Medical Examiner Report: Charlotte Observer + The Guardian

Memorial Fund Q&A with Eric Rosen + Peter Giannatos

"Every Move Mattered" by Peter Giannatos (NIC)

"A Light That Will Never Fade" by Grant Oen (ACM)

December 2025 Chess Life Obituary by Mike Klein

Read Joint Press Release from CCC and Naroditsky Family

See Digital Donor Wall (updated daily)

The Naroditsky Memorial & Fellowship Endowment

Daniel Naroditsky’s passion for chess was immeasurable. He inspired millions through his teaching, commentary, and competitive brilliance, not only as one of America’s strongest Grandmasters, but as one of the game’s greatest educators and ambassadors.

Tragically, Daniel passed away far too early. His sudden loss left a profound impact on the chess community and all who knew him. Daniel dreamed of leaving behind a legacy that would continue to teach, inspire, and bring people together through chess. The Naroditsky Memorial and Fellowship Fund is our way of realizing that dream, ensuring his values and influence endure for decades to come.

To honor his legacy, the Naroditsky Family, in partnership with the Charlotte Chess Center and Charlotte Chess Center Foundation (501c3), has established the Naroditsky Memorial and Fellowship Fund, a lasting endowment that will celebrate Daniel’s life, his love for teaching, and his impact on the global chess community for generations to come.

Our Goal

We seek to raise $4,000,000 to create a permanent endowment that will fund two initiatives:

🏆 The Naroditsky Memorial Blitz & Rapid Championship

An annual over-the-board tournament to be in Charlotte, North Carolina. The event aims to attract the world’s top players, including those ranked within the top ten globally, while also welcoming hundreds (even thousands!) of amateur participants. Daniel often spoke about his wish to see more over-the-board blitz and rapid events. This tournament will bring that vision to life, and stand as a celebration of the type of chess he loved most. The Charlotte Chess Center will oversee all aspects of the event, including invitations, organization, and logistics, ensuring it becomes a highlight on the international chess calendar.

🎓 The Naroditsky Fellowship

A scholarship program supporting talented young chess players pursuing excellence at the highest level. Daniel deeply valued students who were serious about reaching their full potential, and took pride in guiding them on that path. The Fellowship will reflect those values by providing financial support, resources, and opportunities to high-achieving students who aspire to play chess professionally. It will focus on talented players in Charlotte, as well as other promising students across the United States.

Every dollar raised during this initial campaign will go directly toward this endowment. Once this founding period concludes, the opportunity to become an original contributing founder of the Naroditsky Memorial and Fellowship will be gone.

To help kickstart this campaign, the Charlotte Chess Center, where Daniel served as Grandmaster-In-Residence since 2019, has committed $100,000 to the fund — providing an early foundation for this enduring tribute.

Further details provided in fund Q&A with Eric Rosen + Peter Giannatos

Our Promise

Every contribution to the Naroditsky Memorial & Fellowship Endowment, large or small, will directly enhance the initiatives we are creating in Daniel’s honor. This fund exists to create a lasting impact on the chess community Daniel cherished. Your support guarantees that his vision and legacy will thrive for generations to come.

Whether we reach our $4,000,000 goal, come up short, or surpass it, every dollar raised will be dedicated to the initiatives above. The more we are able to raise, the greater the impact these initiatives will have, allowing us to reach more players, host a larger and more prestigious event, and provide more substantial support to rising chess talent.

Why Your Support Matters

Endowments work differently from traditional fundraising. The principal is preserved and invested, while the annual returns fund the programs forever. To support an elite tournament, a competitive fellowship, and meaningful awards every single year, the endowment must be large enough from the beginning to generate reliable income.

Raising $4,000,000 up front allows the fund to:

Produce consistent annual support for both initiatives
Operate without relying on unpredictable year-to-year fundraising
Maintain the quality of the international Naroditsky Memorial Blitz and Rapid
Offer substantial financial support to Naroditsky Fellowship recipients
Protect Daniel’s legacy with long-term stability

This campaign is a one-time effort to build the foundation that will sustain Daniel’s impact for generations. This is more than a one-time donation. It’s an investment in a legacy, one that will continue to shape the chess world for decades to come.

By joining us during this founding campaign, you ensure that Daniel’s legacy will endure. Your contribution, whether large or small, will become part of something that outlives us all, a true memorial built not of stone, but of passion, education, and community.

Every contribution counts, and every donor will be recognized as a founding supporter of this endowment.

Donor Recognition Levels

All donors become Founding Donors, permanently recognized on the digital donor wall on the Charlotte Chess Center Foundation's website.

Visionary Fellow ($100,000+)

Prominent recognition at all CCC locations and digital donor wall
Logo/name featured in press materials, event programs, and website (for individuals or companies)
Physical certificate as Founding Donor
25 complimentary entries or spectator passes to the annual Naroditsky Memorial
VIP access to Memorial Dinner and Playing Hall
Included in post-event media and highlight coverage

Founding Fellow ($50,000–99,999)

Recognition on physical and digital donor walls
Logo/name inclusion on event materials (if applicable)
Physical Founding Donor certificate
20 complimentary entries or spectator passes (yearly memorial)
VIP access to Memorial Dinner and Playing Hall

Grandmaster Circle ($25,000–49,999)

Recognition on physical and digital donor walls
Physical Founding Donor certificate
10 complimentary entries or spectator passes (yearly memorial)
VIP access to Memorial Dinner and Playing Hall

Master Circle ($10,000–24,999)

Recognition on physical and digital donor walls
Physical Founding Donor certificate
5 complimentary entries or spectator passes (yearly memorial)

Champion Circle ($5,000–9,999)

Recognition on physical and digital donor walls
Physical Founding Donor certificate
2 Complimentary entries or spectator passes (yearly memorial)

Rook Circle ($1,000–4,999)

Name on digital donor wall
Digital Founding Donor certificate
Keepsake (shipped within USA, CAN, MEX)

Knight Circle ($500–999)

Name on digital donor wall
Digital Founding Donor certificate
Keepsake (pick up at first Memorial event)

Bishop Circle ($250–499)

Name on digital donor wall
Digital Founding Donor certificate
Keepsake (pick up at first Memorial event)

Pawn Circle (Under $250)

Name on digital donor wall
Digital Founding Donor certificate

Every Contribution Matters

An endowment is a permanent fund, created a single time, and lasting indefinitely. Large gifts help anchor the fund, while smaller contributions add essential strength and stability. Every donor helps build the principal that will support Daniel’s legacy year after year, without ever needing to ask again.

Your one-time gift becomes part of something enduring, something that continues giving long after this founding campaign is complete.

Join Us

Your support ensures that Daniel Naroditsky’s influence, as a player, teacher, and human being, will continue to inspire future generations.

Together, we will ensure his legacy lives on forever.

If you would like to inquire about partnership opportunities or prefer to make a contribution by check or bank transfer, please contact us at:
📩 contact@cltccf.org

Corporate Matching Reminder:
Many U.S. companies offer corporate matching programs, which can double or even triple the impact of your donation. We encourage donors to check with their employer to see if their gift can be matched.

Tax Deductible Notice:
The Charlotte Chess Center Foundation (EIN 82-3566758) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in the United States. All donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Daniel Naroditsky Memorial Fund

Creating opportunities for others to experience the same beauty, curiosity, and joy that Danya brought to the chess world.

Team Members