Mark Rivlin interviews Maurice Ashley

A player, coach, author, commentator, and the world’s first African-American grandmaster ...

… Maurice Ashley has a proud record of promoting chess. One of the top chess pundits on the circuit, Maurice stopped doing regular commentary two years ago in order to develop content. His four Chessable courses are available here at https://www.chessable.com/author/GMAshley/,  and two books were published in April 2024: The Life-Changing Magic of Chess: A Beginner’s Guide with Grandmaster Maurice Ashley and Move by Move, Life Lessons on and off the Chessboard.

Please tell us about the children’s book that was published in April.

The children’s book is part of a series that includes books on skateboarding, drumming and baking. My fellow authors and I write about the various ways our passions transformed our lives. When I was approached to do this book, I never suspected how fulfilling it would be to work on. Now, I’m thrilled to see the final product, and I’m hopeful that it will help many kids see how beautiful a game chess really is.

Your coaching over the years has included two national team championships for Raging Rooks and Dark Knights from Harlem. How did you achieve these remarkable results?

I think my coaching results were simply a matter of conveying my obsession with chess to my students. They could see I wasn’t just a teacher in the classroom; I was deeply entranced by the game, and I loved sharing with my students the awe-inspiring moves that blew my mind. I think kids jump on board when they get that someone is truly in love with what they do.

You are a respected commentator and interviewer, and UK chess fans warmed to your excellent work at the London Chess Classic. How would you describe your interviewing and commentating styles?

My presentation style was heavily influenced by my upbringing in Kingston, Jamaica and Brooklyn, NY. In both places board games are often played outdoors, with music blasting and people talking non-stop. Everyone was pretty loud and aggressive, but it was all in good fun. I also love sports, and I always felt that chess battles resembled gladiators battling in the ring. That excitement is what I always wish to bring across to an audience who are giving me their precious time to watch me talking about chess.

Tell us about your chess journey which led to you becoming the first African-American grandmaster.

I got serious about chess at 14 in high school just playing with my friends and in the parks of NYC. I was hooked on the game, and studied every day like my life depended on it. I didn’t have a coach until I was 21, and already with a US national rating over 2400. Once I did, I quickly got IM norms, but life got in the way when I had my first child, so it took me some time to get my three GM norms. It was definitely a non-traditional path to the title, but I think it made me appreciate the process much more.

Standard play, rapidplay or blitz?

All of the above, but blitz for commentary.

Who is your favourite chess YouTuber?

Daniel Naroditsky.

Which players and coaches had the most influence on your chess career?

My favourite player growing up was Mikhail Tal, and later Garry Kasparov. The most important people during my early chess years were the men of the Black Bear School, a group of mostly African-American men who took chess very seriously, and who fought each other like lions over the chessboard. It’s a long list of players, but I would like to single out the late Ronald Simpson and my dear friend Willie Johnson. Later, my coaches IM Vitaly Zaltsman and GM Gregory Kaidanov were very impactful, but there were others as well. I wish I could name them all, because I believe I truly stood on the shoulders of giants.

What advice would you give to club players trying to put another 100 points on their rating?

I don’t believe in the rating obsession. I think if you are really passionate about the game and study because you love it, then you will grow slowly, but surely. That said, I do strongly urge club players to avoid memorizing openings as your main interest and focus on studying positional chess and endgames, in addition to solving those tactical puzzles that everyone loves. Positional chess and endgames don’t seem sexy, but they will help far more in the long run than anything else.

Outside chess, what are your interests?

Working out, dancing salsa and bachata, riding my bike, watching NBA basketball (Go Knicks!), travelling, learning languages, and buying books (which I hope to eventually read).

Did you enjoy your visit to a chess boxing event during the London Chess Classic?

The chess boxing event blew my mind. I thought it would be a joke at first, but I was shocked to see how into it the fans were. I realised that it reminded me of what chess in Brooklyn was like for me – all-out war. Plus my brother and sister are world champion fighters (kickboxing and boxing respectively), so I understand that people just love to see a good brawl. The level of technique for both boxing and chess still needs to improve, but now I think the sport does have a place in the chess ecosystem.

Tell us about some young American players whom UK fans may not know and who could become stars of the future?

In the age of social media it’s hard for young phenoms to fly under the radar. There is a 14 year old named Brewington Hardaway who is poised to follow in my footsteps as the next African-American GM in the US. It’s been 25 years since I gained the title, so for me it’s very exciting to finally see a young person of colour breaking through the wall. Hopefully, it will be a sign that others will follow soon after as well.