15-Year-Old Jessica Hyatt Triumphs in US Chess Championship, Earns $40,000 University Scholarship
"I play whenever I get the chance, like in my free time, like during my classes, like sometimes during classes," Jessica shared in an interview with CBS New York. Devoting an impressive five to seven hours daily to chess practice, Jessica aspires to become the first African-American female chess master.
Binye-lum 
In a monumental achievement, 15-year-old Jessica Hyatt from Brooklyn has emerged victorious in the US chess championship, securing a $40,000 college scholarship as part of the Daniel Feinberg Success in Chess Award.
Attending Success Academy, where a dedicated chess program thrives, Jessica has proven herself as one of the top Black female chess players in the United States. Her recent triumph in the New York State Scholastic Championship High School U1800 Division catapulted her into the limelight.
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"I play whenever I get the chance, like in my free time, like during my classes, like sometimes during classes," Jessica shared in an interview with CBS New York. Devoting an impressive five to seven hours daily to chess practice, Jessica aspires to become the first African-American female chess master.
With a current rating of 1,950, Jessica is determined to reach the grandmaster level, which requires a rating of 2,300, according to Chess.com. Tyrell Harriott and David Mbonu, national chess masters and Jessica's coaches, recognized her natural talent from the beginning.
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“There has never been a Black woman player to break the master ranking, and that’s what Jessica is going for,” remarked Mbonu. Harriott, who began coaching Jessica five years ago, expressed amazement at her abilities, stating, “I learned the game when I was 15, so for Jessica to be at 1,950, that’s a huge edge.”
Jessica not only envisions achieving chess mastery but also plans to attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and later contribute to her community by teaching chess to children.
