New Delhi: As the chess fraternity struggles to come to terms with the news of 29-year-old Grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky’s sudden death, his mother breaks her silence on the cheating allegations made by former world champion, 50-year-old Vladimir Kramnik.
“There was nothing more important to Daniel than his dignity and his name as a chess player,” Naroditsky’s mother Elena told the Daily Mail Tuesday. “And the ex-world champion was trying to say he’s a cheater. Daniel tried to defend himself so much. The whole world was on Daniel’s side. He played more and did more and more because he was trying to prove that he’s not what he was accused of.”
Naroditsky, who was about to celebrate his 30th birthday next month, was found unconscious at his home in Charlotte, North Carolina, by his friend Grandmaster Oleksandr Bortnyk. The news was first made public by the Charlotte Chess Center, where he worked as a trainer. However, the cause and reason for death has not yet been officially revealed.
According to the police, Naroditsky may have died by suicide or accidentally overdosed on any substance. The police have ruled out foul play.
Elena said that her son, also known as Danya, had been planning to visit his family this week. “He was planning to visit his older brother Alan’s new baby and to celebrate his own birthday on 9 November. But now the family is preparing for his funeral,” she told the Daily Mail.
Kramnik’s allegations
The former grandmaster had allegedly accused several chess players, including Naroditsky, of using computer-generated programmes—‘chess engines’—to generate the moves for online games. The alleged attacks on Naroditsky had increased over the last one year.
After Naroditsky’s death, Kramnik has been facing the heat from the chess fraternity, including World no. 2 Hikaru Nakamura and Indian grandmaster Nihal Sarin.
Arkady Dvorkovich, FIDE President, said that the chess community has long respected the achievements of Kramnik, and his contributions to the sport are undeniable.
“The same high standards that accompany great achievements, however, also confer a responsibility to uphold the principles of fairness and respect and to be ambassadors for the sport,” he added.
“Therefore, I, along with the FIDE Management Board, will formally refer all relevant public statements made by GM Vladimir Kramnik—both before and after the tragic death of GM Daniel Naroditsky—to the FIDE Ethics and Disciplinary Commission for independent consideration.”
Meanwhile, Kramnik told Reuters, that he did not do anything wrong. “What public statement after the death of Daniel was incorrect? …I demand a clarification from Mr President. I have not bullied Daniel Naroditsky, nor ever made personal insults towards him,” he said.
Final words
In Naroditsky’s reported final live stream video, he talked about the mental agony caused by Kramnik’s allegations.
“Unfortunately, ever since the Kramnik stuff, I feel like if I start doing well, people assume the worst of intentions,” he had said. “The issue is the lingering effect of it.”
Earlier, Naroditsky had claimed that his idol as well as rival was trying to “destroy my life” and inflict “emotional and physical harm”.
(Edited by Viny Mishra)
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