Wesley So confronts Russian chess champ about 'cold and heartless' treatment of late American grandmaster

Filipino-American grandmaster Wesley So has taken to social media to confront retired Russian GM Vladimir Kramnik about his treatment of American GM Daniel Naroditsky, who passed away early this week. 

Late on Oct. 23, So posted his "2 cents" on X: "...in my opinion Kramnik's response to Daniel's passing was cold and heartless. I didn't want to say anything in the beginning because it is not my place and Vlad has always been great towards me but things have gotten too far. In my personal view what was done and happened to Naroditsky was just shockingly and disturbingly evil and horrific..."

"You wouldn't wish that to happen to your worst enemy. Let's say for a moment that Danya cheated (which I never believed). Would it be worth it to ruin a beautiful young life over a game? What was his soul worth? [Vladimir Kramnik], are you done? Maybe it's not too late to just stop and fix/make things better. You are a living legend to this game. The chess world is not your enemy," So concluded. 

Replying to So's post on X, Kramnik wrote (as is), "Dear Wesley, with all my respect towards you, falsely stating that 'I ruined his life' not even knowing circumstances and cause of his death, is truly indecent and, forgive me, also illegal. What you and others are doing now is ten times worse and can have dramatic consequences."

In response, So wrote, "I never said you ruined anyone's life. I asked a question about whether it is worth it to ruin a young life over a game that they may or may not have cheated? If you feel someone cheated, just report them and move on. Or don't play online."

Naroditsky became an American grandmaster at 18 and was among the world's top 25 blitz chess players. His cause of death has not been revealed.

According to a report by Associated Press, Kramnik began accusing Naroditsky of cheating in online chess about a year before the blitz champion died. Throughout the year, Kramnik continued to post about his claims of Naroditsky cheating, but without providing material evidence. 

Naroditsky, who met Kramnik as a child and considered the Russian champ one of his "heroes," spoke about the impact Kramnik's accusations had on him days before his death. He denied Kramnik's accusations and, on his last livestream on Twitch, said, “Ever since the Kramnik stuff, I feel like if I start doing well, people assume the worst of intentions. The issue is just the lingering effect of it."

Two days ago, the World Chess Federation, widely known by its French acronym FIDE, announced it would be investigating Kramnik's repeated public "bullying" of Naroditsky "before and after" his tragic passing.

"I reaffirm that FIDE will take appropriate action in any case where a lack of respect, public harassment, or bullying is observed within the chess community," said Arkady Dvorkovich, FIDE president, in a statement.