A Personal Goodbye to Danya: Remembering GM Daniel Naroditsky (1995–2025)

 The news that American Grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky passed away yesterday, October 19th, has left the global chess community in stunned silence. At just 29, Danya, as he was affectionately known, was a brilliant competitor, a prodigious talent, and a phenomenal educator whose infectious enthusiasm made chess accessible and captivating for countless people. His passing leaves a profound void.

While the world knew Danya for his incredible achievements—a grandmaster by 18, a U12 World Champion, and a five-time U.S. Championship competitor—my memories of him are more personal, rooted in the Bay Area chess scene. It felt like he was a constant presence at the Mechanics' Institute Chess Club, often immersed in a game, or just as frequently, holding court during one of his insightful lectures. He had a way of breaking down complex ideas into digestible, engaging lessons, making even the most intricate positions seem approachable. His passion for teaching was palpable, and I, like many others, spent countless hours trying to absorb his wisdom from the audience.

I’ve lost more games to Danya in various arenas than I care to count—usually in spectacular fashion—but there is one memory that stands out above all. It was 2014, and he hosted a massive simultaneous exhibition against 50 opponents or so, not in the usual club setting, but outside at the San Francisco Botanical Garden. It was a beautiful day, and the contrast between the calm natural surroundings and the intense chess struggle was striking.

I found myself opposite him, playing the black pieces, and somehow, through pure stubbornness and maybe a little help from the chess gods, I managed to steer our game into an exchange up position where Danya had to go for a defence so that I can't break through him. He put enough counter chances that I had no way to push forward any further without heavy risk of loosing.

As he glided by my board, already well into the final stages of the simul, Danya paused for a second longer than he had for any of the other boards I saw. He gave a slight, almost imperceptible nod and extended his hand. Draw agreed.

Here's the picture from that unforgettable day: That single half-point, earned against the Grandmaster, outside in the sunshine, was a highlight of my amateur career. It wasn't just the result; it was the moment of quiet acknowledgment from a player who always treated the game, and those who played it, with immense respect.

The chess world has lost one of its kindest, most talented, and most eloquent voices. Our thoughts are with his family, his friends, and the Charlotte Chess Center community. Thank you, Danya, for all the inspiration, all the joy, and for that unforgettable half-point. You will be deeply missed.

Let us honor Daniel by remembering his passion for chess and the inspiration he brought to us all.

Chess.com 3|2 Game - AshikUzzaman (1851) vs Vaibanh974 (1902)

[Site "Chess.com"]

[Date "2025.01.24"]

[White "ashikuzzaman"] [WhiteElo "1851"]

[Black "Vaibhav974"] [BlackElo "1902"]

[Result "1-0"]

[ECOUrl "https://www.chess.com/openings/Closed-Sicilian-Defense-2...g6-3.f4-Bg7"]

[TimeControl "180+2"]

[Link "https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/131441361407?tab=analysis"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 g6 3. f4 Bg7 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. Bb5 e6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. e5 Ne7 8. Ne4

b6 9. Nd6+ Kf8 10. O-O h6 11. d3 f6 12. Ne4 fxe5 13. fxe5 Kg8 14. Nh4 Kh7 15.

Qg4 Bxe5 16. Rf7+ Bg7 17. Nf6# 1-0

Defeated a Fide Master in Chess.com 3 minutes plus 2 seconds increment

I have been playing rapid games in chess.com again for the last few months after some break during the entire pandemic time. I used to play mostly 5 minutes chess or 3 days per move games in chess.com.  But then I thought to try out 1 minute bullet chess and 10 minute rapid chess. Then I my son Ahyan told me to give a try to 3 minutes with 2 seconds increment that game he plays. I tried and am liking it very much. My yesterday's game was a win against a FIDE Master in this format on my favorite Sicilian Dragon opening as black.

[Event "rapid 3 minutes + 2 seconds increment"]

[Site "Chess.com iPhone"]

[Date "2023.02.11"]

[Round "?"]

[White "TheMagician"]

[Black "ashikuzzaman"]

[Result "0-1"]

[FEN "rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 1"]

[White "Elo 2090"]

[Black "Elo 1913"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 a6 7. f3 b5 8. Qd2 Bb7 9. O-O-O Nbd7 10. Kb1 Rc8 11. g4 Nb6 12. b3 b4 13. Nce2 e5 14. Nf5 gxf5 15. gxf5 d5 16. Ng3 d4 17. Bg5 Be7 18. Bxf6 Bxf6 19. Qxb4 Be7 20. Qd2 Qd6 21. Nh5 Qa3 22. f6 Bb4 23. Ng7+ Kd7 24. Bh3+ Kc7 25. c3 Bxc3 26. Rc1 Kb8 27. Qf2 Rc5 28. Rc2 Rb5 29. Rhc1 Na4 30. Bf1 Rxb3+ 31. axb3 Qxb3+ 32. Rb2 Nxb2 33. Rxc3 dxc3 34. Qc2 Qb4 35. Nf5 Rd8 36. Ne3 Rd2 37. Qxd2 cxd2 38. Kc2 Qd4 39. Nd1 Nxd1 40. Kxd1 Qa1+ 41. Kxd2 Qxf1 42. Kc3 Qb5 43. h4 a5 44. Kd2 a4 45. Ke3 a3 46. Kf2 a2 47. Kg3 a1=Q 48. Kg4 Qg1+  {0-1}

2021 US Amateur Team West Championship

I have been playing the 2021 US Amateur Team West ONLINE - National Championship as part of the team Winners 2021. This is a 2-days tournament in the format of g60+10 seconds increment. OUr average team rating is 1899.5, so we are in the 1800+ section. Here is the team - 

• NM Sriram Krishnakumar (2192)
• Jaisuraj Kaleeswaran (2086)
• Ashik Uzzaman (1940)
• Jaidev Kaleeswaran (1380)

Today was first 3 rounds and tomorrow will be the final 3 rounds.

Game 1: Team Winners 2021 vs Tonight We're Gonna Checkmate Like It's 1989

White: Ashik Uzzaman (1940) / chess.com rating 1799

Black: NM Christopher Chabris (2226) / chess.com rating 2326

Date: 30th January 2021

Result: Drawn (1/2 - 1/2)

I missed a completely winning rook endgame with 2 pawns up by making a last-minute blunder although I had plenty of time in my clock while my opponent had few seconds only. The blunder was move#44; instead of g4 I needed to play h6.

Game 2: Team Winners 2021 vs Chess Cookies

White: Lisa Sun (1708) / chess.com rating 1426

Black: Ashik Uzzaman (1940) / chess.com rating 1810

Date: 30th January 2021

Result: Black won (0 - 1)

Game 3: Team Winners 2021 vs CHECKMATE ASAP - XCELL CHESS CLU

White: Ashik Uzzaman (1940) / chess.com rating 1838

Black: Sricharan Pullela (1889) / chess.com rating 2020

Date: 30th January 2021

Result: White won (1 - 0)

I particularly liked my middle game combination of sacrificing a rook that my opponent couldn't afford to take. Check out move#20.

Update from Day 2, I lost the 4th round but won the 5th round. 

Game 4: Team Winners 2021 vs CHECKMATE ASAP - Queen Rules

White: Felix Liu (1922) / chess.com rating 2096

Black: Ashik Uzzaman (1940) / chess.com rating 1839

Date: 31st January 2021

Result: White won (1 - 0)

Game 5: Team Winners 2021 vs Pawn-Z-Scheme

White: Ashik Uzzaman (1940) / chess.com rating 1838

Black: Mateo Hansen (1687) / chess.com rating 1615

Date: 31st January 2021

Result: White won (1 - 0)

Game 6: Team Winners 2021 vs Riveting Rooks

White: Kristian Clemens (1997) / chess.com rating 1831

Black: Ashik Uzzaman (1940) / chess.com rating 1838

Date: 31st January 2021

Result: Black won (0 - 1)

Drew with GM Enamul Hossain (Razib) in 2nd Round of 14th Philadelphia Open

Today after a long time Ahyan and I played in an online tournament other than San Francisco Mechanics Institute's Tuesday Night Marathon that we play often. We played the 14th Philadelphia Open where I was in the Open section and Ahyan was in the Under 1800 section. Ahyan scored 3.5 out of 5 but I didn't do well. However, in the second round, I secured a surprise draw with GM Enamul Hossain (Razib). I lost a pawn early in the middlegame and was destined to lose. But I put up a very prolonged defense and somehow it worked. I think Razib would win it if he had a bit more time left in the clock. After the game Razib sent me a message "well played!" - so nice of him. Here is the game.

Searching for Bobby Fischer, The Book and The Movie

 I finished reading the book Searching for Bobby Fischer: The Father of a Prodigy Observes the World of Chess by Fred Waitzkin last weekend. I also watched the movie with the same name based on this book written and directed by Steven Zaillian. While the book was first published in 1988, the movie was released in 1993 in the United Kingdom with the name Innocent Moves. A chess father's view of his chess prodigy son came nicely in this. Along with that also came out how impactful Bobby Fischer was in the world of chess and in particular American chess.

As I and my son Ahyan Zaman have been playing chess tournaments together for many years, I could see Fred in me and Josh in Ahyan, albeit to a lesser extent. I know when we made the choice not to focus too much on just chess for Ahyan, as he is also in piano, drama and other activities. Both the book and the movie is good although I would place the book a little better despite that movie was nominated for Best Cinematography in the 66th Academy Awards.

My Review of The Queen's Gambit, the Book and the Netflix Miniseries

This week I finished listening to the audiobook The Queen's Gambit by Walter Tevis as well as watching the Netflix miniseries of the same name directed by Scott Frank. I liked both of them so much as these are centered around Chess, my childhood passion. The book was published in 1983 while the 7-episode miniseries was released by Netflix just 3 weeks back.

The plot is set in the mid-1950s around a child prodigy Beth Harmon, a Kentucky girl whose parents were killed in a car crash when she was eight. She was placed into an orphanage where she starts learning chess from the janitor Mr. Shaibel. She gets habituated with tranquilizers there. After a few years, Beth gets adopted by Mr. & Mrs. Wheatley moving with them leaving the orphanage, her best friend Jolene and her first chess coach. But in her new place, she gets the freedom to start playing chess tournaments. She starts rising in the ranks of chess players, becomes the US champion and finally defeats the current world champion Borgov in the prestigious Moscow International in 1968. Throughout her journey, she meets obstacles, gets addicted to alcohol and tranquilizers, learns the lessons of humility, makes friends like Beltik, Benny, Jacob and more.

This is a very good book on chess and the best film or tv series production ever related to chess. My earlier best favorite was Pawn Sacrifice starring Tobey Maguire on the Fischer-Spassky 1972 World Championship match. Also The Queen of Katwe was good. I plan to watch Searching for Bobby Fischer next. Renowned US chess coach Bruce Pandolfini and ex-world chess champion Garry Kasparov were the chess consultants for the miniseries. This resulted in technical accuracy. For example, many of the positions were real games from famous chess masters like Capablanca, Reshevsky, Kasparov, Anand, Ivanchuk, Kramnik, Topalov, Tal, Reti, Bogoljubov.

Beth acted very well in the movie. I liked how the chess pieces were frequently projected upside down in the ceiling of the room. I liked it when Benny apologized to Beth the next day after defeating her many times in speed chess. I liked the humility of Luchenko after getting defeated by Beth in Moscow. I liked Benny and the teams' adjournment analysis over the phone for the final encounter against Borgov.

I strongly recommend watching the miniseries and if you read often, then also read the book.