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Remembering Daniel “Danya” Naroditsky

Photo: Lennart Ootes

On October 19th, 2025, the chess community lost an astounding player, teacher, and human being: Grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky.

A few years ago, I attended the Carolinas Classic, an annual tournament held by the Charlotte Chess Center. I was animate to be attending, as I read of the prestige the CCC has in the chess community, and the titled players that are usually in attendance. On the other hand, I was incredibly anxious to play in such a competitive space. The players around me wore a stern face, while I couldn’t decide whether to fear them or attempt to talk to them.

Meanwhile, the round was almost ready to start, rows of boards, pieces, and clocks laid out in a large hall. The younger players were delighted at this scene, while the older ones prepared their opening lines and chatted amongst themselves. In the midst of all of this, I noticed the titled players towards the end of the hall. Some were familiar, such as former coaches and notable North Carolina players. Though, out of all of them, I saw him: Daniel Naroditsky. I was stunned! I knew Naroditsky was a resident in the Charlotte area, but seeing him in-person was quite unexpected. His streams online always left me astounding at the speed and precision that he moves at. (A reason for my speed chess addiction)

Unfortunately, before I mustered the courage to walk to him, the arbiter announced the starting of the round. I sighed, and walked towards my board, though fulfilled I was able to see a player I looked up to, seated a few couple feet away from me. It was an irreplaceable feeling, one that I will never forget.

After all the rounds concluded, I was able to see Naroditsky one more time, as he won the event, and dominated in the blitz. This was not surprising to anyone though, as I fondly remember during this section players were elicit to get the chance to play him, but also fearful of the fact that they would be attacked with no mercy. I would crave the chance to play him as well, though unfortunately now I will never get that opportunity.

Daniel Naroditsky at the FIDE World Blitz Championship.
Photo: Lennart Ootes

Along with his presence at CCC tournaments, I am indebted to consider him as a coach. As my rating was rapidly advancing during this time, I was recommended to join the Pro Chess Training program. I was dumbfounded when I noticed the coaches listed on the site. R.B. Ramesh, considered one of the premier Indian coaches, David Navara, a thirteen-time national champion, Boris Gelfand, a former world chess championship challenger, and Daniel Naroditsky, a world youth chess champion and national blitz champion. I couldn’t comprehend seeing all these incredible grandmasters in one program!

Without hesitation, I registered for the program. The elation I had to get the opportunity to learn from these masters was immeasurable. As the weeks past, I would study over my games and read the books I bought from past tournaments. As the lessons came around, I would attend as early as the meeting opened, and soak in all the knowledge that I could. Embarrassingly, I couldn’t hold the zeal of learning from Naroditsky, and would send a message in the meeting chat stating how much of a fan I was of him, not noting that the message was set to public than private. Not my finest hour over the chess board.

The last time that I saw Naroditsky was the K-12 Chess Championship, my last opportunity to play in this tournament as I was an incoming student at North Carolina State University. As the tournament concluded and I was walking out of the Raleigh Convention Center with my father to our car, I saw Naroditsky talking and laughing with what seemed to be a few of his students. My eyes widened as I got my father’s attention and told him:

“That’s Daniel Naroditsky, the strongest grandmaster in North Carolina, an outstanding speed chess player, and incredible chess teacher.”

Danya was the player that I admired the most. He drove me to the chess player that I am today, and taught me more than any other. His teaching and methodology is one that motivated me to teach chess to others, and share the love that he held for this timeless game.

Thank you, Grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky.

It’s Ok To Be Somewhat Boring

“The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity.”

Dorothy Parker

Reading that title, you may feel slightly confused. Rarely it is stated the word bored with a positive connotation. Most would call you lethargic, nothing in the head with a weak body to accompany it. Though, as I talk with people from all walks of life, students, workers, parents, it seems to be a common theme that living the boring life is actually the calmness many seek.

However, this is something that is not a present issue. A “boring life” is something that is achieved over a period of time, it is not so simple to acquire that lifestyle. Rather, it is more so the issue of not being an “interesting” person, somebody that is unique, having something to share.

Some feel pressured to maintain a conversation with someone with the worry of what that individual will think of them. Others struggle with coming up with a conversation itself, a talking point that is related between them. In the back of your head it continues to murmur, “I am boring”.

Let’s take a step back. Why is this always considered a negative? Should your life always consist of a series of situations or reaching constant milestones? No. If all you do for a week is read a few chapters of a book or run for a half hour, that is fine. Yes, it may seem stale as not much is happening in this week, but you are improving yourself, taking time for yourself, maintaining your time and your life.

The issue is people around us seem to indulge in numerous things throughout their week, and we compare our schedule to them, noticing how poor we are living compared to them. Do not compare yourself to others. This person is on their own path, and so are you. They published a paper? That is incredible! Uplift them and support them, but do not diminish yourself on that matter.

“Comparison is the thief of joy.”

Theodore Roosevelt

Now, you might have noticed the title states the word “somewhat.” Yes, I still stand by what I said about having a stale week, though there is activity happening. This is the difference of being boring, and choosing to be boring. Choosing to be boring is to do nothing for a week, only to find a source of leisure and leeching on it. You are choosing to not do anything, and that is the root of your stale life. Unfortunately, that is a hard truth, and no simple way to sugarcoat that.

That is not meant for you to read and suddenly shut off your phone and get to work on something. Rather, figure out why you classify your life as boring. If it is due to the reasoning I stated above, it might be time to reinvent yourself. Take it slow and dedicate yourself to slow and steady progress.

Moreover, if you want to include more in your life, find a community that speaks to you and activities that resonate with your values and interests. Mold your schedule to include more things you want to do and go to. It might seem difficult as first, as having a simple schedule is such a piece of mind, though these small changes could lead to thoughts of novel ideas, becoming the substitute for the fulfillment you were searching for.

Descriptions and Delusions on Love

You held me like my mother made me just for you

Creatures in Heaven by Glass Animals

I remember the first time I listened to this album, I Love You So F***ing Much.

It was 11:58 PM, and I was squirming around in my bed waiting for the songs to populate their page, reading all the comments on past videos while wearing a hearty grin.

As it reached 11:59 PM, I frantically refreshed the page, and almost screamed seeing the album there in all its beauty. Though, I didn’t listen to it, not yet. I couldn’t do so in the headspace that I was in, as I would romanticize each passing second of the forty minute record with the amount of emotion I was carrying.

Instead, I wanted to experience this work when I was calm, relaxed with nothing on my mind. That’s what I did heading into the morning. After freshening up, I took out my phone, pressed play and laid back in my chair. I slowly shut my eyes, and let my ears fill with the instruments and the dreamy voice of Dave Bayley, becoming Lost in the Ocean.

Sharing this story was not due to the love I contained for Glass Animals (sort of), rather a way to describe how we should handle the sensation of love. Do not act on ardor, rather slow down and caress all the meticulous details.

Another instance of this is seen within the film, Past Lives. The characters do not participate in vast romantic gestures, instead faint conversations and slight glances, steadily developing the relationship. The weight that Nora and Hae Sung carried is not one that can be discarded so simply.

One way I love (no pun intended) how those minute details are represented is through poetry. Notice the poem below, how the poet describes all that he notices about a certain woman so elegantly, without rushing the narrative or hindering any specifics about her.

She Walks in Beauty
Lord Byron (George Gordon)

She walks in beauty, like the night
Of cloudless climes and starry skies;
And all that’s best of dark and bright
Meet in her aspect and her eyes;
Thus mellowed to that tender light
Which heaven to gaudy day denies.

One shade the more, one ray the less,
Had half impaired the nameless grace
Which waves in every raven tress,
Or softly lightens o’er her face;
Where thoughts serenely sweet express,
How pure, how dear their dwelling-place.

And on that cheek, and o’er that brow,
So soft, so calm, yet eloquent,
The smiles that win, the tints that glow,
But tell of days in goodness spent,
A mind at peace with all below,
A heart whose love is innocent!

On the other hand, something I tend to notice recently is we seem to require short-term pleasure. The time to note such qualities of an individual is not done anymore, and a swift impression is all that is factored into whether such person should be entertained or not. This is known, though the commonness of it is what saddens me.

To put forth time and work to develop a connection is not worth it for people in our hasty society. Most schedules are filled to the brim with all sorts of occupations and pursuits, and connections are a commitment people can’t stuff in. Love is not something set to the side, it needs constant watering, attention, and care. It is a gift to love, to live such a life that you can do so and spent your days on someone that wants you.

That gift is, as all gifts we are given, in demise. Short-term pleasure took over, and it is the simple route. Why work hard for something that may not work out when you can find someone that satisfies your greed for a day? Again, “Why work hard?” I am sure there is no need to spell out the reason, though unfortunately this is what relationships fallen to.

The film, Marked Men: Rule + Shaw presents this well. (Sidebar: Love the setting that the story takes place in, though not a great film) Two people find the other attractive though instead of taking the time to form something, they satisfy that greed, though feelings still linger afterward. Those feelings are guilt, not spending the effort on that person. Forget it though, as someone else comes along and all those feelings fade.

It’s something that I hate
How everyone’s disposable

Strangers by Kenya Grace

We do not commit. Feelings are played with, hearts are broken, and resentment starts to brim.

As we step away from this somber tone, reality is not all bad. Though that behavior seems to be common, the people you pass by day to day are not anything as what I described above.

At the end of the day, do not search, do not lose yourself to gratification. Connection is something that will leave clues for you to notice, lead you on a path without an end in sight, though at the end of it all, you will have someone waiting for you.

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How to Rediscover Your Curiosity When Learning

“Don’t let schooling interfere with your education.”

Mark Twain

My father used to say this quote. He often said it anytime I couldn’t respond to a question of his on a topic of mathematics. Though I still hear this quote to this day, I’ve slowly began to adopt this idea of thought.

I went through a decade of education. When I look back at it, I realize I did so without a thorough understanding in any topic matter. I learned what I needed to learn in order to graduate and attend higher education. You ask, what’s wrong with this? Nothing is wrong with this, but now sitting in college, I’m torn between what I should study.

I say this as throughout my life, I never had the curiosity to learn further than the surface material. This is common. Approximately 75% of students switch their major at least once. They do so throughout their time in college.

Let me say though, there is nothing negative about this. People discover themselves at different times throughout their life, and for most, it does not happen throughout the teenage years. I write this post to encourage curiosity during these years. If you have passed them, start as soon as you can.

Your aspiration for a certain field or hobby will not last if you lack curiosity. You need to be curious to learn more about it. The reason why aspirations die is curiosity takes work. There is no curiosity without spending hours of research, struggle to understand, and practice, practice, practice.

For instance, the story of Rick Beato resonated with me deeply. It shows how work ties hand in hand with curiosity. This combination led him to the person he is today. While he was a bad student and faced rejection throughout his musical career. However, his resilience allowed him to continue with music. It also helped him escape his comfort zone in the art.

Now, you don’t have to be curious about all that you learn about. Beato himself states he was a bad student, and his real work was all rooted in music. Find what you resonate with. Instead of stating that you are passionate about that field, work to improve in it. Dedicate time to enrich your skills. This will help you ascertain whether it is truly the right path for you.

Unfortunately, it is difficult. Nowadays in my own life, I already am fading in my curiosity in chess. I haven’t been studying the openings and material I promised myself. As I write this, those textbooks collect thicker layers of dust on my desk. I barely participated in any tournaments throughout the first half of this year. Overall, I lost a part of my strength in the game, a part I worked so hard to achieve.

Although, whatever you seem curious about, take pride in it. Share your curiosity with others. It is something meant to be shared. Seeing others work hard at what they are into motivates us to work at what we relish. Take that motivation and run with it, continue to learn, and always continue to stay curious.

Why I Love Teaching, and You Should Too

“The art of teaching is the art of assisting discovery”

Mark Van Doren

Throughout the five years that I spent in primary school, I never grasped mathematical concepts. Whether it was equations and inequalities, probability, or even number theory, my mind blanked. I didn’t hate maths, but it definitely made my heart skip a beat whenever my teacher announced another test or he cold called me on a question I definitely was not paying attention to.

Looking back at it, I was a overreacting a tad as I spent more time watching film and talking with friends than putting pen to paper. (Or pencil to paper as I made a lot of mistakes) Though, once I reached middle school, I began to change how I approached maths. I didn’t abandon a problem when I couldn’t solve it, instead I stuck to it, and tried my best to understand the problem than get done with it. I became stronger at maths as a result of this, and to the shock of my parents, actually found delight in the subject.

This soon was shown in my grades. I started scoring well on tests, better than I ever had in primary school. I also finished tests much more swiftly and was aplomb when I handed them in. Seeing this trend in my results, my maths teacher offered me to tutor the subject during break hours, and I contentedly accepted. I never knew that was the moment that my zeal for teaching began.

With each Tuesday, I taught my peers equations and inequalities, probability, and yes, number theory. As I taught, I became more passionate and did anything that I could to support their learning, whether that was figuring out how to design fresh problems, learn different methods of solving (still hate completing the square), and create personalized study material for them to use. I soon grew a knack of working with people and learning how I can help.

Nonetheless, this was the first step in my teaching tenure. As I reached towards the end of middle school, I started to gain an interest in the game of chess. Though I used to learn it in the past, I never appreciated the richness of chess. But, the game found its way back to me, and I decided to pick it up again. This proved to be a life-changing choice.

I swiftly learned the ins and outs of all sixty four squares on the board, and the distinct characteristics of the pieces. My instructor was taken aback, but was further inclined to work with me, and day by day I was able to become a natural at the game. Now, a half decade later, I am a tutor, a teacher, and an instructor myself to students across the country.

To get to the point, the reason why I am writing this is that teaching is valuable for the student and the teacher. Though my chess activity has fell stagnant throughout the years, teaching the game constantly refines my knowledge of theory and openings. Most of all, teaching provides a sense of delight that cannot be mimicked by any other trade. I would describe that euphoria in words but perhaps I let you undergo that sensation yourself.