American chess grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky had multiple drugs in his system at the time of his sudden passing, as revealed by a newly released toxicology report.
Naroditsky, who was just 29, was discovered lifeless on his sofa at his residence in Charlotte, North Carolina. His friend and fellow grandmaster, Oleksandr Bortnyk, found him on October 19 after deciding to check on him.
Authorities informed the Daily Mail that Naroditsky’s death might have been due to suicide or an accidental overdose, as there was no evidence of foul play or criminal activity.
A toxicology report from the North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, obtained by NBC News, indicated that Naroditsky had methamphetamine, amphetamine, 7-hydroxymitragynine, and mitragynine in his system.
The first two substances are synthetic stimulants, whereas the latter two are the main active compounds in Kratom, a plant from Southeast Asia known for its opioid-like effects.
According to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), each of these drugs carries a risk of addiction.
Methamphetamine is a Schedule II controlled substance, which means the federal government has deemed it as having a high potential for abuse and dependence, with some highly restricted but accepted medical applications.
Kratom is not a controlled substance, though the DEA has listed it as a Drug and Chemical of Concern, saying that regular consumption ‘can lead to psychotic symptoms, and psychological and physiological dependence.’
American chess grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky had several drugs in his system when he unexpectedly died, according to a recently released toxicology report
The toxicology report found that Naroditsky had methamphetamine, amphetamine, 7-hydroxymitragynine and mitragynine in his system when he died
Mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine are the primary active chemical compounds found in Kratom, a plant native to Southeast Asia with opioid-like effects
Over the course of the year before Naroditsky died, he was repeatedly accused of cheating in online chess games by 50-year-old Russian chess grandmaster Vladimir Kramnik.
Kramnik claimed that Naroditsky was using ‘chess engines,’ which are computer programs that generate moves regarded as the strongest in a given scenario, for online games.
The American grandmaster, who was world champion from 2000 to 2006, had repeatedly denied Kramnik’s allegations.
The cheating accusations caused Naroditsky stress and emotional struggles, according to his mother, Elena Naroditsky, who spoke to the Daily Mail in October.
‘There was nothing more important to Daniel than his dignity and his name as a chess player,’ the mother said.
‘Daniel tried to defend himself so much,’ she continued. ‘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’s mother also told the Daily Mail that her son had been planning on visiting his family in the Bay Area the week after he died, as well as celebrate his birthday on November 9, indicating that the overdose was accidental.
The mother described her son as ‘so brilliant, so incredibly kind and loving, thoughtful, giving, inspiring.’
Over the course of the year before Naroditsky died, he was repeatedly accused of cheating in online chess games by 50-year-old Russian chess grandmaster Vladimir Kramnik (pictured)
Naroditsky, who was world champion from 2000 to 2006, had repeatedly denied Kramnik’s allegations
Naroditsky’s grieving mother, Elena Naroditsky, told the Daily Mail that for her son, ‘there was nothing more important than his dignity and his name as a chess player’
Kramnik was widely attacked for making his accusations after Naroditsky’s death. In response, the Russian shared a post on X that said: ‘Without a doubt, this recent tragedy 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.’
Naroditsky had a large online following, with around 500,000 subscribers on YouTube and north of 300,000 followers on the livestreaming platform Twitch. He posted educational chess content on both platforms.
In Naroditsky’s final livestream, he described the toll the cheating accusations had on him.
‘Unfortunately, ever since the Kramnik stuff, I feel like if I start doing well, people assume the worst of intentions,’ he said. ‘The issue is the lingering effect of it.’
Naroditsky previously said that Kramnik was trying to ‘destroy my life’ and inflict ’emotional and physical harm.’
He also said that the sustained and constant nature of the ‘delusional’ accusations was an ‘evil and absolutely unhinged attempt to destroy my life.’
‘I’m tired of mincing words, he is trying to ruin my life, trying to inflict emotional harm, physical harm on me. He knows exactly what he’s doing, and this is one of the most wicked people I have ever dealt with,’ Naroditsky said.
Naroditsky was a child prodigy who achieved the highest chess title at the age of 18
On Tuesday, Kramnik issued a public statement that said the loss of Naroditsky was a tragedy for his family and the entire chess community.
The statement also said that a smear campaign has unjustly tied Naroditsky’s death to the Russian, who has received death threats directed at him and his family.
Naroditsky was a child prodigy who achieved the highest chess title at the age of 18.
The young grandmaster maintained a top 25 ranking throughout his adult career, and he won the U.S. National Blitz Championship shortly before he died.
