Chess Grand Master Maurice Ashley

[LoFidelityBeatz]

An inspiration. This man is one of my heroes. I, too, was better at chess than many people I grew up with. I'm a Black male from Detroit. I met a cat in high school who was on the chess team, crushed me and gave me a book. I lack the passion to do what Mr. Ashley did, but I love the game. Big up, respect to you, brother. Keep waking up minds

[Dave54600]

Very nice to see this type of deal. I wish I had something like this as a kid, I had to discover Chess by myself at the end of a Kasparov electronic board.

[yenerowna]

first black gm??? whahahahahaa

What about Anand? lmao

[Soundexpert100]

The truth is if every individual was exposed to chess, male and female, the universe would experience a huge paradigm shift of the world's collective mindset. The logical, rational mind would emerge and perhaps, in the greatest sense, people would begin to take more responsibility for the choices they make. Remember logic will free mankind of fear ignorance and prejudice!

[Soundexpert100]

I cannot believe all the jealous racist comments that come out of the woodwork. It is an innate strategic posture that all men have within,no matter what background they have. Just go to New York City for example, all walks of life, all different ethnicities and all ages going at it under the trees in public parks. Anyone is capable of emerging as the champion or the "chess hustler" any given time of day.

[smackthejokers]

I didn't mention #80 South Africa. Its top ten players consist of 5 black south africans and 5 white south africans. The black ones are #1, #2, #4, #8, and #10. The #1 player is IM Watu Kobese "The African Lion" who has wins over super GMs Peter Leko (perennial top ten in the world) and Judit Polgar (once ranked #8 in the world).

[smackthejokers]

Oops, sorry, GM Amon Simutowe of Zambia earned IM at 16, not 17

[smackthejokers]

Some more notable black players that I know of:

IM Emory Tate of U.S. has 80 tournament wins against Gms a very dangerous tactician that shuns opening theory. Many say that he would be GM easy if he would study opening theory.

IM candidate William Morrison peak rating 2535 in 1995

IM candidate Stephen Muhammad of U.S.

NM Kayin Barclay phenom since age 12 is now 19 and is the #27 active player in Illinois and #630 in U.S.

[smackthejokers]

Some other notable black players that I know of:

GM Pontus Carlsson on Sweden (sub-Saharan African descent, adopted as a child) recently has been playing at a 2700+ clip in the European team. Official rating is 2515 but it is expected to go up after these recent performances

GM Amon Simutowe of Zambia 27 years old, earned IM at 17 and then took a break from chess to earn degrees in finance and economics in the U.S. after that he went back to chess and is now GM.

[smackthejokers]

Hmmmcountries that outrank South Korea? Lets see, #122 Haiti (yes, you read that right),

Somalia #120, Botswana #111, Madagascar #109, Trinidad #108, Uganda #105, Mozambique #104, Jamaica #103, Nigeria #102 with 4 IMs (Japan has only 1), Angola #101 with 6 IMs, Zimbabwe #100 with 3 IMs, Dominican Rep #70 better than Japan in baseball AND chess and has 1 GM and 6 IMs.

[smackthejokers]

The racists come out of the wood work on youtube dont they? HmmmOut of the 138 FIDE ranked countries China is ranked #3 in chess according to the average rating of its top 50 players, yet Japan is #88 with no GMs and South Korea is #127, the highest rated player in Mongolia is 2471, those four must not be the same race

[NixxerJixxerWixxer]

I can beat GM Ashley anytime even if I'm only rated 2100 elo, why? Because he's black

[Brotherman7]

To all the haters: When you sit in front of me, even stevens, and I beat you ten games in a row, on the clock with the tactics, you will understand why racism creates superfreaks. You are always at a disadvantage due to stereotype, if you play black, or you play white. I will pipe you, and give you ice.

[TheJomogogo]

@Brotherman7

LOL yeah I bet you're a real pro at chess prolly got like an 1100 rating or some shit.

[enijize1234]

Black peeple r jiggabooz

[iDraw3G]

What gives black people the right to live?

[Imforeverone88]

@iDraw3G What gives you the right to live- does your life contribute more to society through your apparent ignorance of the potential of the human mind?

[lucirz]

hes doing good work

[redSHIFT69]

this guy is a true american hero

[pAbedaNSK]

maurice ashley-dumb nigga.

[pAbedaNSK]

the last thing chess needs is pollution by ghettoness

[barflewk]

Wow. A black guy is good at something. Let's make a big deal out of it and act like it's a miracle. Why do we have to do this?

[matisse511]

Barflewk, I don't sense that you are racist, so instead of reacting to your comment, I will respond constructively. Dating back to slavery, "black guys" have been induced, through various means (sometimes self-inflicted), into believing that they are racially inferior. Unfortunately, when individuals subscribe to a paradigm, it can become a self-fulfilling prophecy, even if inherently untrue. At one time, blacks were even considered athletically inferior. (Part 1) (continued)

[matisse511]

(Part 2) That myth was only debunked via role models like Jackie Robinson and Jack Johnson. Similarly, role models in science, tennis, politics, etc. will help tear down long established barriers (real and perceived) in other fields. This underlies the importance of highlighting the black guy that's good at chess. Believe it or not, many many more black guys will be good at chess because of it.

[LoveMusicRum]

barflewk that is what you see, dumb ass. This guy is a GRANDMASTER at chess and he teaches others to the fullest extent that he can. There are many like him, and they have the same message that he has about your mind being your key to success. You probably did not watch any of this video, and once again I would like to take time to state that you are a dumb ass. You are far behind man.

[TheJomogogo]

@LoveMusicRum

Well if he's teaching other negroes chess he should also teach them sportsmanship I played some nig claimed to be a student of "tha great black grandmaster" Ashley, nig was losing on time and asked " hey dawg haw bout bein real and extending da time" so I said yeah sure then when the nigs clock got more time and mine ran down the nig gloated and ran off with the win and acted like an asshole. Got real shitty, making a buncha smug asshole comments. Niggers suck.

[bnjaday]

@TheJomogogo Yeah, you do make a valid point, but who's going to listen to some foul-mouth cursing along about sportsmanship? Your behavior is contradicting. Watch your language.

[BobbyFischer0000]

We are all equal, accept this as truth because it is the undeniable truth.

[Owleyes888]

I heard of this guy who actually inspired me, now I'm hooked! Chess is an awesome engaging game.

Billion stars for this !

[jonjon2034]

someone needs a history lesson.. jews built the pyramids.. in slavery.. 400 yrs.. :D soo ya lol.

[harshvgaus]

admit it.

jews (genius everywhere)

asians (generally smart, very few genius)

whites (have had the smartest and dumbest)

africans (very few smart, sad but true)

this is how things have gone till now. it is upto blacks whether they want to use their smarts. it hasn't ever happened since humans invented the wheel, but things can change quickly.

so there you go. use your smarts, you can only make the future better for it.

[makindacut]

if blacks were so dumb, then how did they(egyptians)build the pyramids. to this day, science it still amazed about this.

[makindacut]

typo...science IS still amazed about this.

[JCGMich29]

Sorry, blacks didn't build the pyramids. You should post an actual, recent accomplishment of black Africa. Something in AD vs BC.

[makindacut]

i was referring to the Great Pyramid of Giza.

as far as african american accomplishments in AD, a few are listed below. there are many many more....

Daniel Hale Williams

performed world's first successful heart surgery, 1893 (Chicago).

Gwendolyn Brooks

Pulitzer Prize in Poetry, 1950.

Ralph Bunche

Nobel Peace Prize - Mediation in Palestine, 1950....

[makindacut]

Barack Obama

President of the Harvard Law Review, 1991.

and

Toni Morrison

Nobel Prize in Literature, 1993.

just to name a few.....

[yourmajezty]

whites are dumb: they follow bush.

sign up to the army for "health care".lol.

theyre dumb

[FREEDOM3000]

how much money do grandmasters make

[barflewk]

very little

[ihavemonkeysinmybutt]

depends how many competitions you win. each competition you win between 50,000-100,000$.

[viriatovitch]

Hi there !

I will publish this video on

viriatovitchchess blogspot c o m

The message he brings is good.

And thanks !

[ashez721]

i want to play against him.

[camiguin]

he's not a hard man to find...

[barflewk]

Why do they make such a big deal out of it when they find a black man that does something well? Oh boy....so there's finally ONE black guy who became a grandmaster. That's an embarrassment, I think, certainly nothing to crow about.

[camiguin]

simple, whites in the US have long espoused the notion that african americans are genetically incapable of any siginificant intellectual achievements and therefore white american society should not grant them access to institutions of arts, science,etc. Go read a history book someday.

[barflewk]

Great....now what's their excuse for failing everywhere else in the world, including Africa?

[camiguin]

Wow, you're just determined to be dense, huh? As far as Africa goes, try reading Walter Rodney's, How Europe Underdeveloped Africa and then let's chat. You need to read more.

[barflewk]

You need to open your eyes and accept what's in front of your face. Africans are a race of dimwits, stop blaming their problems on the white man. So Europe underdeveloped Africa and that's why they're so stupid? Nothing is ever their fault, is it? Africans must be just about the most perfect people ever.

[camiguin]

Dude, if you're a racist, just say so and stop trying to rationalize your contempt for non whites, you're really not fooling anyone. Obviously, there is no perfect "race". As for your "dimwit" comment I will go out on a limb and say that neither you nor any of your family have earned a nobel prize, rhodes scholarship or even an Emmy. There are plenty of African/ African Americans that earn more than you, have higher education than you and have contributed to society more than you ever will.

[camiguin]

You need to open a book, learn history and see how all people arrived at their current lot in life. Trust me, it wasn't an accident and we don't exist today totally independent of what people have done in the past. Of course, there is always room for free will and self responsibility, but I'm sure you knew that...

[ihavemonkeysinmybutt]

think about where Africans live and now think about where Europeans live. and try to think about how where they live could have affected them. we all came from the same people in the end-remember that. Africans, Asians, Caucasians there all the same species just in case you didn't know.

[bluecafe22]

haha... Fuckin' genetic recessive cracker.

[bluecafe22]

African Immigrants to the US more than double the white population in level of education, and earn just as much as do whites. Blacks in general excel in the arts and music like whites do not. In fact, we can be found over represented among music icons and sports legends.

American history is one thing, if you choose to ignore that history, Mr. Albino, you will always see things in your own racist way. Ironically even in spite of this history blacks still exceed you in many critical areas.

[bluecafe22]

Yeah, we're better than you albinos at virtually everything. This is just one more example.

[mermadeinheaven]

@bluecafe

Sounds like the European's "superiority syndrome" has infected your brain dude. Listen to the way you're talking. You think people are going to respect your people if you act like a fool? Wakey wakey!

[bradwil7]

Instead of focusing on opinons we should really commend anyone who takes time out to use there talents to help others especially the youth. Maurice Ashley should be commended for the inspiration he gives to many.

[oneeyedbitch]

He paid for his GM title that i know for a fact.he is really a strong master nothing more.thats why he stop playing if he could be #1 in the US he would jump on it. not bullshit.hes all about money.

[camiguin]

how do you know he paid for a GM title? source?

[oneeyedbitch]

If i told you id have to kill you.but,all i can say is it came from some one that knows more about the chess world then any one

[obliderated]

twat. they're human beings, colour has no effect on performance.

[gnatural]

whats your deal man. better to be quiet if you dont have anything good to say .

[disappears]

"A statement like that shows how foolish you are" Wake up you racist person. I bet your not even registered to vote

[chessdrummer]

Look like someone's exposure is limited to television.

[killerwocz]

Maurice Ashley is extremely strong chess player. He rarely competes anymore, he could be number 1 in America,he prefers to be involved more in urban projects , where he can help more.

[RedStateRetard]

really?! Number 1???

He's really good, top 1% of all North American players.

But do you think he would be better than (with total dedication):

1) Kamksy

2) Nakamura

3) Onischuk

4) Kaidanov

5) Shabalov

[upabittoolate]

in a heartbeat, yes he could be #1. just playing the game, not teaching. it's different for him because he's teaching (often w/o funding). the cats you mentioned all have fellowship grants & only have to play a few tourneys a year. there's a difference

[Kaarumaan]

err needless to say but those guys are not american

all from russia exept hikaru...

so in the FIDE list the best AMERICAN BORN player is Joel Benjamin (april 2008)

[Jamesbowman777]

Case is not closed you do not understand what it takes to be a Grandmaster, he was rated over 2500 and he also sucessfully completed his GM norms perod. Grandmasters often fall below 2500. FIDE determines who is and is not a GM not you go to FIDE's website and look for yourself and quit spreading racially inspired lies, your statements now have changed except they are still incorrect.

[Jamesbowman777]

Marice Ashley is a Grandmaster, you have no clue what you are talking about. He completed all his GM norms some time ago and is a very talented chess player with a brilliant attacking style. He has focused more on helping urban youth than becoming the best chess player he could be. You should at least get your facts straight check FIDE for his international status.

[gustavonarez]

Chess rocks!

[phlorky]

What's this from?

[eternal888B]

America Beyond the Color Line (PBS)