$50,000 Naroditsky Fellowship Now Open for Applications

This announcement was originally published on September 10, 2026 and was reposted on October 19, 2026 with the below text from Charlotte Chess Center (CCC) (also available on the CCC Facebook page) announcing the fellowship's selection committee on the anniversary of Danya's passing

"One year ago we lost our friend, our colleague, and our brilliant Resident-GM, Daniel Naroditsky. Danya not only touched the Charlotte Chess Center community, but the world as a whole, and we collectively mourned the loss of such a gifted, generous, and kind human being.

While his loss echoes in nearly everything we do, our mission remains clear: ensuring Danya’s legacy continues for generations to come. Through the Charlotte Chess Center Foundation, we raised over a million dollars, put on the inaugural Naroditsky Memorial Rapid and Blitz, and pledged $50,000 for the first Naroditsky Fellowship award.

Today, we are honored to announce the Naroditsky Fellowship Committee. This group is comprised not only of some of the world’s best players, content creators and educators, all of whom were close to Danya.

The selection committee who will choose the Naroditsky Fellowship Recipients are:

Chair: IA Grant Oen
GM Hikaru Nakamura
GM Sam Shankland
GM Robert Hess
GM Kayden Troff
IM John Bartholomew
IM Eric Rosen

For those of you who have reached out over the past year with memories, photos, condolences, and donations–we cannot thank you enough. We remain dedicated to ensuring Danya’s legacy is not only remembered, but carried throughout the future of American chess."

Learn more about the fellowship at: https://www.cltccf.org/naroditsky-fellowship

The Charlotte Chess Center Foundation (CCCF) has announced that the Naroditsky Fellowship is now accepting applications. The Fellowship, created in memory of the late GM Daniel “Danya” Naroditsky, will give $50,000 in awards to top junior American players in its inaugural year.

To be eligible for the award, applicants must:

Be 20 years of age or under at the time of the application
Reside in and represent the United States FIDE Federation
Be ranked among the top 10 juniors overall in the United States on the US Chess or FIDE rating list
Be ranked in the Top 10 nationally (US Chess) or internationally (FIDE) for their specific age group

To apply, applicants will need to submit an overview of how the grant will be used, a short reflection piece (video or essay), and two letters of recommendation.

The recipient(s) of the award will also be expected to attend the Naroditsky Memorial tournament in the year they receive the award, attend the pre-event dinner, wear the Fellowship lapel pin and/or apparel, and engage with the community to continue Danya’s legacy of chess education.

Photo courtesy of CCC/Kelly Centrelli.

Naroditsky was a world-renowned commentator, educator, and speed chess player who passed away suddenly in October 2025 at the age of 29. He was the Grandmaster-in-Residence at the Charlotte Chess Center (CCC) in North Carolina from the beginning of 2020 until his untimely death.

FM Peter Giannatos, the Executive Director of the CCC and CCCF, said, "Losing Danya was and continues to be heartbreaking for the entire chess community. From the very beginning, our mission has been to meet that pain with purpose and honor his memory with positivity."

Danya dedicated his life to elite excellence, commentary, and education. As a proud recipient of the prestigious Samford Fellowship, he understood firsthand the transformative impact that financial support can have on an ascending player. A fellowship was the natural choice to carry forward his legacy. Alongside the annual Naroditsky Memorial tournament, this fellowship serves as a lasting force for good, ensuring Danya’s spirit lives on by empowering the next generation of American champions.

The Naroditsky Fellowship will accept applications through December 1, 2026. To learn more or apply, visit the Fellowship website.