Pavan Bhat Kundapura

YouTube content consumer

[Pavan Bhat Kundapura @pavanbhatk]

One of my favourite interviews by CBI! @agadmator is so genuine and passionate about chess – truly amazing to hear from him.

Loved hearing about how he promotes @LotusChess just because he loved the platform and didn’t take anything from them 💪🏾

[ChessBase India @ChessbaseIndia]

We met Antonio Radic - @agadmator in Cyprus at the FIDE Candidates 2026 and did a 30+ minute interview with him. We speak about the way in which he runs his channel - what he likes, what he dislikes! Through this interview you get to know Antonio better. An absolutely honest man who has no masks on him. He is exactly the same in person as he is on the camera!

[Pavan Bhat Kundapura @pavanbhatk]

Looking forward to this! Didn’t expect this at all – sounds soo fun

[Gautam Bhatia @gautambhatia88]

Sat down with @kunalkamra88, and talked about many things, constitutional and otherwise.

[Link in tweet below. 👇🏼]

[Pavan Bhat Kundapura @pavanbhatk]

This is especially true when the rule applied unequally. If this was done to all illegal constructions then it’s fair and hopefully will act a deterrent against such constructions!

[Defence Brat @DefenceBrat]

This is so incorrect ! Many of them just had shade in their margin space and instead of fining them for usage of extra FSI, PMC choose to demolish. Such actions are nothing but vengeance. Any such action is indirect wastage of national resources

[Pavan Bhat Kundapura @pavanbhatk]

Even if the boy was not speech-impaired and was just supporting NZ – how can this be a “tragic twist of fate”? It’s a crime that needs to be dealt with by the administration. What is wrong with us!! We as a society have a lot of reflection to do 🤮

[The Times Of India @timesofindia]

In a tragic twist of fate, Kundan Kumar, a speech-impaired #teenager in #Bihar's Vaishali district, lost his life over a cricket match misunderstanding. While caught up in the excitement of the India-New Zealand T20 World Cup final, a misunderstood cheer from Kundan triggered a violent confrontation with another #individual.

More details 🔗 https://t.co/KCcYf8L4BK

[Parth MN @parthpunter]

Thank you @Athersmike for saying what most commentators won't

[Pavan Bhat Kundapura @pavanbhatk]

@KiranAradhyaadv @shenoy_vardhan

[Matt Shumer @mattshumer_]

https://t.co/ivXRKXJvQg

[🍃 @cardamomkiss]

I've been looking for a world map for my son's room but I'm very particular about maps and I finally found a perfect one. No political borders just geographic features and 1,642 wild animals

[Pavan Bhat Kundapura @pavanbhatk]

Possibly the best article I’ve read all year! Made me reflect on my own choices and of the ones near me. A lot of food for thought!

[sysls @systematicls]

https://t.co/FQe5bCBqW1

[Pavan Bhat Kundapura @pavanbhatk]

Life lessons on twitter!

Potential solution for which I’ll get hate– let’s do one bhatura instead?

[Parminder Singh @parrysingh]

There’s no better proof that life is unfair than the second bhatoora. Think about it - both bhatooras start off as equals. The second could easily have been the first. But fate intervenes.

By the time you’re done with the first, three things happen:
1. You’re already full.
2. 300 calories of guilt are whispering in your ear.
3. The second one has gone limp.

You still eat it, but half-heartedly. No oohs, no aahs - just quiet resignation.

The second bhatoora did nothing wrong. It simply suffered from bad timing - and fades away unappreciated.

So next time someone preaches about karma or fairness, ask them - what about the second bhatoora?

[Pavan Bhat Kundapura @pavanbhatk]

This young guy is soo soo likeable! One of my favourites! You go @NihalSarin !!! You’ve taught us so much by standing up for your dear friend - ignore the haters!

[Nihal Sarin @NihalSarin]

Ok

[Express Sports @IExpressSports]

‘In our last conversation, Naroditsky said he would like to share a few things with me in private’

Grandmaster Nihal Sarin speaks to @_mayyyank

https://t.co/Ee6YB9JdYd

[Grant Oen @Grant_Oen]

I first met @GmNaroditsky Daniel Naroditsky, “Danya,” in 2008 on a cruise ship, of all places. He was the reigning World Under-12 Chess Champion and was on the front page of Chess Life. My mom, who can’t tell a knight from a bishop, pulled me aside after randomly passing the Naroditsky family and said, “Isn’t that the boy from your chess magazines?” and quickly ran to introduce us. Danya was probably already twice my rating despite being a couple years younger, and that may have been the last time that I was taller than him.

As two introverted boys (some things never change), we let our parents do all the talking, and soon said our goodbyes. I’ve never told anyone this cruise story until now. I’d always assumed there would be a time and place to laugh about it with him. Or maybe I was too shy to admit that someone who was such a hero to me would become one of my best friends more than a decade later.

Fast forward to 2015, when Jennifer Christianson had the brilliant instinct to bring Danya on as an instructor at the Castle Chess Camp, which I had attended for years. Watching Danya teach chess was something like watching Mozart in front of a piano. He was simply the most talented and passionate chess educator I’ve ever seen – generous with his time, and so damn thorough.

Over the next couple years, my future boss @PeterGiannatos also started teaching at the camp, and we all became great friends (shoutout to Magesh Panchanathan too). We were all obsessed with chess, food, jokes, politics, ping pong, and staying up late. Danya taught at Castle Chess annually since 2015 until he took a break this year. He had promised me to return in 2026, and a promise from Danya is worth its weight in gold.

Peter stayed in touch with Danya, always asking him whether he was going to attend grad school after Stanford or pursue chess in some way, shape, or form. To make a long story short, Danya was torn, but he eventually made the decision that we all love him for today. It was courageous of him to turn his back away from academia and the “traditional route” to which he had already devoted so many resources (and he was equally talented there as well), especially as the Charlotte Chess Center was much less of a powerhouse institution than it is today. And what a decision it was - everyone in Charlotte was so thrilled that he had chosen to move here, but no one was happier than I was.

During COVID, Danya’s decision and subsequent hard work paid off in ways no one could have imagined. Not only was he a top online chess player, but his talent in teaching and speaking about chess led him to build a very successful brand with Twitch streaming, Youtube content, and Chesscom commentary. Meanwhile, he became an integral part of the Charlotte Chess core friend group during those unique lockdown days when us young professionals really needed each other socially. Danya was America’s childhood chess sweetheart, all grown up and succeeding in all walks of life - playing online blitz vs. Magnus and Hikaru by day, and watching “Billions” with his buddies and some Thai food in Virginia's apartment by night.

After the pandemic, Danya’s trajectory kept climbing, as he did everything from writing a New York Times chess column to being the “go-to” commentator, along with inseparable content partner Robert Hess, on elite World Championship events. His family was proud. His friends were proud. The Charlotte Chess community was proud. He loved his life in chess and everyone around him.

Through it all, the most impressive thing to me is how genuine Danya remained considering his fame. If anything, his success made him value his family, friends, and relationships even more. He was so down to earth – the most willing Grandmaster to host a party at his place or go on a coffee run for his colleagues. Though he remained an introvert throughout his life, he still loved coming to all of our homes for dinner or to the CCC to play in a Blitz tournament no matter the level of competition – 800, 1800, or 2800.

When Danya would leave a party early, it would be to go play some online blitz and bullet – he loved chess more than anyone, and played virtually every day of his adult life. We all loved him for that and loved following his career. I remember walking into a movie theater when Danya had an advantage against World #3 Fabiano Caruana at the 2021 U.S. Championship, and could not put my phone down during the movie. He won that game. I also remember texting @MayaBMyers for minute-by-minute updates on Danya during the American Cup Blitz in which he had incredible results in his favorite format, over-the-board blitz. Finally, I remember calculating tiebreaks for him during the recent World Blitz Championship in New York – I informed him that he should play for a win to have a shot of qualifying to the final stage, but he secured an early draw to ensure a strong tied-for-first result to appease certain prying eyes of the chess community.

Danya confided many things to me, and one that I can share is that he had concrete plans to make a return to classical chess in the next year and push towards the top 50 players in the World. He had just played the U.S. Open, and had his eyes on the 2026 Reykjavik Open and other events. For a player of his talent not to achieve his full potential had always nagged him, and to me, there was little in the way of him achieving his goals.

All of these friendships, memories, and chess goals are what makes it so hard to say goodbye to you, Danya. No more fireside chats. No more blitz battles with @BortnykChess or time odds with Dominique. No more all-nighter ping pong duels.

To those who have reached out with heartfelt condolences and questions about the circumstances of his passing: no one has answers for you right now. Please stop asking. Any speculation is likely far from the truth. I implore everyone to trade their curiosity in for compassion, and sincerely think of those most affected by Danya’s passing. The Naroditsky family needs privacy, and I urge everyone to honor that.

I can tell you two things with absolute certainty: 1) Danya’s support group never faltered. We loved him for every moment of his life, and will continue to love and miss him forever. 2) There will be time in which we, amongst others I’m sure, take concrete steps to forever enshrine Danya’s legacy in the chess world. There will be a time and place to show your support. When that time comes, actions will speak louder than words.

It is beautiful to see the countless articles, posts, and messages celebrating Danya’s life. Have you ever seen someone so universally loved by millions of people? I wish he could have understood that when he was still with us. He admired his colleagues in the professional chess world and sought the validation and respect of his fellow Grandmasters in an obsessive but endearing way. To those who seek retribution against certain members of the chess community, I personally ask you to remember that this time is about Danya Naroditsky and no one else. Over the past few days, I have found that positivity, however impossible, is what gives me solace during this time. Danya would never want such negative energy expelled on his behalf. Savor your favorite memories of him.

Over the past few days, I’ve found myself asking myself the same questions repeatedly: How is it fair for such a beautiful family to endure such a painful loss? How is a young friend group supposed to heal after having a key member cruelly taken at the age of 29? How will the Charlotte Chess community ever recover from this? Why was Danya not at least able to enjoy the fruits of marriage and things outside of chess before departing? When will I wake up from this nightmare and have one more Barbecue or Mediterranean dinner with him? Of all the paths that fate could take, why this one? I’ve come to realize that I simply have no answers to these questions.

Many of you will remember Danya as an eloquent commentator, passionate teacher, and formidable opponent. Of course, you’d be right about all of that. But I will remember him differently. Danya, you were an amazing friend and the best person I've ever known. I’m so sorry it ended this way. I am truly thankful that you chose to do what your heart wanted to do during your short life, and that you were able to find true love in your final years.

I’ve always tried to keep emotion to a minimum. I now realize how stupid that is, and today, it is simply not possible. Today, I am simply broken. Today, I don’t know how to say thank you to you enough, Danya. Today, I hope that this goodbye will suffice. A huge part of me, of us, of chess, is gone forever.

Rest in peace, Danya Naroditsky. I know you are already up there blitzing with the legends. Hope you brought your chess clock.

[Robert Hess @GM_Hess]

Do svid-Danya 💔

[ChessBase India @ChessbaseIndia]

Rest Easy, Danya ♥️

[chacha monk @oldschoolmonk]

No Sir. India's biggest enemies are:
1) Corrupt Babus and Red tapism
2) Politicians not doing real work. Only caste appeasement and rolling out freebies.

[Levon Aronian @LevAronian]

Dear @VBkramnik

Forgive me for addressing you publicly, but I feel that the chess world and the new generation need to know about who you are and I want you to remember it as well.

Vlad, you have always been an inspiration to me and to the majority of people who know you, as just like you, dedicated their lives to chess.

The first time I ever got to spend a longer time with you was in Paris, in 2005. I visited you for a short time to train with you, but soon I understood that a person with such a fanatical approach is so far from my personality that I can’t even learn to work like that and be so deeply dedicated to chess. During that time you were recovering from some health issues and the world was bullying you for not being a dominating “proper champion”, despite you winning 2 world championship matches against none other than Kasparov and Leko (who you beat in the last game!). Then came your match with Topalov in 2006 where you showed so much character after a scandalous “toiletgate” that to me was another act of bullying against you. Honestly around that time, after you won I felt like this heroism that you displayed in those years kind of nullified the unfair circumstances that led you to the match against Kasparov in 2000. It was a sign that you are here to change the game. Then your brilliant career continued, and your opening innovations and incredible spirit, in my opinion, make you a top 10 player in the history of chess (in my view 6th or 7th).

So in my eyes, you will always be someone who was bullied and fairly fought for justice.

I will never forget how many times you gave me your helping hand and advised me. How many times have you pushed me towards chess when I was in a state of despair? If I exclude my first coaches, You, together with Borya Gelfand and Gabi Sargissian are my chess parents and I think that most of my Chess DNI comes from you.

My dear friend, I want to share something I feel that I haven't yet shared with you.

The last few years after you retired I to my surprise saw a different Vlad that I never knew.

Vlad that may be because the new chess world does not appreciate you enough ( sports fans and organizations, unfortunately, have a very short memory). A person who faced so much public pressure has turned against the chess world. Vlad, brother, ask all of your chess friends, nobody thinks that what you are doing is good and pure. You are fighting your own demons, and I can understand how much it drains you both mentally and physically.

A long time ago I read somewhere that most of the murders are committed because of disrespect. Vlad, guys like Danya, and David are not the ones that you should be having a vendetta against. I love them for what they are, perhaps a bit introverted but lacking any side of evil in them.

I know you as the biggest revolutionary when it comes to chess. You challenged every single dogma and proved that you understand the core of chess like nobody before or after you. I ask you, as a friend who has always been open and honest to you, please, challenge your convictions. You think you are saving chess from cheaters, but most of us see you as the guy with the hammer who thinks everything is a nail.

We are a family, we can’t go on suing or threatening each other for some weird online analysis that in most cases doesn’t make sense. We all have many friends in the world of mathematics, if you want, let's unite everyone and make a proper unbiased analysis, but let us start from a fresh page.

Your friend, your fan, and your little brother Lev

[Pavan Bhat Kundapura @pavanbhatk]

Congrats to you and the whole team!! And yes hoping for this a super long thread!!

[Vaibhav @vaibhavschess]

sweet moves ft @rpraggnachess

we’ll try to make this a long thread :)

[jonathan selvaraj @jon_selvaraj]

After coming so close, so many times Neeraj Chopra joins javelins 90m club at the Doha Diamond League. 90.23m and he isn't done yet! 🎥 Diamond League

[Pavan Bhat Kundapura @pavanbhatk]

@TheTennisLetter @Rutwik_28