Twelve-year-old Argentine chess prodigy Faustino Oro is participating in the 21st Aeroflot Open 2026 in Moscow to secure his third grandmaster norm and potentially become the youngest grandmaster in history. The tournament, part of the FIDE Circuit 2026-2027, features top players including Ian Nepomniachtchi and Andrey Esipenko. It runs from February 27 to March 6 at The Carlton hotel, with games scheduled from February 28 to March 5.
The 21st International Chess Festival Aeroflot Open 2026 began on February 27 in Moscow, Russia, and will conclude on March 6. Hosted for the third consecutive year at The Carlton hotel, the event includes three tournaments: the main open Aeroflot Open for players rated 2300 or higher as of January 1, 2026; an open for children born in 2014 or later; and an invitational for chess legends. The main tournament uses a rapid classical format with a 60+30 time control.
A key highlight is the participation of 12-year-old International Master Faustino Oro from Argentina, rated 2516. Oro aims to achieve his final grandmaster norm in this open event before the March 11 deadline, which would surpass the record held by Abhimanyu Mishra as the youngest grandmaster. He already holds two norms, and recent FIDE rules require the third in an open tournament. The Aeroflot Open qualifies for both grandmaster and international master norms.
Top seeds include Russia's Ian Nepomniachtchi, rated 2723 and winner of the 2025 edition, along with Andrey Esipenko (2698), Daniil Dubov (2672), and Alexander Grischuk (2645). Other notable entrants are Raunak Sadhwani (2638, India), Haik Martirosyan (2626, Armenia), and young talents such as Sina Movahed, Savva Vetokhin, and Artem Uskov. The total prize fund is 20,000,000 Russian roubles, equivalent to approximately $240,000.
Organized by the Chess Federation of Russia and the Ministry of Sport of the Russian Federation, with support from Aeroflot, the tournament is integrated into the FIDE Circuit 2026-2027, part of the World Championship cycle. Andrey Filatov, CEO of the Chess Federation of Russia, stated: "Last year, the international chess festival Aeroflot Open celebrated its 20th anniversary—a truly significant milestone and a major achievement for the organisers. However, the history of this grand forum continues: this year, in addition to the traditional open tournament, events for children and chess veterans will also be held."
The event occurs amid ongoing discussions about FIDE's restrictions on Russian chess following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, though individual tournaments like this continue. FIDE recently listed it as eligible for the 2026 Circuit, adding to its prestige. Coverage is available on the Chess Federation of Russia's YouTube channel.
