Image Credit: San Francisco Chronicle via Gett Daniel Naroditsky went viral for his ability to play chess while blindfolded. After earning the title of grandmaster at age of 18, the California native became a well-known name in the chess world. His October 2025 death shocked fans and peers everywhere - especially since he was just 29 years old and had no known health issues. In a statement from his family shared by the Charlotte Chess Center via X, Naroditsky's death was labeled as "unexpected.