2025 Ashley Chess Fellows announced!
The Ashley Chess Fellows have been announced! Last November, we announced the Maurice Ashley Chess Fellowship, to provide Black chess talents with opportunities to reach new heights in the sport. Excellence in chess requires a significant amount of training, as well as resources. It is commonly stated and perhaps known that this is one hurdle when it comes to master-level talent seeking to elevate to titled status.
Too often, brilliant kids are left behind because they don’t have access to the resources or mentorship they need. This fellowship is about changing that—about opening doors and supporting the dreams of kids who deserve a shot at greatness.
~GM Maurice Ashley
2025 Ashley Chess Fellows
Photos by Michal Walusza, John Hartmann, and Impact Coaching Network
These fellowships will provide support for immediate future goals. Highlighted in the fellowship will be financial support, mentorship, and other chess-related constituents that will help provide a platform for chess excellence.
The 2025 Ashley Chess Fellows are:
Brewington Hardaway (New York), whose GM title was conferred by FIDE in March, has been on a run of success, earning all of his IM and GM norms in 21 months. Jacorey Bynum (Florida) earned the title of National Master over a year ago and plays more of his chess in central Florida. He flourished in the National Scholastic Chess Foundation (NSCF) program run by FM Sunil Weeramantry and Robert McClellan. He also benefited from the mentorship of Robert McKenzie. He received a proclamation by the mayor when he was only 12 years old. Ayden Spellman-Robinson attends I.S. 118 in Brooklyn, but learned chess in an after-school program. Hear what he has to say about his journey!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Maurice Ashley Chess Fellowship Announces Inaugural Class of 2025 Awardees
New York, NY – June 25, 2025 — The Maurice Ashley Chess Fellowship (MACF) is proud to announce the selection of its inaugural class of fellowship recipients for 2025. Founded by Grandmaster Maurice Ashley—the first African American to achieve the title of chess Grandmaster—the fellowship aims to identify, support, and elevate exceptional young chess talent from underserved communities across the United States.
The 2025 fellows are:
- Brewington Hardaway, 16 – GM-elect and rising international talent, awarded a $20,000 fellowship
- Jacorey Bynum, 17 – A standout player with a current USCF rating of 2301, awarded an $8,000 fellowship
- Ayden Spellman-Robinson, 10 – A promising young competitor with over 150 tournaments played, awarded a $5,000 fellowship
Each of these young players has demonstrated extraordinary talent, work ethic, and passion for the game. The fellowship awards are designed to ease the financial burden of elite training, providing funding for coaching, tournaments, travel, and chess equipment.
Fellows will also be connected to a global network of mentors, peers, and sponsors, enhancing their development and opening doors to future opportunities. Beyond financial support, they will receive mentorship from Grandmaster Ashley and guidance from leading figures in the chess world—support designed to help them navigate the demanding path toward successful professional chess careers.
“This is more than just financial support—it’s about belief,” said Maurice Ashley. “Too often, brilliant kids are left behind because they don’t have access to the resources or mentorship they need. This fellowship is about changing that—about opening doors and supporting the dreams of kids who deserve a shot at greatness.”
The Maurice Ashley Chess Fellowship is administered by the US Chess Trust, one of the nation’s oldest sports charities. The 2025 Awards Committee includes Grandmaster Maurice Ashley, four-time US Champion GM Fabiano Caruana, and Candidate Master Rochelle Ballantyne.
Each fellow will also take part in a give-back component, developing projects to inspire and support the next generation of young players from underrepresented communities.
Initial funding for the MACF was seeded by a $20,000 personal contribution from GM Ashley. Ongoing support from donors and sponsors will be critical to the fellowship’s ability to grow and sustain its mission of leveling the playing field in elite chess.
To contribute to the Maurice Ashley Chess Fellowship, please visit:
https://www.uschesstrust.org/donate/
For media inquiries, contact:
pr@mauriceashley.com
Maurice Ashley
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This is amazing, i heard about it yesterday but to see it in “print” just warms my heart. Jacorey is such a great kid and has little money for chess and his life and challenges are a Disney special when he gets ready to tell it himself. He attended Public Schools in South Florida and only recently been able to consistently get some personal coaching. The NSCF here in SF, the whole team just try to love on him and push him and help him with resources the best we can, and let me tell you, this kid punches above his weight class all the time, this kid won the Florida State Championship, not an under section! Just so proud to have any part of it. As an old guy who sometimes just feels his memory is not the same to go for a title or even remember what I was planning to do with a particular chess piece on the next move, lol, I had dreams but circumstances, bills, got in the way. So happy to see a Young Brother possibly get the chance to pursue his dream without so much obstacles.
Thanks for your leadership in providing him an arena to express his talents! I hope to make more activities in central Florida. I hope to meet Jacorey one day. We’d love to have him here at FAMU. 🙂
By the way, your name was supposed to be in the article. I put “Robert McClellan” when I should’ve had your name. I fixed it where both names appear.
Yeah that would be great for him to go to FAMU even though I’m a Bethune guy, it seems FAMU would be a better fit because of the chess community there. A team effort to push him, Mo Hylton is no longer with the team but he had a tremendous impact on the programs, he and I were like the first 2 guys to work on the Sunrise Chess program and Jacorey was one of the kids we first started working with in like 2015, along with 2 other young brothers Quintin and Quan Tanksley twins who are expert strength and both at UF now, also help coach Jacorey. This is why I work with NSCF, Sunil and Robert, they not only promote technical chess but as Maurice himself would say “the magic of the game” to change lives and inspire people.