Try GOLD - Free

Maurice Ashley, the only African-American Grandmaster till date

The New Indian Express

|

December 01, 2024

THERE have been a lot of unique players throughout chess' rich history. Nobody, though, has a legacy quite like Maurice Ashley, who's in the city-state as the MC for the World Championship.

- SWAROOP SWAMINATHAN

The first (and, so far, only) African-American GM.

While he's aware of that legacy, he wants a world where we never have to talk about it in a few years.

It's why the 58-year-old, who earned the GM title in 2000, has started a fellowship in the US (Maurice Ashley Chess Fellowship), aimed at giving an under-represented community a chance in the upper echelons of the game. "I think about it a lot," he told this daily. "I just started a fellowship in the US because I remain the only black chess player (GM) in the US. Things are about to change as a protege of mine (Brewington Hardaway) is about to get the GM title but there should be many more." "I'm also working with Jamaica (the country of Ashley's birth) and I'm also working with children in Africa.

MORE STORIES FROM The New Indian Express

The New Indian Express

The New Indian Express

DEEPER DIALOGUES FROM MARGINS

Five events held as part of Porombokkiyal 2025 shifted the spotlight on Unknown, unheard stories in the form of discussions and a play

time to read

2 mins

October 04, 2025

The New Indian Express

WAR PUSHES GAZA'S ENVIRONMENT TO FULL-SCALE COLLAPSE

TWO years of relentless conflict in the Gaza Strip have left an environmental disaster of unprecedented scale, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) warns in a new report released this week.

time to read

3 mins

October 04, 2025

The New Indian Express

HE WHO SPOKE TRUTH TO POWER

VETERAN journalist, writer and columnist, who was Director of Express Publications (Madurai) Private Limited and Editorial Advisor to The New Indian Express, Thayil Jacob Sony George-popularly known as TJS George or TJS passed away on Friday afternoon at a private hospital in Bengaluru.

time to read

2 mins

October 04, 2025

The New Indian Express

The New Indian Express

Group leading mass protests for reforms in Morocco seeks dismissal of government

THE group leading Morocco's mass protests called on Friday for the government's dismissal, following days of unrest that have seen the deaths of three people.

time to read

1 mins

October 04, 2025

The New Indian Express

'India is no longer seen as outsourcing destination'

INDIA is no more an 'outsourcing destination' for advanced countries, believes Lord Karan Bilimoria, the founding Chairman of the UKIndia Business Council (UKIBC).

time to read

1 mins

October 04, 2025

The New Indian Express

The New Indian Express

Hopes fade for end to U.S. shutdown as Don readies cuts

HOPES for a quick end to the government shutdown were fading Friday as Republicans and Democrats dug in for a prolonged fight and President Donald Trump readied plans to unleash layoffs and cuts across the federal government.

time to read

1 mins

October 04, 2025

The New Indian Express

The New Indian Express

No public gathering on highways till SOPs are framed, HC tells govt

Court rejects pleas for CBI probe into stampede, says investigation still at nascent stage

time to read

1 mins

October 04, 2025

The New Indian Express Chennai

Sacred Poromboke:

Irula Gatherers and Divine Rituals

time to read

1 mins

October 04, 2025

The New Indian Express Chennai

The New Indian Express Chennai

Natural Vs Conventional: Study finds new social structure in farming practices

NATURAL farming is class and caste specific, with no substantial benefits in terms of monetary gain or dietary diversity compared to conventional farming.

time to read

2 mins

October 04, 2025

The New Indian Express

The New Indian Express

Got only copper panels from Sabarimala: Firm

THE controversy over the gold-plated panels of Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa temple is getting murkier, putting the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) on the defensive.

time to read

1 min

October 04, 2025

Listen

Translate

Share

-
+

Change font size