He spoke chess: kind, gentle, masterful.
Daniel Naroditsky, or Danya, illuminated chess with kindness and mastery. A 5-time U.S. Champion and YouTube educator, his soft-spoken voice penetrated hearts and minds—never accusatory, never unreasonable, not even to a former world champion who fell from grace. Danya loved chess because he loved its people. Countless souls touched by his light, we remember him. His YouTube master classes live forever: YouTube.com/@DanielNaroditskyGM. Daniel allowed us to wonder.
Integrity like Danya’s doesn’t die. It shines on, in each one of us. He insists us to pick up the pieces, play the next game, play the next move. If we don’t, we break. Danya never broke—not when ignorance screamed conspiracy, nor when streams flared hubris. He engaged as a Grandmaster: quick questions, punishing replies, but mostly just humbly trying to teach others how to fish. Calm, cool, grounded. Hyper-conscientious of every detail, seeing every weak point that crumbles empires. Millions watch chess like sport—two minds entangled, winner and loser unscathed, honorably. Courage meets fortitude where the unbreakable flourish.
Every blunder is fixable—that’s Danya’s message. Watch his videos. He’s a true gentleman. Funny part: his speed runs crushing strong players clueless it’s him. He cheers their best moves. “Why would you do that?”—not anger, love. Like a dad seeing his kid fall off a bike and helping make it better. John 1:16: “Out of His fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given.”
I watched his videos over and over, analyzing, jumping back in, trying it out. Failing. Get back up and get back at it. That was Danya guiding my hand through highs and lows. Not even Magnus wins every game. And that’s okay—we’re human. Climb the mountain. Don’t worry who’s watching—someone’s always watching. Just keep climbing. Make YOUR next move.
Danya played life like chess: honorably. Never sacrificed a pawn to look cool, never blundered his king because dared. Through all his pain and heartache, a principled young man played principled chess. I honor his principle, his fortitude, and his courage to face and stare down his adversary, head-on.
The board doesn’t care about age. It wants our next move. Think you’re too old? The board wins. Chess is sacred. Padre Ruy Lopez knew not only that “the sun should be in your opponents’ eyes,” but Matthew 18:20 as well: “Where two or more gather in my name, there I am with them.” I look forward to meeting you, my friend.
God bless you, your family and your friends, Danya.
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