Gukesh could go down as a GOAT of chess: Maurice Ashley

Maurice Ashley was one of the most familiar faces of the World Chess Championship. The first move was made in each game after these words from him, as he stood between Ding Liren and D. Gukesh: “Let the game begin.”

The American Grandmaster has been a commentator and presenter for major chess events for over three decades now, but that isn’t his biggest achievement.

In 1999, he became the first black person to become a Grandmaster. Some 35 years later, of the 2000-odd Grandmasters in the world, only four are black.

Ashley is proud that he is the first black Grandmaster but is disappointed that not many have followed in his footsteps. He would like to have the kind of influence on his community – and he is working hard towards his goal by supporting children – what Viswanathan Anand has had on Indian chess.

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He comes from a sporting family. His sister Alicia is a former World boxing champion and his brother Devon is a former World kickboxing champion. “But I never was tempted to be a boxer,” says Ashley in an interview with  Sportstar at World Resorts Sentosa. “I fell in love with playing chess and have been enjoying talking about the game.”

USA Grandmaster Maurice Ashley.
| Photo Credit:
Sportstar/P.K. Ajith Kumar

His first big assignment as a commentator was in fact the 1995 World Championship match between Anand and Garry Kasparov. That match was played at the World Trade Centre. “And the first game was played on September 11,” he says. “That was a big match, as has been this one, despite the criticism from some about the number of draws and the Ding’s blunder in the final game.”

He says it was an absolutely thrilling match. “A blunder may have ended it, but that is chess,” says the Jamaican-born Grandmaster. “It is the pressure, the intensity of the moment, having to live up to the expectations of millions of fans that could get to you.”

He believes Gukesh is going to create a legacy not just for India but for the world. “Even beyond chess in fact, as you are getting such a young World champion,” says Ashley. “He will be an inspiration for millions around the world.”

He believes Gukesh has the potential to be a much stronger player. “He is still growing, he still has years before he reaches his peak,” says Ashely. “I think he could go down as a GOAT of the game.”