Daniel Naroditsky, known affectionately as Danya, was an American chess grandmaster, educator, and beloved content creator who profoundly impacted the chess world. He achieved the grandmaster title in 2013 at age 18, after winning the World Youth Chess Championship's Under-12 section in 2007 and the US Junior Championship in 2013.

While consistently ranked in the world's top 200 for classical chess, Danya excelled particularly in faster time formats. He was a top-25 blitz player globally, crossing 2700 FIDE Blitz rating in 2024 and tying for first in the Swiss stage of the 2024 World Blitz Championship. In August 2025, he achieved a perfect 14/14 score to win the US National Blitz Championship.

Beyond the board, Danya's true legacy lies in his gift for teaching. His educational content on YouTube and Twitch reached hundreds of thousands of chess enthusiasts worldwide. He authored two acclaimed books, wrote columns for Chess Life and The New York Times, and served as Grandmaster-in-Residence at the Charlotte Chess Center. His patient, insightful teaching style and genuine passion for sharing chess knowledge made the game accessible and exciting to players of all levels.