One of Britain's most promising young chess stars has been found dead after apparently plunging from an eighth-storey hotel room in the Czech Republic.

The body of Jessie Gilbert, aged 19, was found outside the Hotel Labe in Pardubice 65 miles east of Prague early on Wednesday.

The player, from Croydon, Surrey, who was due to take up a place studying medicine at Oxford later this year, had been taking part in the three-week Czech Open tournament at the time.

Although Czech police are continuing to investigate the tragedy, organisers of the tournament believe she may have committed suicide although friends claim she had a history of sleepwalking.

Miss Gilbert, who was working towards becoming a Women's International Master, was described as one of England's leading women players by the English Chess Federation.

The teenager first came to prominence at the age of 12 when she won the Women's World Amateur Champion-ship, the youngest player ever to do so, the ECF said.

After representing England in the European Individual Women's Championships in Turkey in April, she was also part of the national women's team in the chess Olympiads in Turin in May and June of this year.

A statement on the organisation's website extended its condolences to Miss Gilbert's family adding: "Her friendly personality endeared her to all ages in the chess community and she will be much missed."

A Foreign Office spokesman said that Miss Gilbert had been with a group of British players taking part in the tournament.

British consul Gavin Scott went to the scene of the tragedy and offered support to the other members of the group.

A short statement from the Pardubice City Police said: "The event was announced to police at 4.40am. The police confirm that the person was Jessie Gilbert, citizen of the UK.

"The whole case is still being investigated. The police cannot provide any other information.

"The police immediately informed the UK ambassador in Prague."

Jan Mazuch, director of the Czech Open, said he believed Miss Gilbert had jumped from the eighth floor room.

He said fellow players had been stunned by the tragedy and observed a one-minute silence before the start of play yesterday.

He added that he under-stood Miss Gilbert was already in the top 20 in her group in the tournament.

Friends reacted with incredulity at the suggestion that Miss Gilbert had committed suicide, believing her death was a tragic accident.

John Saunders, editor of British Chess Magazine, said he had been approached by a number of people within the chess community who had told him Miss Gilbert had been known to sleep walk.

He said the chess community was shocked by the death.

"I think they are just appalled really because she was just such a nice person and so pleasant, people are just shocked."