Blocked and Reported

Episode 287: Kramnik’s Crusade

December 15, 2025

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  • The hosts open by lamenting that Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers are making a comedy based on a *Search Engine* podcast about Berghain, rather than an episode of *Blocked and Reported*. 
  • The hosts express concern over the proliferation of AI-generated podcasts, exemplified by the error-ridden *Washington Post* feature, noting that while human chemistry remains a temporary safeguard for their show, the technology threatens simpler news summary roles. 
  • The main topic of the episode is the obsessive campaign by former World Chess Champion Vladimir Kramnik against alleged online chess cheaters, which escalated into severe public accusations against Grandmaster Danya Naroditsky, leading to tragic consequences for Naroditsky and subsequent disciplinary action against Kramnik by FIDE. 

Segments

Bowen Yang Comedy News
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(00:00:11)
  • Key Takeaway: Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers are developing a Searchlight Pictures comedy inspired by PJ Vogt’s multi-part Search Engine podcast about Berghain.
  • Summary: The film is inspired by the Search Engine episodes titled ‘Why Didn’t Chris and Dan Get Into Berghain?’. PJ Vogt dedicated significant effort to those episodes, including travel to Germany. The hosts humorously speculate which of their own Blocked and Reported episodes would be most adaptable for a major comedy adaptation.
AI Podcast Threat Assessment
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(00:04:37)
  • Key Takeaway: The Washington Post launched an AI-generated podcast feature that immediately produced errors, including inventing quotes, demonstrating the current unreliability of AI journalism at scale.
  • Summary: The AI hosts, Owen and Zoe, read a segment about the Washington Capitals that contained factual errors, such as an incorrect date (December 11th). Editors at the Post expressed alarm that the tool was warping journalism and pushing out errors. The hosts believe their own jobs relying on specific chemistry are safer than jobs involving simple news summaries, though they acknowledge that tech will eventually improve.
Online Chess Cheating Context
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(00:14:13)
  • Key Takeaway: The gap between the best human chess player (Magnus Carlsen, Elo 2882) and the best AI engine (Stockfish, Elo 3850) is vast, making cheating via engine assistance a constant threat in online play.
  • Summary: Online chess is more accessible but significantly easier to cheat in than in-person play, typically by running an engine like Stockfish in a second browser. Chess.com’s proprietary algorithm detects cheating, but the company declined a public test proposed by GM Daniel Dubov. The platform’s weekly Titled Tuesday events, featuring titled players competing for small cash prizes, are a major focus for online competition.
Chess.com Bishop Controversy
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(00:22:42)
  • Key Takeaway: Chess.com doubled down on a joke tweet depicting chess bishops, which provoked a massive, paranoid, and overtly antisemitic reaction from certain users, leading the platform to mock the backlash.
  • Summary: A tweet showing only the black and white bishop pieces, captioned for new name suggestions, was interpreted by some users as anti-Christian, resulting in psychotic responses. Chess.com responded to the outcry by quote-tweeting their original post, telling users to stop suggesting ‘bishop’ as a silly name. The controversy highlighted the extreme reactions present in certain corners of the online chess community.
Kramnik’s Crusade Begins
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(00:30:00)
  • Key Takeaway: Vladimir Kramnik, a retired Russian former World Champion, launched an obsessive public campaign accusing top online players, including Hikaru Nakamura, of cheating, leading to his own blog closure and subsequent ban from paid tournaments for impersonating another player.
  • Summary: Kramnik’s initial vague posts in late 2023 targeted Nakamura, who was statistically defended by analysts, leading to Kramnik’s blog being shut down for violating terms of service. Kramnik was later banned from Titled Tuesdays for using another person’s account, which may have fueled his subsequent ‘vigilante’ actions. His ‘Cheating Tuesdays’ tweet explicitly named several players based on blunder statistics, breaking the passive-aggressive tradition of chess accusations.
Impact of Accusations on Danya
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(00:37:35)
  • Key Takeaway: Kramnik’s sustained, aggressive campaign against Danya Naroditsky, a beloved American grandmaster and content creator, was perceived by Naroditsky as an ‘unhinged attempt to destroy my life’ shortly before his unexpected death.
  • Summary: Naroditsky, known for his earnest demeanor and success in fast-paced online chess, was accused by Kramnik of looking away from the board to consult an AI engine. Naroditsky admitted to briefly checking an engine while far ahead in one game but denied tournament cheating, expressing feeling terrorized by Kramnik’s actions. Following a bizarre, distressed Twitch stream where he appeared unwell, Naroditsky was found dead, leading to widespread grief in the chess community.
Aftermath and FIDE Response
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(00:45:06)
  • Key Takeaway: Following Naroditsky’s death, Kramnik claimed he was the only one addressing ‘alarming’ long-term problems and suggested police investigate due to ‘huge financial interests,’ prompting FIDE to announce an ethics investigation against him.
  • Summary: Kramnik’s response to Naroditsky’s death was met with intense condemnation from fans, who blamed his bullying for the tragedy. David Navarro, another accused player, detailed the severe mental health impact of Kramnik’s accusations, including suicidal ideation, and called for FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich to resign. FIDE formally referred Kramnik’s public statements to its Ethics and Disciplinary Commission for consideration.