Schacksnack

In this deeply personal episode, chess enthusiast Björn Knöppel reflects on the tragic death of American Grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky.

Through an honest and heartfelt conversation, Björn explores the human side of chess — the pressures, the ambitions, and the silent struggles that can lie behind the board. This is not a biographical summary, but a reflection on the fragility of talent, success, and life itself.

Naroditsky was the youngest chess author in history when this book was published — only 14 years old — having already begun taking notes for it at the age of 10. His early dedication to positional understanding played a decisive role in his triumph at the World Youth Championship (U12), where his ability to exploit positional errors set him apart from his peers.