15-year-old African-American student Jessica Hyatt has secured victory as a chess champion in the United States. Her outstanding performance has earned her a prestigious $40,000 scholarship to pursue higher education.
Jessica Hyatt, a Brooklyn teenager, attends Success Academy, a high school in the United States known for its exceptional chess program. Recently, she gained recognition as one of the top Black female chess players in the country. The young chess prodigy was honoured with the Daniel Feinberg Success in Chess Award, which includes a $40,000 college scholarship that can be used at the school of her choice. Her remarkable achievements include clinching the top spot in the New York State Scholastic Championship High School U1800 Division.
“I play whenever I get the chance, like in my free time, like during my classes, like sometimes during classes,” Jessica shared during an interview with CBS New York. She expressed her genuine love for chess and her commitment to the game.
Jessica’s dedication to chess is evident in her rigorous practice routine, where she spends an average of five to seven hours each day honing her chess skills. She aspires to become the first African-American female chess master. Currently, she holds a rating of 1,950, and to achieve the prestigious title of grandmaster, a rating of 2,300 is required.
National chess masters Tyrell Harriott and David Mbonu, who have been instrumental in training Jessica, recognised her natural talent from an early age. David Mbonu recalled, “The first thing she did right around when class was over was walk up to me, and she was like, ‘Can I play you?'”
Tyrell Harriott, who has been coaching Jessica for the past five years, is amazed by her abilities. “I learnt the game when I was 15, so for Jessica to be at 1,950, that’s a huge edge,” Tyrell noted.
In addition to her goal of becoming a chess master, Jessica plans to attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and give back to her community by teaching chess to children.
