A bright future ahead
The Legends & Prodigies tournament in Madrid concluded with a remarkable triumph for Argentina’s Faustino Oro, who continues to confirm his status as one of the brightest young players in world chess. At just 11 years old – he turns 12 on 14 October – Oro won the event with a round to spare, finishing undefeated on 7½/9 points. His result gave him not only first place, but also his first grandmaster norm, the latest step in his rapid climb towards the highest title in chess.
Oro’s final score left him a point and a half ahead of his closest rivals, Peruvian legend Julio Granda and Spanish grandmaster Alan Pichot, who shared second place. The Argentine’s 2759 performance rating earned him 33 Elo points, which, combined with the 12 points he had gained at the open tournament in Fujairah, means his official FIDE rating for October is expected to cross the 2500 mark.
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The Madrid event was significant not only for the result but also for what it represents in Oro’s development. By achieving the required performance in the seventh round, he secured his first grandmaster norm. According to FIDE regulations, a player must earn three such norms, along with a 2500 rating, to obtain the title. Oro now has time until March 2026 to achieve the remaining two while surpassing the record of Abhimanyu Mishra, who became the youngest grandmaster in history at the age of 12 years, 4 months and 25 days.
Two generations of Latin American chess giants – Julio Granda from Perú and Faustino Oro from Argentina | Photo: Mar Melero
Commentators and fellow professionals have taken note of his progress. Seven-time Argentine champion Diego Flores, talking to Infobae, observed that Oro has matured considerably:
After the first tournaments he played this year, where he suffered setbacks, he clearly learned a lot. The strength of his preparation lies in his calculation. At critical moments, he calculates and makes the right decision, and that gives him confidence.
Flores went as far as to suggest that Oro is currently the Argentine player in the best form and may soon be a natural candidate for the national Olympic team.
Former Argentine champion Fernando Peralta, speaking from Barcelona, echoed these sentiments. He argued that Oro should already be considered among the contenders for the next Argentine Championship and almost certainly a candidate for selection at the next Chess Olympiad, which will take place in Uzbekistan.
Beyond the board, Oro’s success has attracted growing institutional and commercial support. In 2025, he secured sponsorship agreements with MyInvestor in Spain and Mercado Libre in Argentina, helping provide the backing needed for his professional development. He has also received recognition from the International Chess Federation itself. FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich granted him a wildcard entry into the upcoming World Cup, scheduled to start on 31 October.
Faustino Oro | Photo: Mar Melero
Martínez 0-1 Oro
Analysis by GM Karsten Müller
