Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi
New Delhi, May 14: Argentine chess prodigy Faustino Oro, often dubbed the “Messi of Chess”, has officially entered the elite ranks of the game after becoming a Grandmaster at just 12 years, 6 months and 26 days — making him the second-youngest player in history to achieve the feat.
Oro’s achievement has drawn global attention, with comparisons to football legend Lionel Messi highlighting the scale of his prodigious rise. The teenager from Buenos Aires now stands behind only USA’s Abhimanyu Mishra in the list of youngest-ever Grandmasters.
The milestone comes after years of rapid progress that began during the COVID-19 lockdown, when the young Argentine first learned chess as a way to stay engaged at home. What started as a pastime quickly evolved into a remarkable competitive journey, with Oro defeating opponents far beyond his age group.
According to Argentine Chess Federation executive director Mario Petrucci, Oro’s path to the title was made more challenging due to recent changes in FIDE regulations, which now require one Grandmaster norm to be achieved in open tournaments rather than closed events.
“He scored strongly in tournaments like Menorca, but pairing conditions sometimes prevented him from completing norms despite excellent performance,” Petrucci said.
Despite such hurdles, Oro’s consistency and discipline helped him secure the coveted title, cementing his place among chess’s brightest young talents.
Born into a chess-influenced family, Oro’s grandfather Luis Oro was also a strong player, while his father Alejandro Oro holds an international rating. The family’s support played a key role in nurturing his early development.
In 2023, his parents relocated to Barcelona to provide better training opportunities, allowing him access to elite-level tournaments across Europe. He currently follows a demanding schedule, balancing school with nearly six hours of daily chess training, including tactical preparation, analysis, and online competition.
“He genuinely loves studying the game. His concentration and dedication are extraordinary for his age,” Petrucci added.
Oro’s journey has also been marked by resilience, including a memorable comeback in an early tournament where he recovered from a poor start to finish strongly.
As he prepares to represent Argentina in upcoming international competitions, including the Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, expectations continue to rise. His long-term ambition remains unchanged — to become World Chess Champion.
For now, the world of chess watches closely as the young prodigy continues his ascent, carrying both the weight of expectation and the promise of greatness.