Vladimir Kramnik is a renowned Russian chess grandmaster currently facing intense backlash and scrutiny amidst the tragic death of American Grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky
Daniel suddenly passed away at just 29 years old, and leaves behind a long and lasting impact on the sport and fans.
Who is Vladimir Kramnik, who accused chess GM Daniel Naroditsky of cheating and bullied him before his death
Chess players are calling for former world champion Vladimir Kramnik to be banned for harassing Daniel Naroditsky with cheating accusations before his death pic.twitter.com/KkJskSdfgJ
— Dexerto (@Dexerto) October 22, 2025
Meanwhile, vladimir kramnik tweeted this just yesterday. the chess world hasnt witnessed worse than this immoral rotten piece of shit @VBkramnik https://t.co/ygy7GNDakg pic.twitter.com/I9YdVIHwRd
— Mirko Czentovic 🇺🇦 (@ausoa22) October 20, 2025
As tributes come pouring in for Daniel, his bitter public feud with former World Champion Vladimir Kramnik has gained traction, placing Kramnik in the spotlight.
Vladimir Kramnik going viral amidst Daniel Naroditsky’s tragic death
Vladimir Kramnik is one of the most celebrated yet controversial figures in the professional chess world. He is currently facing renewed criticism and scrutiny after Daniel Naroditsky’s recent and untimely death. Back in early 2024, Kramnik publicly accused Naroditsky of cheating during online games. He claimed that Daniel used a second screen to consult chess engines without any concrete evidence. As the accusations went viral, it seemingly damaged Naroditsky’s reputation and left a deep impact on his mental state.
The American player jumped back and denied all the accusations while explaining that his streaming setup had been misinterpreted. He even released videos defending his integrity, calling Kramnik’s behavior “worse than dirt.” Unsurprisingly, the relentless public scrutiny deeply affected Naroditsky, who was already open about his ongoing struggles with depression.
Shortly after his passing, Kramnik shared a post on X, saying that he “did what he could to warn people.” Unsurprisingly, Vladimir’s comment sparked a frenzy amongst netizens, who found it crude and insensitive. While Kramnik has not been linked directly to Naroditsky’s death, his conduct has reignited all kinds of debates about responsibility and accountability.
FIDE is now examining Vladimir Kramnik’s attacks on Daniel Naroditsky.
Vladimir Kramnik biography and age
Vladimir Kramnik is a Russian chess grandmaster and former world champion who was born on June 25, 1975, in Tuapse, Russia. He is one of the most respected chess grandmasters in history and became the classical World Chess Champion in 2000. He did so by defeating Garry Kasparov and ending his 15-year reign. Kramnik continued to hold the title up until 2007, and continued to compete at the highest level for over two decades.
2 sentences about Kramnik and long paragraphs about ”friends that didn’t help”. I am in disbelief about this tweet.
Please @EmilSutovsky and @FIDE_chess do something about Vladimir Kramnik. Your actions now will be remembered from the chess world for years to come.
— Anna Cramling (@AnnaCramling) October 22, 2025
Education
Vladimir Kramnik received an early chess education through Russia’s rigorous chess training system, attending the Botvinnik-Kasparov Chess School, an elite institution for top Soviet talents.
Career
Vladimir Kramnik began his professional career at a remarkably young age, earning his Grandmaster title at 16. He quickly rose to challenge the world’s best, defeating Gary Kasparov and unifying the classical and FIDE world titles in 2006 by beating Veselin Topalov. Over the years, he seemingly gained prominence for pioneering innovations, particularly in the Berlin Defense. He eventually retired from competitive chess in 2019 after a successful career but has since remained active in commentary, chess education, and online discussions.
Vladimir Kramnik championed a false narrative and caused persistent infliction on late GM Daniel Naroditsky.
Kramnik was actually cyberstalking Danya and didn't care about his mental health.pic.twitter.com/0MGRIEzsEf— 𝑈𝑟𝑜𝑚𝑖 𝐵𝑜𝑦 (@Anthony1Enahoro) October 21, 2025
Wife and children
Vladimir Kramnik is married to Marie-Laure Germon, who is a French journalist and art historian. The couple has two children together, and the family currently resides in France.
Net worth
Vladimir Kramnik currently has an estimated net worth of around $3–4 million, with most of his income coming from tournament winnings, sponsorships, coaching, and various chess-related ventures.
ALSO READ: Who is Kira Cousins, woman who faked pregnancy and birth of baby Bonnie-Leigh