Maurice Ashley

Maurice Ashley is a Jamaican-American chess grandmaster, author, commentator, and motivational speaker who became the first African American to earn the title of International Grandmaster from FIDE. After not making his high school chess team, Ashley competed in local tournaments and joined the Black Bear School of Chess, a group of African American chess enthusiasts in Brooklyn. He advanced quickly, becoming a national master and then an International Master. Through dedicated study and participation in international tournaments, Ashley achieved the necessary grandmaster norms and earned the International Grandmaster title, joining a select group of chess players worldwide. This milestone was reported in publications such as The New York Times and Sports Illustrated.

Ashley served as chess director of the Harlem Educational Activities Fund, leading teams to three scholastic national championships, with several players also winning individual national titles. He coached the Raging Rooks of Harlem and the Dark Knights, both of which won national championships. Ashley became the first consecutive winner at the Foxwoods Open and was named the U.S. Chess Federation's Grandmaster of the Year. He has been inducted into the US Chess Hall of Fame and the Brooklyn Technical High School Hall of Fame.

Ashley is recognized as a leading chess ambassador and promoter, serving as a commentator for major competitions, including the Kasparov-Anand World Championship match, the Garry Kasparov versus IBM Deep Blue matches, the Kasparov versus X3D Fritz match on ESPN, the Sinquefield Cups, and several US Chess Championships. His commentary is known for blending Brooklyn street perspective with professional sports analysis.

Ashley has contributed to chess education as a national championship coach, ESPN commentator, app designer, puzzle inventor, and motivational speaker. His book, "Chess for Success," outlines the benefits of chess, particularly for at-risk youth. Ashley's TED Talk, "Working Backward to Solve Problems," has reached a wide audience. He has appeared on "The Daily Show" and other podcasts and radio shows to discuss chess and its impact. Ashley also appeared on The Oprah Podcast with Adam Grant, reflecting on purpose and resilience. He advocates for the transformative power of chess, sharing his story of perseverance and breaking barriers within the chess community and beyond.