Kramnik to Sue Hikaru Nakamura: “He Bullied Me for Months”

Former World Chess Champion Vladimir Kramnik says he has filed a criminal complaint in Switzerland and is preparing civil cases — including one against American grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura — in a dramatic escalation of the turmoil engulfing the chess world since the death of Daniel Naroditsky.

Speaking in the new interview with journalist Mihal Pterast, Kramnik struck a defiant tone. “He [Nakamura] was bullying me for months, calling me all kinds of names,” Kramnik said. “My response to all what he was doing and now doing will be in the court, because everything is documented.”

Legal Action Underway in Switzerland

According to Kramnik, his legal team opened a criminal case this week in Switzerland, where he has lived for many years. The case centers on what he described as “a huge amount of threats — death threats, very ugly, very direct to me and my family.”

He said he has asked the Swiss federal authorities for protection, claiming police are already searching for those responsible. “That is the first one,” Kramnik continued. “The second one is going to be open. I believe we need some time to gather the material. And probably there will be the third one as well.”

While Kramnik did not name every target of his planned lawsuits, he made clear that Hikaru Nakamura is among them — along with “some other people or structures,” possibly referring to media outlets or chess platforms.

From Accusations to Lawsuits

The feud between Kramnik and Nakamura began nearly two years ago, when the Russian ex-world champion repeatedly accused several top online players of suspicious behavior, hinting at possible cheating.

Nakamura, who is one of the world’s most popular chess streamers, fired back during his broadcasts, calling Kramnik’s conduct “disgraceful” and labeling his public posts as “cyberbullying.”

Now, Kramnik insists the opposite is true — that he was the victim of harassment. “He was bullying me for months,” Kramnik repeated. “Two years ago, he was calling me all kinds of names that I don’t even want to repeat in public.”

He added that while some of the online exchanges have since been deleted, he personally recorded and archived evidence. “There is enough evidence for me to be confident about the court case,” he said.

Carlsen and “Double Standards”

When asked about Magnus Carlsen’s criticism — the Norwegian said Kramnik’s treatment of Naroditsky was “horrible” and that he “crossed the line” — Kramnik fired back by accusing Carlsen of hypocrisy.

“I don’t know what about the treatment of Magnus Carlsen to Hans Niemann, for example,” Kramnik said, referring to the 2022 cheating scandal that divided the chess world. “Or Hikaru Nakamura, who actually said that I’m sort of responsible for the tragedy.”

He continued: “Maybe I would rather say that first of all they don’t even know half of what I know. Secondly, maybe let’s everyone take care of their own behavior.”

Kramnik said he is prepared to present his case publicly. “If there are any examinations, any investigations, I’m always ready to stand by my words. I will present documentation, and it’s up to everyone to judge.”

“Immoral and Possibly Illegal”

The former champion also accused some in the chess community of rushing to condemn him before hearing his side. “Before giving me a chance — and this is maybe my first chance to present the truth — to start shaming and blaming, especially considering what happened during the last two days of Daniel Naroditsky’s life, this is really, I believe, immoral and very possibly illegal,” he said.

Naroditsky, 29, was found dead earlier this month in Charlotte. Police are investigating the case as a possible suicide or accidental overdose. Kramnik’s repeated public references to Naroditsky’s online performance prior to his death have sparked outrage, leading to a Change.org petition with over 46,000 signatures calling for FIDE to revoke his titles.

“I Have No Other Choice”

Despite widespread criticism, Kramnik says he feels compelled to pursue legal action. “I have no other choice now than to go legal,” he said. “I was not lying. What I tell, I can prove with documents.”

He described a chess world where “everybody is afraid to speak out,” alleging that many top figures express private support but remain silent in public. “I’m not going to obey these rules of the modern chess world and cover everything — especially when it gets to misconducts that can be legal also.”

Kramnik also revealed that he has filed a complaint with the European Union Commission, requesting that regulators review Chess.com’s compliance with European and American laws. “I believe the world of chess should be fair and transparent — and it’s not now,” he said. “We have a world of chess nowadays where one force is dominating everything financially and by influence.”

He did not name the “force” directly, but his remarks were widely interpreted as referring to Chess.com, which owns major online platforms, sponsors elite tournaments, and collaborates closely with FIDE.

“I Know It’s Dangerous”

Kramnik acknowledged that his actions could carry heavy personal risks. “I know it’s very dangerous, what I’m doing. I was receiving a number of threats already before this story,” he said. “But I just cannot stand it. I think the world of chess should be fair and transparent — and it’s very far from it.”

He said he is aware of the powerful interests aligned against him: “I know that the force behind it is extremely powerful — multi-billion forces that do not want the public to know certain facts.”

What Kramnik Wants

Asked what he hopes to achieve, Kramnik said his goal is not revenge but reform. “My outcome is that the world of chess becomes a better place — less toxic, fair and transparent,” he said.

He emphasized his long-standing campaign against online cheating, claiming that too many cases go unpunished. “Probably cheating will finally be punished, which is very often not happening nowadays,” he said.

Even amid his legal crusade, Kramnik insisted that he still receives private messages of support from grandmasters. “A number of players contact me privately and express support,” he said. “But they are simply afraid to tell it publicly. This is not the world of chess I used to know — and not the one I’m ready to accept.”