Episode Synopsis
Chess is rapidly growing in popularity. And with its many relatable qualities to everyday life, we have a lot to learn from the skills needed to play the game. As one of the best chess explainers on the planet, Maurice Ashley tells us about the qualities that he’s learnt over many years perfecting his chess game. That lies and hypocrisy – as in life – do not last long on the chess board. Learning to embrace failure; thinking ahead; expecting the unexpected. Win at chess, and you stand a better chance of winning at life.
A Teaser of What We Discovered in this Video…
“The moment I fail in a chess game, is a moment of Illumination. I want that. And if I understand that, I am going to be more dangerous. You do not want me to understand why I do things wrong.”
Maurice Ashley
About Maurice Ashley:
Maurice Ashley is the first black Grandmaster of Chess. A title given only to the most elite amongst the sport. He is the best chess explainer on the planet, regularly commentating on tournaments for ESPN. Born in Jamaica – where he was first introduced to the game – and then moving to Brooklyn, he always had a deep love of chess, but it wasn’t until the age of 33 that he earned his title. He is an author, mentor, app creator and regular speaker on the many character building traits of chess.
Connect with Maurice:
Show Notes:
05:00 – Introduction to Maurice. His life, career and how he first came to fall in love with chess
15:10 – The journey to grandmaster, and being one of few black chess players in the game at that time, to becoming the first black Grandmaster of the game
20:29 – Stress, managing it, and real life examples of handling the pressure in the game
31:28 – Bouncing back from mistakes, and pushing through a losing streak
36:15 – Preparedness, planning your opening move, and expecting the unexpected
40:49 – Lies and hypocrisy don’t last long on the chess board
45:23 – Why isn’t chess in the Olympics?
46:00 – You must be fit to play elite chess
49:02 – The Queen’s Gambit and its impact on the world of chess
50:38 – What does your style of chess say about your character? And what traits can you learn about yourself by playing chess?
57:19 – Grandmasters look at fewer options. They only consider those that are relevant and boil it down to the essential.
62:45 – Final conclusions; Boiling it down, what can chess teach us about success and growth in life?
64:33 – Other people’s opinions are more important than our own
65:10 – Patience can be used as a weapon
66:35 – Pressure is a good thing. Train for it. If there’s no pressure, it’s no fun
67:54 – Use your opponent’s energy against them
69:22 – Learn to embrace failure. Learn from your mistakes
73:18 – Thought for the Day