Faustino Oro, often called the “Messi of Chess,” recently came close to making history. The 12-year-old Argentine prodigy was just one win away from becoming the youngest Grandmaster ever at the Aeroflot Open in Moscow, but his dream slipped away in the final round after a defeat to Russian GM Aleksey Grebnev.
Oro needed just one more victory to secure his final GM norm and surpass the record held by Abhimanyu Mishra, who became a Grandmaster at 12 years, 4 months, and 25 days.
However, the defeat meant Oro fell short of completing the requirement before the March 11 age cutoff.
But who exactly is Faustino Oro, and why is he called the ‘Messi of Chess’?
Who is Faustino Oro?
Born on October 14, 2013, in Argentina, Oro is one of the most exciting young talents the chess world has seen in years.
Unlike the other chess stars, he didn’t start playing chess very early at the age of 3 or 4. Oro first learned chess at six years old in 2020, when his father Alejandro introduced him to the game during the COVID-19 lockdown to keep him busy indoors instead of kicking a football around the house.
What started as a way to pass the time quickly turned into something much bigger. As his talent became clear, the family made a big decision. In late 2023, they moved to Badalona in Spain, near Barcelona, so Faustino could compete in stronger European tournaments and train with top coaches.
The rise of the ‘Messi of Chess’
Oro’s journey since then has been nothing short of remarkable. In June 2024, he made history by becoming the youngest International Master ever, earning the title at just 10 years, 8 months and 16 days, breaking a record previously held by Abhimanyu Mishra.
But his name had already exploded across the chess world in March 2024, when he defeated five-time world champion Magnus Carlsen in an online Chess.com Bullet Brawl tournament. Carlsen eventually resigned on the 48th move.
In September 2025, Oro became the first 11-year-old to cross a 2500 FIDE rating in the under-12 category. Just two months later, he achieved another historic moment by becoming the youngest player ever to win a match at the FIDE World Cup.
He also broke records online, becoming the youngest player to reach a 3000 blitz rating on Chess.com, beating the previous mark by more than a year. Because of his Argentine roots and rapid rise in the game, he is called the “Messi of Chess,” drawing comparisons with football legend Lionel Messi.
Also Read: “I’d Like To Apologise…” — D Gukesh Apologises to Fans Amid Tough Run at Prague Chess Masters 2026
