Overview
Faustino Oro, a 12-year-old from Argentina, has become the second youngest Grandmaster in chess history. He achieved the title on 26 May 2026 (exact date inferred from age calculation) at the Sardinia World Chess Festival in Italy. His age was 12 years, 6 months, and 26 days. He is called the “Messi of Chess” because of his Argentine roots and amazing talent.
Who is Faustino Oro?
Faustino Oro is a chess prodigy from Buenos Aires, Argentina. He was born with extraordinary talent. People now call him the “Messi of Chess.” This nickname comes from football legend Lionel Messi, who is also from Argentina. Chess experts praise Oro for his maturity, positional understanding, and fearless style.
The Historic Achievement
Faustino Oro has officially become the second youngest Grandmaster in the history of chess. He reached this milestone at just 12 years, 6 months, and 26 days old. He secured his final Grandmaster (GM) norm at the Sardinia World Chess Festival in Italy. The Grandmaster title is the highest title in chess. It is awarded by FIDE, the international governing body of chess.
Where Does He Rank?
Only one player is younger than Oro. Abhimanyu Mishra became the youngest Grandmaster in 2021. Mishra was 12 years, 4 months, and 25 days old. So Oro stands second on this all-time list. Only seven players in history have become Grandmasters before turning 13. Here is the full list:
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Abhimanyu Mishra
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Sergey Karjakin
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D Gukesh
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Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus
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Javokhir Sindarov
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R Praggnanandhaa
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Faustino Oro
The Match That Made the World Notice Him
Oro’s global popularity exploded in 2024. At just 10 years old, he defeated five-time world champion Magnus Carlsen in an online game. Online games are different from classical tournament formats. But beating a player considered one of the greatest of all time drew worldwide attention. Since then, Oro has kept impressing fans with strong performances in international tournaments.
The Heartbreak That Delayed History
Before making history in Italy, Oro came very close to becoming the youngest Grandmaster ever. That happened earlier in 2026 at the Aeroflot Open in Moscow. He needed one more result to break the all-time record. But a Russian teenager, Aleksey Grebnev, defeated him in the final round. That loss delayed his historic achievement by just a few months.
FAQ
Q1: What is Faustino Oro’s nickname?
A: He is called the “Messi of Chess.”
Q2: How old was he when he became a Grandmaster?
A: He was 12 years, 6 months, and 26 days old.
Q3: Where did he earn his final GM norm?
A: At the Sardinia World Chess Festival in Italy.