Allegations of Cheating Lead to Suspension

Fide said it found Kramnik “responsible for multiple violations” of its ethics and disciplinary code after the Russian accused other players of cheating; Kramnik was world champion from 2000 to 2007 and has been a vocal proponent of fair play in chess.

US grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky, who was known as Danya to his online followers, died last October at the age of 29 — Before his death, he had denied any wrongdoing and indicated the controversy had taken its toll on him in his final Twitch broadcast.

Probation Period and Appeal

Kramnik wrote on X that he will appeal his suspension, Fide said another 12 months of the ban have been suspended for a probationary period of three years. This means the active suspension is one year, provided no further breaches occur during probation.

Naroditsky was a popular player. Teacher, and commentator, he was a leading figure in online chess with hundreds of thousands of followers across Twitch and YouTube, though he earned the title of grandmaster, the international chess federation’s highest-ranked chess competitor, while still a teenager, after winning the 2013 US Junior Championship.

A toxicology report released in 2026 said Naroditsky had multiple drugs in his system at the time of his death and that he was killed by an abnormal heartbeat caused by an accidental overdose.

Reactions From the Chess Community

Some prominent figures in the chess community, including world number two Hikaru Nakamura, former world champion Magnus Carlsen, and Indian grandmaster Nihal Sarin, have previously condemned Kramnik’s conduct.

Fide said its findings were not intended to determine the validity of Kramnik’s remarks but were concerned with the manner in which the allegations were communicated publicly. The chess body said combating cheating remains one of its highest priorities but stressed that such allegations must be handled through its established procedures.