July 14th 2025.
It's not every day that a teenager from Brooklyn makes history, but that's exactly what 19-year-old Jessica Hyatt has done. She has become the highest-rated African American female chess player, a feat that has earned her recognition from Duchess International Magazine.
Jessica may not be a grandmaster or international master just yet, but she has achieved the title of candidate master, which is no small feat. And her success hasn't gone unnoticed - she has been awarded over $40,000 in college scholarships thanks to her skills in the game.
But Jessica's journey in chess started in her hometown of Brooklyn. She was introduced to the sport through a nonprofit organization called Chess in the Schools, which aims to teach children in underserved communities about the complexities and challenges of chess.
It's clear that Jessica has a natural talent for chess - in 2019, she won the New York State Scholastic Championship title, a remarkable achievement for someone so young. And as the years went on, she continued to excel, becoming the KCF All-Girls Nationals Champion and a five-time member of the USA National Youth Team by 2023. Her talent even caught the attention of top players - at the World Youth Chess Championship that same year, she managed to draw against the highly rated Liya Kurmangaliyeva.
But Jessica's success goes beyond just titles and awards. At the young age of 19, she is already making a name for herself in the world of American chess. She has defeated grandmasters, including a notable victory against Grandmaster Michael Rohde in 2021 and another against chess prodigy Grandmaster Abhimanyu Mishra in 2022. This puts her in a very select group of African American women who have ever beaten a grandmaster.
In 2024, Jessica reached the pinnacle of her success, reaching the top of the rankings in the United States. And she has continued to impress, going undefeated in a simultaneous exhibition hosted by the Detroit Institute of Arts in June of last year. Just a few months later, she achieved another milestone by becoming the youngest African American woman to earn the National Master title, following in the footsteps of fellow Black girl Shama Yisrael.
It's clear that Jessica Hyatt is a rising star in the world of chess, and she is reshaping the landscape of American chess. Her accomplishments serve as an inspiration to young players everywhere, proving that with hard work and determination, anything is possible. So keep an eye out for Jessica - her future in the chess world is bright and full of potential.
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