Argentine prodigy Faustino Oro joins chess elite as Grandmaster aged just 12

Argentine chess player Faustino Oro made history once again after securing the title of Grandmaster, the highest distinction awarded by the International Chess Federation.

At just 12 years, six months and 26 days old, the Buenos Aires City-born youngster achieved the third norm required at the Sardinia International Chess Festival in Italy, where he reached the decisive stage of the tournament unbeaten.

Oro achieved the historic feat after defeating Polish player Bartlomiej Niedbala and, hours later, being paired in the final round against Russian grandmaster Ian Nepomniachtchi, one of the strongest players in the tournament. That pairing mathematically guaranteed the final norm he needed.

The Argentine prodigy becomes the second-youngest Grandmaster in the history of world chess, behind only US player Abhimanyu Mishra, who has held the all-time record since 2021 and is now aged 17.

The achievement confirms Oro’s growing international reputation. He has already broken age-related records in chess and, in 2024, became the youngest International Master in history.

– TIMES/NA