Chess grandmaster Vladimir Kramnik has filed a complaint with Swiss authorities over the online threats he has received since the sudden death of American chess grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky. The complaint, submitted on October 25, details the 'hundreds of terrifying private messages and public comments' that Kramnik and his family have received, many of which call for his death or urge him to take his own life. The Russian-born grandmaster, who has lived in Switzerland for several years, also received death threats via email. The filing does not name any suspects but cites numerous threatening and abusive messages posted on X since October 19, the day Naroditsky was found dead in North Carolina. The death of the popular streamer and commentator prompted an outpouring of grief and an International Chess Federation (FIDE) ethics review of Kramnik's months-long online campaign hinting at cheating by top players, including Naroditsky. Kramnik has denied accusing Naroditsky personally of cheating, saying his remarks had been 'reasoned questions' based on statistical analysis. The world champion from 2000 to 2007 has continued to support 'ethical and fair' chess and denounced the online campaign against him as 'unprecedented in its violence'. This controversy has sparked debate among top players, including world number one Magnus Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura, who have publicly condemned Kramnik's repeated insinuations against fellow competitors. But here's where it gets controversial... The complaint also highlights the 'deeply damaging' impact of press headlines linking Kramnik to Naroditsky's death. Will the public's reaction to this tragedy be the catalyst for a much-needed conversation about the ethics of online chess communities, or will it simply fuel the flames of controversy? We invite you to share your thoughts in the comments.
