#449: Grandmaster Maurice Ashley — The Path and Strategies of World-Class Mastery

12 snips

Jul 29, 2020

Grandmaster Maurice Ashley, the first African-American chess Grandmaster, shares his inspiring journey from Jamaica to the chess elite. He discusses the transformative power of chess in personal and professional growth, and the importance of mentorship. Maurice dives into the demands of mental and physical stamina in high-level chess and draws intriguing parallels between chess and Aikido. He also explores the legacy of Frederick Douglass, linking historical struggles to modern educational inequities and the efforts of nonprofits to foster change.

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ANECDOTE

Jamaican Roots

Maurice Ashley was born in Jamaica and raised by his grandmother after his mother left for the US when he was two.
His mother diligently worked for 10 years to secure green cards for him and his siblings.

ANECDOTE

Competitive Family

Ashley comes from a competitive family; his brother is a three-time world champion kickboxer, and his sister a six-time world champion boxer.
Their modest upbringing in Kingston, Jamaica fueled their drive to succeed.

ANECDOTE

Chess Beginnings

Ashley landed in Brownsville, Brooklyn, a tough neighborhood where he encountered chess in high school.
After losing to a friend, he found a chess book in the library, sparking his love for the game.

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Grandmaster Maurice Ashley — The Path and Strategies of World-Class Mastery | Brought to you by Helix Sleep, ExpressVPN, and Athletic Greens.

Maurice Ashley (@MauriceAshley) made history in 1999 when he became the first African-American chess Grandmaster. He is a three-time national championship coach, an author, ESPN commentator, iPhone app designer, puzzle inventor, and motivational speaker.

Maurice is well known for 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, Maurice consults with universities, schools, chess clubs, executives, and celebrities on how chess principles and strategies can be applied to improve business practices and assist with personal growth. Maurice also acts as a master of ceremonies and inspirational speaker at business conferences and high-class chess events.

Maurice 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.

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