Ian Harris

Amount of love given to Danya post-mortem is unprecedented. I can't recall anything of the kind. But here is the problem - where all of you were when Danya was alive and unwell? I am not talking now about stepping in when he was accused. Although it is a separate important matter. I know many people find it hard to express their opinion, as the problem is indeed huge, and striking a balance is nearly impossible. One thing is clear : the way Kramnik approaches it, simply can't be accepted. And his reaction on Danya's passing is appalling and outright shameful. FIDE is not a court of justice, but we will act within our jurisdiction. However, let's not oversimplify it. It is too simple to focus on Kramnik and forget everything else. Danya was clearly not at his best in recent months. He stopped appearing as a commentator for one reason or another, he was not his usual self. Now, all those who claim how dear Danya was to their heart, how good a friend they were, where have you been? What did you do? All these Kramnik attacks on Danya happened not this week or month. It was not like a shocking accusation, that killed Danya overnight. It kept haunting him for more than a year, even if there was not much of polemics of recent. So, I ask you, alleged Danya's friends, what did you do to help him for half a year or so? Did many of you write him to ask, whether he is OK? Why he, arguably the best online commentator disappeared from the screens? Did you text him to ask why did he stop streaming? Throughout 15 years I spoke to Danya many times, though we never were friends. He fascinated me long before he became a famous streamer. I met him when he just started being coached by my former trainer, Lev Psakhis. And we spoke rarely but in length many times since. I look at our correspondence from 2014, when he was thinking of a life path. And then later in 2017, and in 2019, and in 2021. Most recent online conversation was in 2024 when I invited him to comment on the Match in Singapore. And the last time I spoke to him in person was during the Grand Swiss in Samarkand, where he seconded a top player, hiding this fact for one reason or another. All the recent years I had a feeling Danya was not a happy person, although he made many people happy. Our last lengthy conversation took place in 2021, when he was already a famous online player and streamer, but still was considering a career of a real professional player. He was very much in doubt whether he is doing the right thing with all the blitz and streaming - he even considered moving to Europe to have more opportunities as a player, "but it is very difficult with all the online success I have". It came at a price. The boy with shining eyes had less and less shining left. And now, he is gone. Way too early. If he looks from above, he might be surprised to read about this or that person allegedly being his friend. Danya was kind to many, but it feels like most of the time he was lonely. Virtue signalling and like-grabbing is the worst way to pay respect to Danya. He was special on so many levels. He will be missed - or rather he is very much missed already. The Danya.