The chess federation accuses a former champion of harassing a rival who died

"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, 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."

"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."

FIDE filed a complaint against Vladimir Kramnik for harassment and "the insulting of an individual's dignity" after he made unproven cheating allegations against fellow players, including Daniel Naroditsky. Naroditsky's cause of death has not been made public. Kramnik accused Naroditsky last year and continued sharing suspicions on social media. Naroditsky denied the allegations and said in his last livestream that the accusations had taken a toll on him. Other grandmasters, including Hikaru Nakamura and Nihal Sarin, criticized Kramnik's conduct. The complaint, submitted to the FIDE Ethics & Disciplinary Commission, alleges a pattern of conduct over roughly two years and includes testimony from David Navara and people close to Naroditsky.

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