Argentine Chess Prodigy Faustino Oro Aims for Grandmaster Record at Aeroflot Open

Twelve-year-old Argentine International Master (IM) Faustino Oro is poised to compete in the Aeroflot Open in Moscow, seeking to become the youngest chess grandmaster in history. Oro will need to secure his third and final Grandmaster (GM) norm at the tournament, which runs from February 27 to March 6, 2026, at The Carlton in Moscow.

The Pursuit of a Historic Record

Currently, the youngest grandmaster on record is Abhimanyu Mishra, who achieved the title at 12 years, 4 months, and 25 days old. Oro, born on October 14, 2013, must achieve his final GM norm before March 11, 2026, to surpass Mishra’s record. Worldchess.com reports that the Aeroflot Open represents his last opportunity to do so.

Aeroflot Open 2026: A Strong Field

The 21st International Chess Festival “Aeroflot Open 2026” features a competitive field of 180 players. The Chess Federation of Russia notes that 110 participants represent Russia or play under the FIDE flag, with Iran (17 players) and India (16 players) forming the next largest contingents. The tournament includes 14 players rated 2600 or above, including two-time World Championship challenger Ian Nepomniachtchi, Andrey Esipenko, Daniil Dubov, Alexander Grischuk, and Raunak Sadhwani.

Oro’s Path to Moscow

Oro has already secured two GM norms. His first came in Madrid in September 2025, at the Legends & Prodigies tournament, where he achieved an undefeated 7½/9 score and surpassed a 2500 rating. He then earned his second norm at the Magistral Szmetan-Giardelli tournament in Buenos Aires, achieving a TPR of 2608 and raising his Elo rating to 2516.

Tournament Details

The Aeroflot Open 2026 will be played with a time control of 60 minutes plus 30 seconds increment. The schedule is as follows:

• Round 1: February 28, 17:00 (local time)
• Round 2: March 1, 12:00 (local time)
• Round 3: March 1, 17:00 (local time)
• Round 4: March 2, 12:00 (local time)
• Round 5: March 2, 17:00 (local time)
• Round 6: March 3, 17:00 (local time)
• Round 7: March 4, 12:00 (local time)
• Round 8: March 4, 17:00 (local time)
• Round 9: March 5, 12:00 (local time)

Oro enters the competition as the 35th seed, but is the highest-rated IM in the field. Despite a recent performance of 7/13 points and a 2575 TPR at the Tata Steel Challengers tournament, the Aeroflot Open will be a significant test against experienced opposition. Worldchess.com suggests that regardless of whether Oro achieves the final norm, the tournament will be a crucial milestone in his burgeoning chess career.