Maurice Ashley Establishes Groundbreaking Chess Initiative, Pledges $20,000

GM Maurice Ashley is establishing a new initiative aimed at nurturing the talents of young chess players from underserved communities in the United States.

Ashley has made his move to address the persistent underrepresentation of African Americans at the top level of chess. The renowned grandmaster is now establishing the Maurice Ashley Chess Fellowship, with which he intends to remove barriers that often prevent young talents from reaching their full potential.

To date, only Ashley and GM-elect Brewington Hardaway, who recently fulfilled the requirements for the grandmaster title, have ever attained the most prestigious title in chess among African Americans. “There’s an incredible well of talent out there that is being left untapped," Ashley said in a statement.

There’s an incredible well of talent out there that is being left untapped.

—Maurice Ashley

He has personally pledged $20,000 to the initiative, inviting additional sponsors to contribute. The effort will support emerging grandmasters with essential resources such as access to coaching, mentorship, and financial support.

The 58-year-old reflected on the challenges he's faced in his own career, when he chased and eventually achieved the grandmaster title in 1999 despite not having a coach or the resources normally needed.

"Too often, kids with immense potential are overlooked simply because they don’t have access to the right environment or support. This fellowship is about giving those kids a chance to rise, to be seen, and to compete on the world stage."

Too often, kids with immense potential are overlooked simply because they don’t have access to the right environment or support.

—Maurice Ashley

U.S. chess journalist Daaim Shabazz, who in 2001 started The Chess Drum dedicated to coverage of the African-American segment of the chess community, says the initiative is a welcome one.

"There is simply not enough return on investment for time and resources spent on chess. So having some type of initiative will help build the talent ecosystem. We can see the effects of this in India, which has the support of the entire nation," he said.

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"I am fully supportive of this initiative because no other chess entity will design such an outreach strategy. There is a kind of dismissiveness in general society as some see any issue involving inclusivity as negative. I have been critical of U.S. chess for the lack of use of analytics for membership outreach to underserved communities," he added.

Shabazz believes that, beyond chess titles, this initiative holds the potential to benefit young players academically and socially. “Apart from its social benefits, chess is a platform for academic excellence. While relatively few African-Americans pursue advanced titles in chess, many go on to enjoy successful careers in various fields,” he noted.

Shabazz emphasized the need for targeted outreach and its broader impact on both the U.S. and the global chess community. "African-Americans represent 14 percent of the population, yet we have not made consistent inroads to market chess to this segment. There are potentially thousands of chess players who could be converted to tournament competitors," he explained.

African-Americans represent 14 percent of the population, yet we have not made consistent inroads to market chess to this segment. There are potentially thousands of chess players who could be converted to tournament competitors.

—Daaim Shabazz

He noted that similar outreach efforts across the African diaspora could help overcome long-standing stereotypes and financial barriers, especially in regions where chess programs struggle for sponsorship. "Chess still suffers from stereotypes, and such an initiative will demonstrate that chess has broad appeal beyond Europe and North America," Shabazz added.

The fellowship will be administered by the U.S. Chess Trust, a longstanding nonprofit committed to chess development. The awards committee will consist of four-time U.S. Chess Champion GM Fabiano Caruana, and CM Rochelle Ballantyne, the Brooklyn Castle star, in addition to Ashley.

I'm pleased to be on the awards committee of the Maurice Ashley Chess Fellowship. This is a great initiative to give a new crop of chess talent a chance to compete at the highest level. More details below:https://t.co/J7mn8OHZpB

— Fabiano Caruana (@FabianoCaruana) November 12, 2024

Applications for the 2025 fellowship open on February 1, 2025, with full eligibility guidelines to be published on the U.S. Chess Trust website. Young people under the age of 21 with the express intention of becoming chess professionals are encouraged to apply.