Maurice Ashley

Maurice Ashley made history in 1999 when he became the first African American chess Grandmaster. He is a national championship coach, many time author, chess commentator, puzzle inventor, video course creator, and motivational speaker.

Ashley has spent decades providing dynamic live tournament coverage of world-class chess competitions and matches. His high-energy, unapologetic, and irreverent commentary combines Brooklyn street smarts with professional ESPN-style sports analysis. He has covered every class of elite event, including the World Chess Championships, the US Chess Championships, the Grand Chess Tour, and the legendary “Man vs. Machine” matches between Garry Kasparov and IBM’s Deep Blue.

Traveling the world as an ardent spokesperson for the many character-building effects of chess, Ashley shares how chess principles and strategies can be applied to improve business practices and assist with personal growth. Ashley also acts as a master of ceremonies and inspirational speaker at business conferences and high-class chess events.

Ashley has received multiple community service awards from city governments, universities, and community groups for his work. In recognition of his immense contribution to the game, he was inducted into the US Chess Hall of Fame in 2016 and the Brooklyn Technical High School Hall of Fame in 2018. His latest books are "Move by Move: Life Lessons on and off the Chessboard" and "The Life Changing Magic of Chess," a picture book for early readers.