Top 10 Fascinating Facts about Maurice Ashley

GM Ashley at Today in Chess studio. Author Jennifer Huemmer. WIKIMEDIA

Top 10 Fascinating Facts about Maurice Ashley

Ashley Maurice was born in Jamaica.  Before he moved to the united states he attended Wolmer’s Boys School. When he was 12 years old he moved to the united states.

In the united states, he attended Brooklyn Technical High School and he was admitted to the City College of New York where he graduated with a B.A. in Creative Writing. He was a member of the intercollegiate team and represented his school in various competitions.

While in Jamaica, he learned how to play chess where he played with his brother and his friends. When he was in High School he played chess most of the time. He also played in parks and different clubs throughout New York City.

Under his watch as the head coach of the Raging Rooks of Harlem, and the Dark Knights which were also from Harlem, both clubs won the national championships.

He was one of the most known Jamaican-American chess players. Maurice was also an author, as well as a commentator.

Below are some of the top 10 Fascinating facts about Maurice Ashley

1. Ashley is a Chess Commentator

GM Nigel Short and GM Maurice Ashley. Author Wolfgang Jekel. WIKIMEDIA

He is among the best chess commentators in the United States. He has covered many events such as the Grand Chess Tour.

Among the games he has commentated on includes a match between world champion Garry Kasparov and IBM’s Deep Blue. The match took place between 1996 and 1997. In 1995, Ashley also oversaw the commentary between the Kasparov vs. Anand World Championship match.

In 2003, Maurice facilitated and also hosted ESPN’s broadcast of Kasparov’s game against X3D Fritz. During the 2013-2019 Sinquefield cups, some Chess Championships, and various chess events, Ashley served as a commentator.

2. Ashley was Inducted into the Chess Hall of Fame in 2016

In 2016, Due to his ability to commentate chess for high-profile chess events and the years he spent teaching chess, he was Inducted into the US Chess hall of fame.

The Hall of Fame is Situated in the Central West of St. Louis in Missouri United States. It is a  nonprofit, collecting institution that exhibits chess engagements in educational Outreach and it maintains all inductees of the  U.S. Chess Hall of Fame and World Chess Hall of Fame.

It was Founded in 1984 and it is maintained and managed by the United States Chess Trust.

3. Ashley Married in 1993

In 1993, Ashley wedded Michele Ashley-Johnson. The following year, Nia their first-born daughter was born. In 2002, Ashley and Michele had their second child Jayden. However, in 2004 they divorced.

Ashley’s sister was a known world boxing champion called Alicia Ashley. His brother was also a known world kickboxing champion known as  Devon Ashley.

His brother once said that  “African continent GMs do exist; but, according to the system of racial classification, I am the first Black GM in history… it matters, and doesn’t matter, all at the same time.”

4. Ashley was the First Gm to Participate in Jamaica

In 2007, Ashley went back to his birth country Jamaica for a tournament. He became the first Gm to participate in a tournament in Jamaica. However, Ashley was upset in the final by Jamaican National player Jomo Peterson.

5. Maurice was the First Black Chess Grandmaster

GM Maurice Ashley in the Today in Chess show. Author Jennifer Huemmer. WIKIMEDIA

Following his win against Adrian Negulescu On March 14, 1999. He fulfilled all the requirements for the Grandmaster title. His achievements made him the first black chess Grandmaster.

The grandmaster (GM) title is awarded to chess players and is presented by the world chess organization, FIDE. Grandmaster is the highest title a chess player can achieve.

6. He was Named Grandmaster of the Year in 2003

In 2003 alongside Susan Polgar who was also a Grandmaster and  Ashley, they were named the Grandmasters of the Year by the U.S. Chess Federation. The same year, he wrote an essay “The End of the Draw Offer?” The essay raised a lot of discussion about how to avoid quickly agreed draws in Chess tournaments.

7. Ashley Wrote a Book in 2005

Chess for Success was the title of the book Ashley wrote in  2005. The book related all his experiences and the positive aspects of chess.

During the 2005 HB Global Chess Challenge, Ashley was the main organizer for the 2005 HB Global Chess Challenge. The challenge had the biggest cash prize in the history of an open chess tournament.

8. Ashley was a Director at MIT Media Lab

In 2012  he was a director at the MIT Media Lab. He was also a Fellow at the Harvard university’s Berkman Center for Internet and society, which was a joint fellowship between MIT and the university lab. He is currently a Research Affiliate at the MIT Media Lab.

9. He Started a Program to Support After-School  Chess

A Chess match. Author InSapphoWeTrust. WIKIMEDIA

As part of his initiative to support after-school chess, Ashley In 2015, made an announcement to partner with various chess clubs and the  Scholastic Center of Saint Louis and also the Ascension, Your Move Chess.

10. Maurice is among the Richest Grandmasters

Despite being the most popular Chess Grandmaster, Maurice Ashley is also among the richest Chess Grandmaster. His net worth is estimated to be approximately $1.5 Million. He is among the most celebrated chess players in the world. His passion to help young people to perfect chess was highly appreciated by many people. Ashly used his time and resources to coach young players in his country.