15-year-old African-American girl wins US chess championship, earns $40,000 scholarship to university

In a remarkable achievement, 15-year-old Jessica Hyatt, an African-American student, 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, is a student at Success Academy, a high school in the United States known for its exceptional chess program. She recently gained recognition as one of the top Black female chess players in the United States.

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The young chess prodigy was honored with the Daniel Feinberg Success in Chess Award, accompanied by a $40,000 college scholarship that can be used at the school of her choice. Her remarkable achievement includes 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, spending an average of five to seven hours each day honing her chess skills. Her aspiration is to become the first African-American female chess master. Currently, she holds a rating of 1,950, and to achieve the prestigious title of a grandmaster, a rating of 2,300 is required.

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National chess masters Tyrell Harriott and David Mbonu, who have been instrumental in training Jessica, recognized her natural talent from an early age. David Mbonu recalled, "The first thing she did right around when class was over is she walked 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 learned the game when I was 15, so for Jessica to be at 1,950, that’s a huge edge," Tyrell noted.

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In addition to her goal of becoming a chess master, Jessica has set her sights on attending the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). She also plans to give back to her community by teaching chess to children.