The Naroditsky Memorial and Fellowship Fund has surpassed $1 million, marking a major milestone in efforts to honor the legacy of GM Daniel Naroditsky.
The grandmaster tragically passed away at the age of 29 on October 19. In November, the Charlotte Chess Center, in collaboration with the Naroditsky family, launched the Naroditsky Memorial Chess Fund with a goal of raising $4 million to fund two major initiatives and to honor Naroditsky’s legacy.
Just six weeks into the campaign, around 2,800 contributors have raised more than $1 million, the founders said in a statement.
“Seeing this level of support from the chess community and supporters from around the world reminds me why this initiative matters so much,” FM Peter Giannatos, Founding Executive Director of the Charlotte Chess Center, told Chess.com.
Seeing this level of support from the chess community and supporters from around the world reminds me why this initiative matters so much.
—Peter Giannatos, Charlotte Chess Center Founder
The first initiative is the Naroditsky Memorial Blitz & Rapid, an annual over-the-board tournament scheduled to debut in Charlotte, North Carolina, in 2026. With seven figures secured, organizers said they are currently securing a venue for the event, with additional details regarding the format, field, and schedule to be announced as plans are finalized.
Naroditsky had a passion for blitz and rapid chess, and the event aims to attract some of the world’s top players while also welcoming hundreds of amateur participants.
The second initiative is the Naroditsky Fellowship, a scholarship program to support talented young chess players aiming for the highest level.
According to the Digital Donor Wall, the largest contributions have come from Chess.com, the Charlotte Chess Center, and an anonymous donor, who each supported the fund with $100,000. Other donors include GM Hikaru Nakamura, IM Eric Rosen, WFM Alexandra Botez, IM John Bartholomew, as well as personal contributions from Chess.com’s IM Danny Rensch and Erik Allebest.
Rosen was joined by Giannatos to address questions about the Memorial Fund during a livestream at the end of November.
If you wish to contribute, you can go to the direct giving link or scan the QR code below. In the U.S., you can also text to give with DANYA to 53555.
