James Eade Champions Chess, Recovery and Advocacy

How one man turned a chessboard, a microphone and a foundation into a single mission.

James Eade has spent his life finding order inside chaos, on the chessboard and in recovery. Mr. Eade is an author, founder and chief executive officer at AIRU.TV. He blends chess mastery, addiction recovery advocacy and nonprofit work into one purposeful career.

A simple phrase anchors Mr. Eade’s outlook on life: “I'm defying gravity. Nothing can bring me down.” Those words come from the Broadway musical “Wicked,” which he has loved for years.

A Voice for Recovery

Mr. Eade’s book, “Freedom: Your Path to Recovery,” explores addiction from the inside and reveals the human stories behind it. He believes everyone holds the power to break free from what binds them. His second book, “No Blame, No Shame,” continues that message without judgment.

Beyond writing, Mr. Eade hosts “ROAR,” a podcast airing Fridays at 1 p.m. Pacific Time on AIRU.TV. The show focuses on preserving democracy and encouraging listeners to speak up.

Additionally, for months, the producers of the radio program “Let Your Voice Be Heard” kept inviting Mr. Eade back as a guest. The same was true for CUTV Radio and TV, which has invited him back four times. He now hosts the program “Freedom,” also on AIRU.TV, which centers on addiction and recovery. It aims to remove stigma around both while giving hope to those who feel hopeless and empowering those who feel powerless.

A Legacy in Chess

Chess entered the picture for Mr. Eade at 15, when he was inspired by watching Bobby Fischer win the World Championship in 1972. He became a master nine years later.

Mr. Eade went on to organize tournaments and build one of the most notable circuits in San Francisco's history. His signature event was the 1995 Pan Pacific International chess tournament, which Grandmaster Viktor Korchnoi won.

Hypermodern Press became Mr. Eade's next venture, through which he publishes works by other authors alongside his own. He has also authored other titles, including “Chess for Dummies” and “The Chess Player's Bible,” for other publishers.

He received the Outstanding Career Achievement Award from the United States Chess Federation in 2018. Separately, the University of Texas at Dallas named him Chess Educator of the Year in 2016.

A Mission Beyond Borders

The Eade Foundation, founded by Mr. Eade in 2019, gives underserved communities access to chess education and equipment. The nonprofit has since donated hundreds of chess sets worldwide and awarded scholarships to student players. Although based in the United States, the organization has expanded into six countries, including Uganda and Zambia.

In addition, Mr. Eade has funded a chess academy in Uganda. He is a past president of several chess organizations, including the Kolty Chess for Youth Foundation.

A Philosophy for Life

Focus, determination and resilience anchor how Mr. Eade handles setbacks. Chess, in his view, teaches humility, since even champions eventually meet someone better.

His hope for students is simple. He wants them to enjoy the game, avoid discouragement and become the best version of themselves. “We are all one family. It doesn't matter where you come from. It doesn't matter what language you speak,” he says. “If you play chess, you're part of our community.”

A morning mantra now sets the tone for Mr. Eade's day. “It's a grand and glorious day,” he tells himself each morning. The new practice has already begun shifting his outlook toward gratitude.

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