Hungarian International Master and Woman Grandmaster Anna Rudolf broke down in tears in a deeply emotional YouTube video, mourning the loss of Grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky and calling for justice in the chess world.
“This video is going to be very harsh for me to record,” she began, visibly shaking. “I’ve been crying for the past several hours. But I still want to contribute to the memory of Grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky—and also to call for justice.”
Naroditsky, who was about to turn 30 on November 9, passed away earlier this month. Rudolf, whose own birthday falls just days after his, described him as “one of the kindest, most caring, loving souls. So gentle. So wise. So eloquent.”
Her voice cracked several times as she tried to continue. “He was an excellent chess player, a great commentator—one of the best, if not the best in the world. Such an exceptional educator. He gave all his life to chess. And what he received… was a struggle that no one should ever go through.”
A painful connection
Rudolf spoke from personal experience, recalling her own trauma from being falsely accused of cheating nearly two decades ago.
In 2007, during the Vandœuvre Open in France, she was accused by three Latvian players of using a “lipstick engine” to cheat—an absurd claim that she had hidden a computer inside her lip balm. The bizarre story made international headlines.
“I was accused of cheating at the end of 2007,” she recalled in her video. “The story went mainstream for how crazy it was. The Hungarian Chess Federation filed a case to FIDE’s Ethics Committee. Nothing happened.”
While Rudolf’s case ended without consequences, the memory left a mark. “Even though it was just a moment in my life, I know how it feels when your entire dignity and identity are being questioned. For someone like Daniel, who was always so genuine and honest, to struggle for two years of constant allegations—by someone he admired, someone with high reputation in chess—it’s unbearable.”
Her reference was clear. Vladimir Kramnik, former World Champion, had publicly accused dozens of players, including Naroditsky, of cheating in online games. Rudolf pointed out that even Grandmaster David Navara had filed a formal complaint to FIDE after being similarly targeted—and had admitted to suicidal thoughts during the ordeal.
“It was not taken seriously,” Rudolf said, wiping tears from her eyes. “And it had to come to this. We had to lose one of the kindest, most brilliant souls in the chess world for people to start paying attention.”
“This has to stop.”
Rudolf’s message turned into a passionate plea.
“This has to stop. It should have been stopped years ago,” she said. “My case was over two decades ago—and nothing happened. And now, it had to come to this.”
She pushed back against online narratives questioning whether Naroditsky’s friends or family had supported him. “They were there. He had loving family and caring friends. But when someone continuously attacks you, undermining everything you’ve worked for, everything you stand for—it destroys you from within.”
Her voice trembled as she delivered one of the most painful lines of the video:
“He died thinking that his reputation was damaged.
He died not knowing how much he mattered to the chess world. And that hurts so much.”
“Rest in peace, Dan.”
The final minutes of her message were almost a whisper.
“I hope he can hear us from up above. I hope he can see how the chess world is coming together to honor his memory. His legacy will live on for a long time. But I wish he knew. I wish he knew how much his life mattered.”
“Rest in peace, Dan,” she said softly. “You will always be remembered—for the incredible, genuine person you were. The world needs more people like you. Bullying, harassment, and baseless accusations need to stop. There must be consequences.”
Her video has since been shared thousands of times across chess forums and social media platforms, with viewers expressing both grief and admiration for her courage.
A call for accountability
Anna Rudolf’s message struck a chord far beyond her 200,000 YouTube subscribers. As one of chess’s most respected commentators, she is no stranger to public pressure—but this time, her message was raw and personal.
“It should not have happened,” she repeated, holding back tears. “The light needs to shine through the darkness. This has to stop here and now.”
For a community often proud of its intellect and rationality, Rudolf’s words were a painful reminder that even the chess world—home to some of the brightest minds—remains vulnerable to cruelty, misinformation, and unchecked harassment.
And for many, her final words captured what thousands in the chess community now feel:
“He gave so much to chess.
I just wish he knew how much he was loved.”
I’m the senior editor of Attacking Chess, a keen chess player, rated above 2300 in chess.com. You can challenge me or asking questions at Chess.com.
