Jessica Hyatt Turns into Youngest Black Girl Chess Champion

A Brooklyn teenager, Jessica Hyatt, has made historical past by changing into the highest-rated African American feminine chess participant.

In accordance with Duchess Worldwide Journal, the 19-year-old is now a candidate grasp, which is a number of ranges decrease than grandmaster, worldwide grasp, and FIDE, the very best title that may be achieved in chess (in keeping with chess.com). She has earned over $40,000 in school scholarships as a consequence of enjoying chess.

The younger chess prodigy began her journey within the sport in Brooklyn, the place she was launched to chess via a nonprofit establishment that teaches youngsters the trials of chess in underserved communities, Chess within the Colleges.

BlackNews.com reported that in 2019, she received the New York State Scholastic Championship title. As she continued to excel within the sport, she grew to become the KCF (Kasparov Chess Basis) All-Ladies Nationals Champion and a five-time member of the USA Nationwide Youth Group 4 years later in 2023. On the World Youth Chess Championship that yr, she got here to a draw towards top-seeded Liya Kurmangaliyeva regardless of being rated 1818.

Hyatt is constructing a legacy at such a younger age by defeating grandmasters. In 2021, she handed Grandmaster Michael Rohde a defeat, after which the next yr, she beat chess prodigy Grandmaster Abhimanyu Mishra, becoming a member of a really small group of African American ladies who’ve ever crushed a grandmaster.

At simply 19, Jessica Hyatt is reshaping American chess. She received the 2019 New York State Scholastic Championship and the 2023 KCF All-Ladies Nationals and is a five-time USA Nationwide Youth Group member. She at present holds the report because the highest-rated African feminine chess participant. pic.twitter.com/lZkIAo9gsr

— Africa Corridor Of Fame (@Afrihalloffame) July 11, 2025

In 2024, she reached the highest of the rankings in america. In June of final yr, she went undefeated at a simultaneous exhibition hosted by the Detroit Institute of Arts. Then, in August, she grew to become the youngest African American girl to earn the Nationwide Grasp title, simply a number of weeks after one other Black lady, Shama Yisrael, grew to become the primary.

RELATED CONTENT: Nigerian Chess Champion Tunde Onakoya Units (Unofficial) Document With 60-Hour Chess Marathon in Instances Sq.