Faustino Oro, the chess prodigy, took another step in the search for his second grandmaster standard

Faustino Oro is still a protagonist in the Masterful Szmetan Giardelli This is controversial in Buenos Aires. The chess prodigy, international champion at just 12 years old, achieved a tie with the Bulgarian grandmaster this Sunday Ivan Cheparinov, 39 years old and took another step in the search for his second grandmaster standard. With black pieces, Fausti He signed a draw with one of the tournament leaders after 25 moves.

It was the fifth consecutive draw for the young Argentine player, who lost in the first two rounds Ilan Schnaideralready another precocious 14-year-old talent Thomas Darcylhis most “accessible” rival, and then on a par with five older grandmasters, the Norwegian Aryan Tarithe other leader of the competition; the Spaniards Alexei Shirov; his compatriots Sergio Slipak And Sandro Mareco; and Cheparinov.

Thus, Oro collects 4.5 points, the same as Shirov, and remains in the fight for the title, being only 0.5 points behind the Bulgarians and Tari, who collect 5 points. And perhaps more importantly for him, he was just one point away from securing the grandmaster standard, which requires him to score 5.5 points over the nine rounds.

Fausti achieved his first norm on September 23rd in the tournament “Legends and Miracles” in Madrid, at just 11 years, 11 months and 9 days, becoming the second youngest person to receive this honor. He needs two more to retain the most important title in world chess. If he receives it before March 7, 2026, when he is 12 years, 4 months and 24 days old, he will become the youngest grandmaster in history.

Now he will campaign for the second municipal election campaign, which is controversial in the Recoleta Cultural Center. Although it won’t be easy for him to do it as he will face the experienced Peruvian GM in the last two rounds Julio Granda58 years old, and the GM Diego Floreswho won the Argentine Absolute Superior championship for the eighth time a few weeks ago, equaling Miguel Najdorf’s record.

This Sunday, in the other games of the seventh round, Tari drew against Slipak, Granda against Darcyl and Shirov against Mareco. The last win of the day was Flores’ against Schnaider. The eighth round will be played this Monday from 3:30 p.m.