FIDE Honours Daniel Naroditsky with Special Best Creator Award
The International Chess Federation, FIDE, has announced a special tribute to the late Daniel Naroditsky. The Best Creator category at the first-ever FIDE Excellence Awards will now officially be called The Daniel Naroditsky Best Creator Award.
Daniel Naroditsky, lovingly known as “Danya” by chess fans around the world, passed away in October 2025. His loss continues to deeply affect the global chess community.
A Tribute to a Chess Legend
FIDE made this decision to honour Naroditsky’s incredible impact on chess. He was not only a strong grandmaster but also an amazing teacher, commentator, and content creator.
Through his streams, videos, and educational content, Danya helped thousands of players understand and enjoy chess. His friendly style made chess welcoming for beginners while still being valuable for advanced players.
Soon after his passing, FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich promised that FIDE would create a special award in his memory. That promise has now become reality through the FIDE Excellence Awards.
FIDE President Praises Naroditsky’s Legacy
Arkady Dvorkovich said that Danya represented the very best qualities of both a chess player and a creator.
According to Dvorkovich, Naroditsky had elite chess strength but his greatest talent was explaining the game with warmth and clarity. He inspired millions of chess lovers around the world and helped many people feel connected to chess.
FIDE believes naming the Best Creator Award after Daniel Naroditsky is a perfect way to honour someone who set a very high standard for chess content creation.
Naroditsky Memorial Event Underway
The announcement comes during the ongoing Naroditsky Memorial Rapid & Blitz tournament in Charlotte. The event is being held at the Charlotte Marriott City Center from July 3 to July 5.
The tournament celebrates Danya’s contribution to chess and has attracted top grandmasters, famous creators, and fans from around the world.
Star-Studded Lineup
The event features many elite chess players, including:
- Hikaru Nakamura
- Fabiano Caruana
- Wesley So
- Javokhir Sindarov
- Vasyl Ivanchuk
The Creator Invitational section also includes popular chess personalities such as:
- Levy Rozman
- Alexandra Botez
- Eric Rosen
- Sagar Shah
- John Bartholomew
- Danny Rensch
FIDE Excellence Awards 2026
The FIDE Excellence Awards were launched in 2026 to celebrate outstanding achievements in chess during the 2024–2026 Olympiad cycle. The awards will honour players, creators, federations, teams, tournaments, and important chess initiatives from around the world.
FIDE received hundreds of nominations during the first stage of the awards process. The official shortlist will be announced on July 15, 2026. The first-ever awards ceremony will take place in Samarkand during the 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad this September.
With this special recognition, Daniel Naroditsky’s legacy will continue to inspire future chess creators and fans for many years to come.
Official Naroditsky Memorial website: Naroditsky Memorial
FIDE Excellence Awards website: FIDE Excellence Awards
Photos: FIDE_Chess
Source: FIDE CHESS NEWS
