James Vincent Eade, an author, chess educator and nonprofit founder, was recently named to the International Association of Top Professionals Top 50 Fearless Leaders for 2026. Throughout his nearly 50-year career, Mr. Eade has combined technology leadership, publishing and nonprofit work to expand access to chess education and promote the game as a tool for learning and professional development. The IAOTP recognizes Mr. Eade for his leadership, dedication and commitment to his industry.
In addition to being named a Top 50 Fearless Leader for 2026, Mr. Eade has also been bestowed the honor of IAOTP Top Author of the Decade. He will be honored at the annual awards gala at the Plaza Hotel in New York City for his achievements.
The Journey to Global Recognition
Mr. Eade’s journey to international recognition began with a strong academic background. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in history from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, in 1978. This was followed by a Master of Arts in human resources management and organizational development at the University of San Francisco in 1991.
In 1981, Mr. Eade joined Charles Schwab as a senior systems programmer. He eventually reached a director-level position at the company before leaving upon completing his master’s degree. That same year, he founded and published Master Piece Development with Hypermodern Press. This initiative led him to become the president of CalChess, the Northern California Chess Federation, from 1994 to 1995.
Also in 1995, Mr. Eade became the organizer of the Pan Pacific International Chess Tournament and president of Chess Journalists of America. A year later, he organized a chess Hall of Fame tournament and joined the policy board for the United States Chess Federation. Mr. Eade remained with the federation until 1999, after which he became a trustee at the U.S. Chess Trust, where he remains today.
From 2000 to 2002, Mr. Eade served as American Zone president of FIDE, the World Chess Federation. He also served as president of the U.S. Chess Trust from 2010 to 2019. It was also in 2019 that he launched The Eade Foundation, an organization that supplies chess sets and equipment to those who cannot afford them.
Beyond his professional contributions, Mr. Eade has produced several creative works, which have led to his recognition as an IAOTP Top Author of the Decade. He wrote “Remember the MacCutcheon” in 1991, “Chess for Dummies” in 1996, “The Chess Player’s Bible: Illustrated Strategies for Staying Ahead of the Game” in 2004, “Chess Openings for Dummies” in 2010 and “Freedom: Your Path to Recovery” in 2023.
Mr. Eade’s newest book, “No Blame, No Shame,” was published in 2025. He is also the producer of the “Calm Down With James Eade” podcast and “Change Your Mind” show on Amazon Fire, Roku, Spotify and LinkedIn.
Ongoing Leadership and Ambition for the Future
A leader in philanthropy, business and chess mastery, it is fitting that Mr. Eade has been honored with the IAOTP Top 50 Fearless Leaders award for 2026. His career has been recognized with several other awards and accolades, with this latest achievement speaking to the remarkable depth of his accomplishments.
Moving forward, Mr. Eade’s ambition is to build the chess community as a positive influence in the world. Through the Eade Foundation, he actively promotes chess literacy and notation and provides the equipment needed for play. Mr. Eade has come to excel in this role, and he intends to continue supporting students of chess as they find opportunities to learn.
In recent years, Mr. Eade has increasingly dedicated his work to addiction recovery advocacy, drawing on his own lived experience to help reduce stigma and expand awareness of recovery pathways. Through his books “Freedom: Your Path to Recovery” and “No Blame, No Shame,” as well as his ongoing involvement with the Eade Foundation, he focuses on empowering individuals and communities affected by addiction.
Mr. Eade’s work highlights recovery models beyond traditional 12-step programs, including mindfulness-based and integrative approaches, and seeks to encourage individuals, clinicians and educators not to give up when conventional methods fall short. This pivot reflects a broader commitment that has defined the later stage of his career: using education, service and personal accountability to give hope to those who feel powerless.
About The Eade Foundation
James Eade is a bestselling author, podcast producer and chess master who aims to make chess accessible worldwide through his nonprofit, The Eade Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to building communities through chess by expanding access to the game in underserved regions around the world. Eade is also a recovery advocate, using personal experience to help guide people toward sobriety. He has been featured by Apple News, Business Insider, Fortune Magazine, CEO Weekly, and USA Today. He is the recipient of the Marquis Who’s Who Humanitarian Award, among other honors. For more information, follow on LinkedIn.
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