Maurice Ashley
About Maurice Ashley
“Great experience. ”
Speech 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.
Speaking videos
Media coverage
St. Louis hosts international chess tournament | Springfield News ...
"Elite tournaments like this just don't happen in the U.S." said grandmaster Maurice Ashley, one of several players providing live commentary for audiences on ...
Millionaire Chess Open Sets History's Highest Stakes - Yahoo Finance
The tournament is the brainchild of International Grandmaster Maurice Ashley, a world-famous chess commentator often called on to be the voice of some of the ...
Can a Grandmaster Pull Off a Millionaire Chess Tournament ...
If chess grandmaster Maurice Ashley executes his latest business plan, a new “ Millionaire Chess” tournament that he hopes to present in Las Vegas this fall will ...
Chess grand master Maurice Ashley gives students tips for life
Maurice Ashley, the first African-American chess grand master, spoke to 150 young Philadelphia chess players in the National Constitution Center's Kirby ...
Books by Maurice Ashley
“Move by Move: Life Lessons on and off the Chessboard” (2024)
In Move by Move, Ashley guides readers through the essential lessons that chess has taught him about life, using both personal examples from his rise from an immigrant kid playing matches in Brooklyn parks to the most rarified levels of competition, as well as insights and anecdotes from fellow notable chess players. In short chapters with practical takeaways, this book reaches from the fundamental to the counterintuitive on subjects ranging from self-knowledge to strategic thinking to the importance of failure. This little book of wisdom is the perfect gift for graduates, chess enthusiasts, and anyone interested in understanding how lessons from the most famous and long-lasting game of strategy can help you reach your personal and professional goals.
“The Life-Changing Magic of Chess: A Beginner's Guide with Grandmaster Maurice Ashley” (2024)
After making history as the chess world's first Black Grandmaster, Maurice Ashley went on to become a three-time national championship coach and commentator. Now he's sharing his passion for chess with YOU! Discover more about Maurice's story as he recounts his journey from Jamaica to New York to the world stage where he has ranked among the best in the game. Then find your own chess magic as he shows you basic skills like how each piece moves and how to make a start.
“Most Valuable Skills in Chess” (2009)
Assuming no knowledge of chess beyond the rules, Maurice Ashley guides you on an inspirational journey through the world of chess tactics. He brings the pieces to life by examining their fundamental characteristics, and shows how their powers can be put to use to win pieces or give checkmate - the building-blocks upon which all chess skills are based. Ashley writes: "the approach is unique because it is basically me: the way I teach, the way I talk about chess, the way I think. You'll find my love for the martial art aikido in these pages, as well as my ridiculous love for sports, story-telling and teaching." But his approach is not just entertaining: teams under Ashley's guidance have won nine national junior championships. His charismatic teaching methods are the stuff of legend - and are to be the subject of a movie. This book makes his ideas and material available to all: teachers and students alike. In 1999, Maurice Ashley became the first African-American to qualify for the elite Grandmaster title, an achievement that was widely reported in the international media, including Time magazine, USA Today, New York Times, Sports Illustrated and The Times (London). Ashley is one of the highest-profile figures in American chess, and has commentated on the game for ESPN and Channel Four Television (UK). He sees chess as playing a role in helping at-risk youth, and has coached a number of junior teams to victory in national championships, most famously the Raging Rooks of Harlem, whose achievement is to be the subject of an HBO movie. In 2003 he was named Grandmaster of the Year by the US Chess Federation.
“Chess for Success: Using an Old Game to Build New Strengths in Children and Teens” (2005)
Maurice Ashley immigrated to New York from Jamaica at the age of twelve, only to be confronted with the harsh realities of urban life. But he found his inspiration for a better life after stumbling upon a chess book and becoming hypnotized by the game. He would eventually break the chess world's color lines by becoming an International Grandmaster in 1999. Ashley realized that chess strategies could be used as an educational tool to help children avoid the pitfalls often associated with growing up. In this book, he serves up compelling anecdotes about how chess has positively affected young players. He also offers tips on technique, how to make the game fun for children of all ages and levels, and how to overcome the myth that chess isn't cool. Through his guidance, readers will understand how chess strategies can improve a child's mental agility, creativity, and problem-solving skills. Chess for Success is a much-anticipated resource for parents, teachers, counselors, youth workers, and chess lovers.
At a glanceMaurice Ashley
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