Argentinian prodigy IM Faustino Oro, affectionately dubbed the “Messi of Chess”, has officially become a global powerhouse! Not just in classical chess, but as a dominant force in the digital arena!
As of March 2026, 12-year-old Faustino Oro has achieved a milestone of becoming the top-ranked blitz player on Lichess! With the Lichess Blitz rating of 3004, a 12-year-old holds the #1 Blitz rating on the platform! Dominating the leaderboards, Faustino is regularly outplaying established Grandmasters, proving that his chess skills are already world-class.
The Heartbreak at Aeroflot Open 2026
Faustino recently traveled to Moscow for the Aeroflot Open 2026, a tournament that carried immense weight for the young star. It represented his final opportunity to break the all-time record for the youngest Grandmaster in history, a title currently held by American GM Abhimanyu Mishra (12 years, 4 months, and 25 days).
Oro entered the final round needing a victory against the Russian GM Aleksey Grebnev to secure his third and final GM norm.
“I have the chance to break the record, but I’m just going to play and try to enjoy it and go without pressure.” — Faustino Oro before the final round of Aeroflot Open.
Despite a valiant effort and aggressive play with the black pieces, Faustino ultimately fell short, losing the game and finishing the event with the score of 5.5/9 points. While he missed the record by a matter of days, his performance at the tournament earned him a small rating gain of +1.9, and solidified his status as one of the most promising talents on the chess scene.
A Harder Road to Greatness
It is important to note that Faustino’s quest was inherently more difficult than those of his predecessors. When Abhimanyu Mishra broke the record in 2021, he did so under older FIDE rules that allowed a player to achieve all three required norms in “round-robin” events, where the field of opponents is predictable and often tailored.
However, a significant rule change now dictates that at least one GM norm must be achieved at an “Open” event. This makes the path to the title considerably tougher, as players must navigate the unpredictable “Swiss” system against a massive field of hungry, high-rated opponents. While the record remains with Mishra, many experts argue that Faustino’s journey represents a steeper climb.
What’s Next? -Menorca Awaits
Missing the “youngest-ever” record hasn’t slowed Faustino down. He remains optimistic, telling reporters: “The good thing is that I will probably get the norm soon. Without the record, but I will become a Grandmaster soon.”
His next major opportunity to secure that elusive third norm is the Menorca Chess Open 2026 in April. This tournament will be a star-studded affair, ironically featuring the current record-holder Abhimanyu Mishra in the lineup.
Elite chess returns to Menorca! 🏝️♟️
— Chess Topics (@ChessTopics) March 19, 2026
Menorca Chess Open 2026 features a very strong lineup, headlined by @chessleinier in Masters section. However, all eyes remain on 12-year-old sensation @FaustiOro as he hunts for his final GM norm in Open A deep field of 400 contenders!… pic.twitter.com/y1KQ1w1eYB
