‘Words can’t describe how heartbreaking this is’: Alireza Firouzja mourns death of his Second Daniel Naroditsky

Firouzja also revealed that Naroditsky was his Second for the Grand Swiss event, which took place in Uzbekistan.

Grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky passed away at 29 years of age. (X/Charlotte Chess)

Frenchman Alireza Firouzja opened up on the sudden passing of American Grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky, sharing a heartfelt message for his friend.

“Words can’t describe how heartbreaking the passing of my coach, Daniel Naroditsky, is,” he wrote on X.

Firouzja also revealed that Naroditsky was his Second for the Grand Swiss event, which took place in Uzbekistan. Firouzja had an amazing run and finished joint-second alongside German Matthias Bluebaum, but the latter qualified for the Candidates with a better tiebreak.

Words can’t describe how heartbreaking the passing of my coach, Daniel Naroditsky, is.

Just a few days before the Grand Swiss tournament in Uzbekistan which took place a little more than a month ago, I asked him to coach and accompany me.

Even though it was a last-minute… pic.twitter.com/fmTVu98WyO

— Alireza Firouzja (@AlirezaFirouzja) October 24, 2025

“Just a few days before the Grand Swiss tournament in Uzbekistan which took place a little more than a month ago, I asked him to coach and accompany me. Even though it was a last-minute request and he had to travel across the world to reach Samarkand, he booked his flight and figured everything out within hours. That’s who he was, always there, never hesitating to help,” Firouzja shared.

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He continued to praise late Naroditsky, calling him the most genuine person.

“We spent an amazing half month together. I’ll always be grateful for those days and everything I learned from him. Danya was the most genuine person I have ever known. I’ll never forget our late night bullet matches over the past 10 years. he was the only person in the world who regularly beat me in those.”

“Danya, your legacy lives on forever. I’m sure somewhere up there, you’re playing blitz and discussing history with the greats,” he added.

‘Passion and love for the game of chess’

Naroditysky passed away aged 29 on Monday. The Charlotte Chess Center in North Carolina, where Naroditsky trained and taught, announced his death on social media, calling him “a beloved member of the chess community” who should be remembered for his “passion and love for the game of chess, and for the joy and inspiration he brought to us all every day.”