(File Photo: Source for Photo: This undated photo released by Charlotte Chess Center shows Daniel Naroditsky playing chess on the board. (Kelly Centrelli/Charlotte Chess Center via AP))

(AP) Daniel Naroditsky, a chess grandmaster who started as a child prodigy and quickly became one of the most influential American voices in the sport, died Monday. He was 29.

The Charlotte Chess Center in North Carolina, where Naroditsky trained and worked as a coach, announced his death on social media, calling him “a talented chess player, educator, and beloved member of the chess community.”

“Let us remember Daniel for his passion and love for the game of chess, and for the joy and inspiration he brought to us all every day,” his family said in a statement shared by the center.

The cause of death was not immediately known.

Naroditsky became a grandmaster, the highest title in chess aside from World Chess Champion, at the age of 18.

Years earlier, the California-born player won the Under 12 world championship and spent his teenage years writing chess strategy books as he climbed the world rankings.

He was consistently ranked in the top 200 worldwide for traditional chess and also excelled at a fast-paced style called blitz chess, maintaining a top 25 ranking throughout his adult career. Most recently Naroditsky, known to many as Danya, won the U.S. National Blitz Championship in August.

Fellow grandmasters credited Naroditsky with introducing the sport to a wider audience by livestreaming many of his matches and sharing live commentary on others. Thousands of people regularly tuned in on YouTube and the interactive streaming platform Twitch to watch Naroditsky play.

“He loved streaming, and he loved trying to be educational. The chess world is very grateful,” Hikaru Nakamura, an American grandmaster, said on a livestream Monday.

In a final video posted to his YouTube channel on Friday titled “You Thought I Was Gone!?” Naroditsky tells viewers he’s “back, better than ever” after taking a creative break from streaming. He talks viewers through his moves as he plays live chess matches on the computer from a cozy home studio.

Other elite chess players from around the globe took to social media to express their shock and sadness.

Dutch chess grandmaster Benjamin Bok reflected on his lifelong friendship with Naroditsky, who he said he’s known since the Under 12 world championship that Naroditsky won in 2007.

“I still can’t believe it and don’t want to believe it,” Bok said on X. “It was always a privilege to play, train, and commentate with Danya, but above all, to call him my friend.”

Naroditsky was the son of Jewish immigrants to the U.S. from Ukraine and Azerbaijan. He was born and raised in San Mateo County, California, and was described by his parents as a very serious kid with an impressive attention span and memory. He went on to study history at Stanford University, earning a bachelor’s degree in 2019 after taking a year off to play in chess tournaments.

After college, he moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, where he coached the area’s top junior chess players.

(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – Jaromir Jagr, of Kladno Knights, shouts during the first Czech hockey league match against Ceske Budejovice in Kladno, Czech Republic, Jan. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek, File)

KLADNO, Czech Republic (AP) — At age 53, Jaromir Jagr began his 38th professional season by playing on the fourth line for his hometown Kladno Knights in a 3-1 victory over Vitkovice on Friday night in the Czech league.

The former NHL great logged 10:08 minutes ice time and joined the power play unit in a season debut that had been delayed because of a muscle problem.

It was Kladno’s 15th game of the season. Jagr was 53 years, 244 days old.

Jagr made his debut for Kladno at age 16 and returned to the club in 2018 when the Calgary Flames released him. Jagr remains second on the NHL’s all-time points list, only trailing Wayne Gretzky.

Jagr, whose 766 NHL goals rank him No. 4 all-time on that list, played 11 seasons in Pittsburgh, winning the Stanley Cup with the Penguins in 1991 and 1992.

Jagr didn’t talk to media after his season’s debut Friday.

“He makes his presence felt in the locker room,” forward Jakub Konecny said. “We have a lot of fun with him.”

Until early this year, Jagr served in dual roles as Kladno player and owner, splitting his time between chasing sponsors and dealing with administrative duties and ice time.

Jagr acquired full ownership in 2017 and sold a majority stake in Kladno last January to boost the team financially.

Then, he said he would be happy to complete the season by trying to lead Kladno to the playoffs for the first time.

They didn’t reach the playoffs. So, he’s got another chance this season.

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) and Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco, right, meet on the field following an NFL football game in Cincinnati, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Cincinnati, OH) Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ performance in a 33-31 loss last night during a Thursday night NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals in Cincinnati, Ohio put him ahead of another quarterback who played for the Steelers on the NFL’s all-time passing yards list. Rodgers has officially passed former Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to take over fifth place on that list. According to ESPN.com, Rodgers has now accumulated 64,222 passing yards in his career after the Steelers’ game against the Bengals last night, while Roethlisberger passed for 64,088 yards in his career before retiring. Rodgers passed Roethlisberger in the second quarter of that NFL game last night with his completion of 15 yards to Steelers running back Jaylen Warren. Roethlisberger retired after the 2021 NFL season and it took 249 games for him to get to his career total in passing yards. Ironically, Rodgers passes Roethlisberger on the NFL all-time passing yards list, and Roethlisberger was the opposing quarterback on the Steelers when Rodgers was the quarterback for the Green Bay Packers when the two teams played in Super Bowl XLV (45) on February 6th, 2011 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Rodgers’ Packers won that game, 31-25, to give Rodgers his first Super Bowl victory and his first Super Bowl championship ring. Roethlisberger has two Super Bowl victories, with Super Bowl championship rings from the Steelers defeating the Seattle Seahawks 21-10 in Super Bowl XL (40) on February 5th, 2006 at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan and the Steelers defeating the Arizona Cardinals 27-23 in Super Bowl XLIII on February 1st, 2009 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.

(File Photo of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Assoication Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver County, PA) 2025 is the 100th year of the Beaver Valley Football Officials PIAA chapter, which is a group of officials that continues to keep their tradition with officiating Western Pennsylvania football games. There are 49 officials who are currently paying dues for the 2025 high school football season, with two female officials, three sets of brothers, three duos of fathers and sons, three members who officiate college football along with their high school assignments. Many officials that are part of this chapter, and some of them have become members of the Beaver County Sports Hall of Fame, which include Sam Adams, Ronald “Lefty” Dionisio, Jim Irons, Lenny Leiper and Reggie Smith. Smith has worked Big 10, Big 12 and Conference USA games for college football before his present role as a rules analyst for both the Big 10 coverage and Notre Dame coverage from NBC. Another official from the Beaver Valley Football Officials PIAA chapter who has experience in officiating college football is Mark Estermeyer, who was worked games in the Big 12. The Beaver Valley Football officials are accepting applications anytime to become new members and to become an official, regardless of your age or background. If you are interested in becoming an official, you can visit the PIAA website for more information by clicking here or contact any member of the Beaver Valley Football officials board. The emails you can contact can be found below:

Scott Travis, travis6284@comcast.net, Ryan Marchione, ryan.marchione@yahoo.com, Tim Linkenheimer, teched_timlink@yahoo.com, Bobbie Jo Belus, bobbiejobelus55@gmail.com, Frank Van Oudenhove, fvanou23@yahoo.com, or Quinn Alexander, @quinn_tabby@comcast.net.

(Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of Pitt Race)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Wampum, PA) The Pittsburgh International Race Complex in Wampum will host their “One Last Lap” event for the community on Saturday, November 1st and Sunday, November 2nd, 2025. Pitt Race will officially close for its final season of racing on November 9th, 2025 after its owners, Jim and Kathy Stout, will step away from that raceway after much thought. According to a release from Pitt Race, here are the activities and other items to expect during this two-day event:

● True Form Car Show on Saturday, FREE for car owners and spectators (Register online by clicking here) ● Karting open to the public on both days (Register online by clicking here) ● On-track HPDE sessions for Advanced Drivers on both days from 8 a.m.–noon and 1 p.m.–5 p.m. (Register online by clicking here) ● Charity rides on Saturday provided by PVGP (Register in-person) ● FREE instructor laps on Sunday (Reserved for 2025 Pitt Race instructors, private registration link.) ● Food from Smokin’ Steer available for purchase On-track sessions will fill fast, so don’t wait. If you have any remaining gift cards or credits, it is encouraged for you to use them.

Register Now for the “One Last Lap” Event by Clicking Here

(File Photo of the Ambridge Area School District Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Ambridge, PA) The Ambridge Area School District put on its agenda list at their meet and discuss board meeting on October 8th, 2025 that it is recommended for Ambridge High School football coach Sherman McBride to resign after the 2025 high school football season. McBride is a native of Aliquippa, a 1980 graduate of Aliquippa High School and a member of the Beaver County Sports Hall of Fame. McBride will finish his fifth season as the Ambridge High School Head Football coach after he was hired to serve in that position in 2021.