Probe begins into the death of a chess grandmaster

Overdose, possible suicide suspected in 29-year-old’s passing, authorities say.

- By ANDREW J. CAMPA

Daniel Naroditsky ultimately rose to the level of chess grandmaster, the highest ranking possible. The San Mateo native became one of the country's most brilliant chess minds - as a player, teacher and commentator

(KELLY CENTRELLI Charlotte Chess Center)

Jan Kirshner, a youth chess tournament organizer and political science professor, had for years been evasive when asked if he’d ever seen a chess “prodigy.”

That changed when he first saw San Mateo’s Daniel Naroditsky, then a first-grader, in action.

“It was apparent from the way he concentrated and was focused, but was relaxed at the same time,” said Kirshner, a retired Ohlone College of Fremont political science and history professor. “I ran to his dad, grabbed him by the arm and said, ‘He is a prodigy.’”

The youngster proved Kirshner prophetic. He ultimately rose to the level of chess grandmaster — the highest ranking possible — while authoring a series of strategy books and eventually appealing to a new generation of chess enthusiasts through social media.

Naroditsky’s star unexpectedly dimmed Monday as his death was announced by the Charlotte Chess Center, where the 29-year-old had worked as a coach.