Rising Star: Faustino Oro Aims for Chess Grandmaster Title at Just 12 Years Old

Argentinian Chess Prodigy Faustino Oro on the Brink of History

In a remarkable ascent through the chess ranks, 12-year-old Argentinian prodigy Faustino Oro, affectionately known as “Fausti,” has captured the attention of the global chess community. Recently, he climbed to fifth place on the Chess.com blitz leaderboard, a feat that underscores his extraordinary talent and determination. This Saturday, Oro embarks on a quest for his final grandmaster norm, which could make him the youngest grandmaster in history.

Dubbed the “Messi of Chess” by Argentinian media, Oro has become a household name, consistently breaking records and expectations. Over the past month, he has showcased his skills against some of the world’s best players in three consecutive Titled Tuesday events, gaining an impressive 150 rating points and achieving a personal best rating of 3295.

Despite a recent drop to eighth place with a rating of 3271, Oro remains ahead of chess luminaries such as Grandmasters Fabiano Caruana, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, and Ian Nepomniachtchi. “I’ve been winning a lot of games lately,” Oro shared in an interview with Chess.com’s IM David Martinez, who has closely followed his journey.

Oro’s preference for blitz chess, particularly the 3+0 format, has proven advantageous against older opponents. “When we’re both low on time—tense middlegame, lots of pieces—I usually like it more,” he explained. His prowess extends beyond online play; he demonstrated his grandmaster-level skills at the FIDE World Blitz Championship 2025, where he scored 10.5/19 and defeated several top grandmasters, including Levon Aronian.

Now, as he shifts his focus to classical chess, Oro is set to compete in the Aeroflot Open in Moscow from February 28 to March 6. This tournament features a formidable field of 51 grandmasters and 58 international masters. If successful, Oro will surpass the record held by GM Abhimanyu Mishra, becoming the youngest grandmaster in history.

Oro’s journey has already been marked by a series of extraordinary achievements, including being the youngest-ever 2200 and 2300 player, as well as the highest-rated 10-year-old and 12-year-old. “I feel good, and I am excited about that tournament,” he said, emphasizing his desire to enjoy the experience without pressure.

David Martinez, who has closely followed Oro’s career, expressed confidence in the young prodigy’s potential. “The truly incredible thing about Faustino is that he always finds a way to surprise us,” Martinez remarked. He believes Oro has a real chance to excel in Moscow, especially given the tournament’s unique time control.

Recent performances, including a sixth-place finish at the Tata Steel Chess Challengers, have solidified Oro’s reputation as a formidable competitor. “I’ve been playing against a lot of grandmasters, so it feels normal now,” he noted, reflecting on his growing experience.

Oro’s talent has not gone unnoticed by chess legends, including former world champion Magnus Carlsen, who praised his positional understanding and passion for the game. “He is a great player. He has a wonderful positional feeling for chess, which is quite rare for such young players,” Carlsen stated.

As Faustino Oro prepares for this pivotal moment in his career, one thing is clear: whether he achieves his final norm now or later, this is just the beginning for the young chess sensation. The world will be watching as he continues to break barriers and redefine the limits of youth in chess.