Argentine chess prodigy Faustino Oro earned the grandmaster title at the Sardinia Festival. At 12 years, 6 months and 26 days old, he ranks as the second youngest in chess history.
Faustino Oro secured the final norm by defeating Polish international master Bartolomiej Niedbala in the eighth round of the Sardinia International Festival. The win, paired with his pairing against Russian Ian Nepomniachtchi, fulfilled the requirements set by the International Chess Federation.
The Argentine already held two prior norms and exceeded the 2500 ELO rating threshold. He earned the first norm at the 2025 Legends and Prodigies tournament in Madrid and the second at the Szmetan Giardelli Magistral in Argentina.
Oro now ranks behind American Abhimanyu Mishra, who claimed the title at 12 years and 4 months. The achievement sets a new benchmark for Argentine chess and places him among the world's most precocious talents.
