Maurice Ashley

Maurice Ashley was motivated to become the first black chess player to reach the level of International Grandmaster after watching Tiger Woods win the U.S. Masters in 1997. Already an International Master at the time, Ashley then spent two intensive years training and realized his dream in the 1999 Manhattan International. He is now an ESPN commentator, a three-time national championship coach, author, and motivational speaker who works to share his inspirational story and the character-building benefits of chess with underprivileged youth around the world. Updated 2009