I have known him for over three decades now: Maurice Ashley prominent Jamaican-American chess grandmaster, author, commentator, and educator. Raised in Brooklyn, New York after immigrating from Jamaica, he discovered chess as a teenager and quickly became captivated by its beauty and depth. His dedication to the game led him to make history as the first African-American grandmaster, a milestone that paved the way for a new generation of players.

Maurice (chequered shirt) with family in Brooklyn, and playing in the park

Maurice’s contributions go far beyond titles. He coached the trailblazing Raging Rooks, a high school team from Harlem that defied expectations by winning the national championship—a powerful reminder that talent and tenacity can come from anywhere. He went on to become a three-time national championship coach, shaping some of the brightest young minds in the game. Over the years, he has continued to serve as a mentor, motivator, and champion for the sport, sharing its lessons in classrooms, boardrooms, and communities around the world.

Maurice is widely known for his dynamic live commentary at the world’s top chess events. His high-energy, unapologetic style blends Brooklyn grit with ESPN-level analysis, making elite chess feel electric. He has covered every major tournament in the game—from World Championships and the Grand Chess Tour to high-profile man-versus-machine moments, including the legendary clash between Garry Kasparov and IBM’s Deep Blue.

Chess is part of a family tradition of excellence. Maurice’s sister, six-time world champion boxer Alicia “Slick” Ashley, is an International Boxing Hall of Fame inductee. His brother, Devon Ashley, is a three-time world kickboxing champion. That same drive and resilience runs through Maurice’s own story, where every achievement reflects years of hard work, risk-taking, and belief.

Today, Maurice continues to serve as a global ambassador for chess, helping students, professionals, and leaders apply its principles to decision-making, strategy, and personal growth. He is a frequent keynote speaker and master of ceremonies at major events, and has received numerous community service honors for his impact both on and off the board. In recognition of his contributions, he was inducted into the U.S. Chess Hall of Fame in 2016 and the Brooklyn Technical High School Hall of Fame in 2018.

In 2024 and 2025, Maurice continued to expand his influence across every facet of the chess world. As host and commentator, he brought his signature presence to premier global events including the FIDE World Championship Match in Singapore, the Superbet Rapid & Blitz kickoff leg of the Grand Chess Tour in Warsaw, and the BlitzChamps Live broadcast at Super Bowl LIX, where NFL legends competed live. He also led coverage of the inaugural NextGen Cup and served as a featured panelist and commentator at The Wall Street Gambit, a groundbreaking finance and chess conference.

Maurice also returned to the board in a headline freestyle chess event: Magnus v. Fabiano in Hand & Head! ft. Maurice Ashley & Tania Sachdev—a high-profile exhibition match showcasing an exciting new format.

Maurice’s work as a mentor and advocate remains equally impactful. He founded the Maurice Ashley Fellowship to support and inspire rising talent in the chess world and played a key role in launching the GM-in-10 program, a youth development initiative that recently received a $250,000 investment from the Jamaican government.

Whether on stage, on camera, or across the board, Maurice Ashley brings chess to life, but still considers himself no more than an “advanced beginner” still learning new things about the game after more than four decades.

Maurice, an avid and extremely proficient user of ChessBase, visited us in Hamburg a number of times and recorded Fritztrainers for us. Here's him telling us about his recording his first DVD in July 2010:

And these are the Fritztrainser he recorded over the years for us:

His says: "ChessBase has long been the gold standard for high-quality chess preparation. I can't imagine how anyone who is truly serious about becoming a strong player could do without it."

Study composer

There is one more aspect about my friend which I must tell you about. Maurice loves studies and chess composition. Here is a very interesting study he sent us. He composed it after coming up with an extraordinary idea – queens in the three corners of the board, with the black king on the fourth corner, helpless to stop the mate. Take a look – you can click on move to analyse them on a replay board, and switch on an engine (fan button below the board) to answer any remaining questions you might have.

Also read:

The Chess Journey of GM Maurice Ashley