign after being held responsible for the sudden death of popular YouTube commentator and content creator Daniel Naroditsky. The American Grandmaster Naroditsky, who died at 29 on Sunday, had been accused of cheating during online games by Kramnik in 2024.

Former world champion Kramnik claimed that Naroditsky, who had a FIDE Blitz rating of 2705, used a second screen with a chess engine to cheat during online chess games. Hitting back at Kramnik, Naroditsky had admitted in December 2024 that the allegations had impacted him mentally and also labelled the Russian veteran chess player as “worse than dirt.”

So far, no cause for Naroditsky's death has been shared, but world No 1 Magnus Carlsen has said that Kramnik's cheating allegations had put the chess expert in a bad state of mind, while Indian Grandmaster Nihal Sarin also revealed that the Stanford graduate was under "immense pressure" due to the "baseless" allegations.

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Nihal even accused Kramnik of "taking" Naroditsky's life with his anti-cheating campaign.

Kramnik defends anti-cheating measures following Naroditsky’s death

Kramnik has hit back at his critics and those who have insinuated that he led to the death of Naroditsky in a series of posts on social media. Kramnik said that exposing the “dark side” of modern chess made him a target of threats and orchestrated PR attacks and that he has evidence related to the recent tragedy.

He also urged the police or major media houses to investigate.

"Once I started to reveal in public information about the "dark side" of modern chess, I became a subject of the dirtiest possible orchestrated PR campaign, including several documented murder threats, in addition to continues defamation I have collected extensive material," he wrote on X.

"That would be of interest of police and or any major media resources. Watching now the intensity and violence of the new wave of orchestrated PR attack, the intentions of "conductors" are clear. Therefore, at least for the security, I offer any major media to share my findings."

"Without a doubt, this recent tradegy should be investigated by police, there are too many huge financial interests involved to be sure about it being just an incident. I am ready to provide all information required. Thanks."

"Beacause I myself more than once in private communications with people directly involved received "friendly" advise to skip digging into it to "preserve my health". Not my style, gentlemen :)"