Chess federation files official complaint against former world champion
The International Chess Federation has submitted a formal complaint against former world champion Vladimir Kramnik, alleging harassment and degradation of personal dignity linked to repeated, unsubstantiated cheating claims made against other players, including American grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky, who died last month at the age of 29.
According to the federation, the complaint, filed with its Ethics & Disciplinary Commission, outlines a sustained pattern of behavior over roughly two years. The dossier reportedly includes statements from Czech grandmaster David Navara—another player whom Kramnik publicly accused—as well as testimony from individuals close to Naroditsky.
Naroditsky, a prominent educator and popular online figure within the chess community, had firmly rejected the cheating allegations. In a recent broadcast prior to his death, he spoke about the psychological strain the accusations had created, saying the cloud of suspicion made it difficult to compete without feeling unfairly judged. Authorities have not publicly disclosed a cause of death.
Kramnik’s public campaign against alleged cheating in elite and online chess intensified last year, as he published and amplified suspicions about several players. His assertions regarding Naroditsky drew swift reactions from across the chess world. Top grandmasters, including Hikaru Nakamura and Nihal Sarin, criticized Kramnik’s conduct and described his behavior toward Naroditsky as harassing. Kramnik did not respond to a request for comment for this story. He has previously characterized an earlier federation inquiry into his statements as both unfair and insulting.
Under the federation’s anti-cheating regulations, players can face disciplinary action for making accusations that lack evidence or rely on conjecture, while any formal investigation requires substantial and verifiable proof. The federation says it did not open an official investigation into Naroditsky, and it had previously referred Kramnik’s public statements—both before and after Naroditsky’s death—to its ethics body for review. The newly filed complaint marks a formal escalation of that process.
The controversy underscores how modern chess, with its blend of over-the-board and online competition, is wrestling with the dual imperatives of protecting players from defamation and ensuring the integrity of results. The ethics commission will now consider the federation’s submission and determine whether Kramnik’s conduct breached the sport’s disciplinary code and whether any sanctions are warranted.
As the case moves forward, the chess community remains divided over how to balance open discussion of fair play concerns with safeguarding individuals from public allegations unsupported by evidence—particularly when such claims can have lasting personal and professional consequences.
