Chess grandmaster died of cardiac arrhythmia with methamphetamine, kratom in his system

A chess grandmaster from the Bay Area who died in October was found to have died due to a probable cardiac arrhythmia and had methamphetamine and the active ingredients of kratom in his system at the time of his death, authorities said.

Daniel Naroditsky, 29, a Foster City native who became one of the most influential voices in the sport of chess, died Oct. 19 at his North Carolina home.

In January, an investigative report listed Naroditsky’s pending probable cause of death as cardiac arrhythmia and cardiac involvement in systemic sarcoidosis, according to documents obtained from the North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Methamphetamine and kratom use are listed as contributing conditions. The medical examiner also listed the manner of Naroditsky’s death as an accident.

“The circumstances and scene findings suggest that death occurred suddenly, without evidence of acute distress.” the medical examiner wrote. “He did not contact friends or emergency services with complaints of severe illness or pain.”

A postmortem toxicology report conducted Oct. 23 found methamphetamine, amphetamine, mitragynine and 7-Hydroxymitragynine in his system. The levels of the substances found were at levels considered to be non-lethal, authorities said.

Mitragynine and 7-Hydroxymitragynine are the two active components of kratom, which is sourced from trees in Southeast A...