Something has to change.

                                                         

                                            Daniel Naroditsky was a gentle soul who has gone too soon. 

The shocking and untimely demise of popular chess commentator and streamer Daniel Naroditsky, seems to have bought a toxic sub-culture that exists within chess to the surface. That of massive egos, chess drama, swear words aplenty, and accusations made against other players.

World number two Hikaru Nakamara mentioned on his Titled Tuesday stream which took place on the platform "Kick",  that where Daniel went wrong was that he was too nice. That Daniel should have done what Hikaru himself did, that of telling serial accuser and former world chess champion Vladimir Kramnik to "Go fuck himself". 

I understand that Hikaru is strong mentally. It is part of his make-up. I think he worked out long ago that if someone challenges you, that you should always try and bat back at them as soon as possible. Never let your resentment fester, that way they can never gain a psychological advantage against you. This was the problem it seems; that Naroditsky let this wound fester. The wound of Kramnik tormenting him with barrage after barrage of accusations and carefully put together YouTube videos. From a well-respected former champion, no less.

It would seem that Kramnik and Nakamura are quite similar in a way that Daniel was not. They are both tough people mentally; both are part of the elite. Danya, as he was commonly known by his friends and the chess community at large, was better known for being a nice guy than for his extraordinary chess skills, even if he was a very fine player, one of the top five players in the world online for many years. It is my belief that being thrown into conflict with the huge chess egos that exist at the very elite of the game, was what ultimately cost him his life. He was too fragile, too human. 

When you stream online, or whenever you achieve any kind of fame online at all, you are thrust into a world where anything goes. A world of trolls, of unpleasant comments that can appear at any moment. It is one thing to experience this from a virtual unknown, hurtful enough in that case but quite another level to encounter this from someone you respected and continues to be respected by many others in your chosen field. I think the problem is that Kramnik lacks basic empathy. I don't think he set out to hurt anyone, just that he doesn't seem to appreciate that not everyone is as tough as he is. He may have gone in with the right intentions, but ultimately it seems he did it in the wrong way.

But when people direct "burn in hell," and other angry comments at Kramnik, they are continuing this whole toxic cycle. Although we crave freedom of speech, we also see that it has its limitations. It creates a universe when you can say anything to anyone at any time and not really face any repercussions at all. Which is exactly what seemed to cause Naroditsky problems in the first place. When Nakamura says "Go fuck yourself," the teenage boys who make up a great percentage of his fanbase are then emboldened to say the same to their teachers and parents. After all the world number two said it, so it must be ok. The cycle never ends.

Naroditsky was a gentle soul who eschewed the more ego-ridden environment of over the board tournament play, for what seemed like a more pleasant life of streaming and coaching. This should have been a safe decision but somehow wasn't. 

I've always felt that spending 5-6 hours or longer a day streaming chess games online is not a very healthy way to live. You are making money out of an addiction. It is like video game streamers, some of whom have died during monstrously long sessions drawn out too far. Like the film the long walk, but taking place on your sofa. It is in your favour to play for as long as possible, to be a savage, to be extreme. And others may be financially dependent on you, which brings yet more pressure. Drop your number of playing days or hours, and your viewership dries up. Those who follow you will lose interest. The algorithms drop off. There is no choice but to jump back on the wagon, take your chess ship back to extreme mode.

Combine the toxic environment of being in the public eye and being exposed to attacks by people who should have known better, with the pressure of being a streamer in the first place, and you have this perfect storm that leads us to the current tragic situation we are in now. 

It can only be hoped that something positive will come out of this very sad event, that something will change. If that is a counselling service for chess streamers and commentators, or harsher penalties handed out to those who are making these accusations, remains to be seen. Either way it is too late for Daniel Naroditsky.