Chess's international governing body said Tuesday that it filed a complaint against former World Chess Champion Vladimir Kramnik after he leveled unproven allegations of cheating against fellow players, including Daniel Naroditsky, who died last month at age 29.
The complaint centers on harassment and “the insulting of an individual's dignity," said the International Chess Federation, known by the acronym FIDE, in a news release.
Naroditsky's cause of death has not been made public.
Kramnik accused Naroditsky, an American grandmaster of cheating last year and continued to share suspicions on social media.
Naroditsky, a prodigious chess player who helped usher in the game’s online boom with educational YouTube videos and livestreams, denied the allegations.
In his last livestream before his death, Naroditsky said that Kramnik's allegations had taken a toll on him.
“Ever since the Kramnik stuff, I feel like if I start doing well, people assume the worst of intentions. The issue is just the lingering effect of it,” Naroditsky said.
Other chess grandmasters, including Hikaru Nakamura and Nihal Sarin, have called out Kramnik’s conduct, saying the Russian player had harassed Naroditsky.
Kramnik did not immediately respond to requests for comment submitted through his GoFundMe page for his campaign against cheating, but he previously called the federation's investigation “insulting and unfair."
The complaint, submitted to the FIDE Ethics & Disciplinary Commission, describes a “pattern of conduct over roughly two years" related to possible harassment, read the federation's statement. It includes testimony provided by Czech grandmaster David Navara, whom Kramnik also accused of cheating, and “people close to Daniel Naroditsky.”
The federation may sanction a player who makes unfounded accusations based on emotion or insufficient data, according to its anti-cheating laws. It also requires substantial evidence to launch a cheating investigation. There were no documented reports of the federation investigating Naroditsky.
The governing body previously said it had referred Kramnik's statements, before and after Naroditsky's death, to the ethics commission. Tuesday's announcement is the formal submission of a complaint.
A chair plaque in honor of Daniel Naroditsky is seen in the Chess Room at the Mechanic's Institute, the oldest continuously operating chess club in the United States, in San Francisco, Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025. (Stephen Lam/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Son Heung-min scored two goals in a three-minute span in the first half off assists from Carles Gil to propel the MLS All-Stars past the LIGA MX All-Stars 4-3 in Wednesday night’s Major League Soccer All-Star Game.
The Los Angeles Football Club forward celebrated both goals with his signature “camera” celebration — mimicking holding an old-fashioned camera, framing the shot with his fingers and then pretending to snap a picture.
Chicago Fire’s Philip Zinckernagel and FC Cincinnati’s Evander da Silva Ferreira also scored for the MLS All-Stars in front of 35,197 at Bank of America Stadium.
Luis Gabriel Rey sent a running header off a free kick past Matt Freese, the United States men’s national team goalkeeper, 10 minutes into the game to give Liga MX a 1-0 lead.
Then Son took over.
The LAFC forward fielded a pass from Gil on the left side of the pitch, settled the ball and slid a well-placed shot past a diving Carlos Acevedo to even the score at the 20-minute mark.
Son gave MLS the lead for good just moments later when Gil hustled to stop the ball from going out of play and fired a pass back in front of the goal. Son buried the shot in the back of the net.
Zinckernagel made it 3-1 MLS in the 42nd minute when he scored off a rebound.
Liga MX got to within 3-2 early in the second half on a goal by Salomon Rondon, before Ferreira’s goal in the 58th minute gave MLS some cushion. Jose Pardela added a late goal in extra time for LIGA MX to make it 4-3.
MLS’ biggest star, Lionel Messi of Inter Miami, did not play.
Messi was not at the game after Argentina made a deep run in the World Cup before falling to Spain in the finals. Messi has 12 goals and eight assists for Inter Miami at the All-Star break.
He and teammate Rodrigo De Paul received an excused absence from Major League Soccer.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
MLS All-Star Philip Zinckernagel (11) celebrates after scoring during the MLS All-Star soccer game Wednesday, July 29, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)
Liga MX All-star Luis Rey (16) celebrates a goal with Jesus Gallardo (23) during the MLS All-Star soccer game Wednesday, July 29, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)
MLS All-Star Philip Zinckernagel (11) celebrates after scoring during the MLS All-Star soccer game Wednesday, July 29, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)
MLS All-Star Son Heung-min (7) celebrates after scoring with Carles Gil (21) during the MLS All-Star soccer game Wednesday, July 29, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)
MLS All-Star Son Heung-min (7) celebrates after scoring during the MLS All-Star soccer game Wednesday, July 29, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)
