Maurice Ashley

5 out of 5
1 review

Chess Grandmaster & Leading Chess Ambassador; US Chess Hall of Fame Inductee; Author of "Chess for Success"

Brooklyn, NY, USA
Live Event: $20,000 - $30,000 Virtual Event: $10,000 - $20,000 More Fee Info
Author, Black Heritage, Creativity, Disruptive Thinking, Diversity & Inclusion, Educational Motivational, Entrepreneurship, Executive Leadership, Hall of Fame, Inspirational, Inventors, Motivational, Non-Fiction Authors, Peak Performance, Social Activism, Thought Leadership, Youth
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Maurice Ashley Biography

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.

Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Maurice Ashley and other top speakers and celebrities.

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Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 08/05/2026.

Maurice Ashley Speaking Topics

  • Seeing Outside Yourself

    Chess is often known as a thinking game. In order to beat your opponent, you must step into their shoes and think about how they would think. In Maurice’s session, he will show you how to transfer the chess move thought process and adapt that same way of thinking into your own business and life. This fascinating session will help get your brain thinking in ways you never expected to use.

  • Making Great Decisions

    The decision-making process is central to the design and execution of anything. Chess as a guide to the decision-making process.

    Chess-based guidelines on improving your position that will increase the possibility of success by:

    • Weighing the possibilities and possible outcomes
    • Prioritizing
    • Looking for opportunities and knowing when to stop
    • Using the power of intuition
    • Making the most of your strengths

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Maurice Ashley Videos

Maurice Ashley to Return to Commentary for Chess 9LX

Maurice Ashley to Return to Commentary for Chess 9LX

Grandmaster Maurice Ashley joins the show during Round 1 of the 2024 Sinquefield Cup.

Interview with GM Maurice Ashley

Interview with GM Maurice Ashley

GM Maurice Ashley is the emcee and press conference host for this match! The FIDE World Championship 2024 match.

Working backward to solve problems - Maurice Ashley

Working backward to solve problems - Maurice Ashley

View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/working-backward-to-solve-problems-maurice-ashley Imagine where you want to be someday. Now, how did...

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Move by Move: Life Lessons on and off the Chessboard
Move by Move: Life Lessons on and off the Chessboard
The Life-Changing Magic of Chess: A Beginner's Guide with Grandmaster Maurice Ashley
The Life-Changing Magic of Chess: A Beginner's Guide with Grandmaster Maurice Ashley
Most Valuable Skills in Chess
Most Valuable Skills in Chess
Chess for Success: Using an Old Game to Build New Strengths in Children and Teens
Chess for Success: Using an Old Game to Build New Strengths in Children and Teens

  • How do I book Maurice Ashley to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Maurice Ashley for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Maurice Ashley, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Maurice Ashley or any other speaker of your choice.

  • What are the speaker fees for Maurice Ashley

    Speaking fees for Maurice Ashley, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Maurice Ashley are $20,000 - $30,000 for live events and $10,000 - $20,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Maurice Ashley, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.

  • What topics does Maurice Ashley speak about?

    Maurice Ashley is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Author, Black Heritage, Creativity, Disruptive Thinking, Diversity & Inclusion, Educational Motivational, Entrepreneurship, Executive Leadership, Hall of Fame, Inspirational, Inventors, Motivational, Non-Fiction Authors, Peak Performance, Social Activism, Thought Leadership, Youth

  • Where does Maurice Ashley travel from?

    Maurice Ashley generally travels from Brooklyn, NY, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.

  • Who is Maurice Ashley’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Maurice Ashley for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Maurice Ashley for your next private or corporate function.

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    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Maurice Ashley or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.

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Maurice Ashley is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Seeing Outside Yourself, Making Great Decisions and From Excellent to Exceptional. The estimated speaking fee range to book Maurice Ashley for your event is $20,000 - $30,000. Maurice Ashley generally travels from Brooklyn, NY, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Hill Harper, Coach Ken Carter, Dr. Cornel West, Van Jones and Emmitt Smith. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Maurice Ashley for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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