Jessica Hyatt Becomes Highest-Rated African American Female Chess Player

Jessica Hyatt, a 19-year-old from Brooklyn, has made chess history by becoming the highest-rated African American female player in the country. Her rapid rise in the chess world marks a significant milestone for representation in a sport long dominated by players from other backgrounds.

Hyatt, now recognized as a candidate master, stands just a few levels below the highest international chess titles, including grandmaster and international master, according to chess.com. Her achievements on the board have also earned her more than $40,000 in college scholarships.

Hyatt’s chess journey began in Brooklyn when she was introduced to the game through Chess in the Schools, a nonprofit dedicated to teaching chess to children in underserved communities. She quickly distinguished herself, winning the New York State Scholastic Championship in 2019.

Her list of accomplishments continues to grow. In 2023, Hyatt claimed the Kasparov Chess Foundation All-Girls Nationals Champion title and was selected for the USA National Youth Team for the fifth time. At the 2023 World Youth Chess Championship, she held top-seeded Liya Kurmangaliyeva to a draw, despite a significant ratings gap.

Hyatt has also earned a reputation for her ability to challenge and defeat top players. In 2021, she beat Grandmaster Michael Rohde, and in 2022, she defeated rising chess star Grandmaster Abhimanyu Mishra—making her one of the few African American women to have bested a grandmaster.

Her record-breaking year continued in 2024, reaching the top spot in U.S. rankings for African American female players. Hyatt went undefeated in a simultaneous exhibition hosted by the Detroit Institute of Arts in June.

In August, she became the youngest African American woman to earn the National Master title, following closely after Shama Yisrael, who became the first just weeks prior.