BRING YOUR VISION INTO ACTION
Discover the remarkable journey of Faustino Oro, who became the youngest International Master at age 10, defeated Carlsen in bullet, and continues to blaze trails. A story every parent should read.
1. Introduction
In the world of chess, there are prodigies — and then there is Faustino “Fausti” Oro. At just 11 years old, this Argentinian sensation has already made history: the youngest player ever to cross a 2300 FIDE rating, and now the first 11-year-old to cross 2500.
His story is a roadmap for parents, coaches, and young dreamers: raw passion, self-driven learning, and bold ambition. Let’s walk through Fausti’s journey — and how more prodigies like him can be nurtured.
2. Early Life & First Moves
- Born: October 14, 2013, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Federation: Argentina
- Nickname: “The Messi of Chess” (a nod to Argentina’s footballing hero)
Fausti learned chess largely on his own. His father Alejandro created a Chess.com account for him in 2020. In June 2021, he began collaborating with ChessKid.com and streamed monthly with WIM Ivette Garcia, gradually building exposure and experience.
By October 2021, when he was just 7 years old, Faustino received his first classical FIDE rating: 1922. Over the next months, he crossed 2000 and never looked back
3. Burst onto the Scene: 2023 & Milestones
2023 was the year Fausti began making global headlines:
- He became the youngest player in history to reach 2300 FIDE.
- He secured his first IM norm at the Comodoro Rivadavia International Chess Festival, tying for 2nd with 6.5/9.
- He defeated IM Levy Rozman (GothamChess) in an online blitz match (11.5–10.5).
His opponent GM Diego Flores commented:
“It makes me happy to see him play … he uses every resource in every position, and continues an upward streak.”
4. 2024 & 2025: Historic Feats
Fausti did not slow down — he accelerated.
- In January 2024, he defeated GM Hikaru Nakamura in bullet play.
- In March 2024, his bullet rating surpassed 2950, and he scored a win over Magnus Carlsen in bullet.
- As of September 2025, he reached a 2500 FIDE Elo rating, becoming the first 11-year-old ever to do so.
- He also earned his first GM norm, putting him well on the path to the Grandmaster title.
His best games, preferred openings, and other performance stats reflect the depth and maturity in his style.
| Lesson | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Let the child lead | Fausti mostly learned on his own, with guidance, not heavy pressure. |
| Early exposure & consistency | Streaming, playing online, small tournaments consistently built skill. |
| Balanced ambition | He set big goals (IM, then GM) but advanced step by step. |
| Supportive environment | His father created tools (Chess.com account), he worked with ChessKid, got exposure. |
| Healthy resilience | Losses, setbacks — all part of growth. His trajectory shows steady upward momentum. |
If more parents adopted this supportive, patient, growth-oriented mindset, more young talents like Fausti could emerge.
6. Spotlight: Other Young Prodigies to Watch
Faustino Oro is not alone. Chess history is full of young stars. Here are a few you could profile in coming posts:
- Praggnanandhaa: Became GM at age 12.
- Gukesh D: Rapidly climbing through youth, junior events.
- Nihal Sarin: Known for rapid, bullet expertise from young age.
- Jeffery Xiong, Alireza Firouzja (youth era): Show how prodigies evolve over years.
By creating a series “Young Prodigies Series: From 6 to 16,” Chess Visionaries could become a go-to resource for parents and young players alike.
7. How This Story Strengthens Your Brand
- SEO Pull: Keywords like “Faustino Oro,” “youngest international master,” “chess prodigy,” “chess for kids,” “how to nurture chess talent” help attract readers.
- Emotional resonance: Parents, coaches, and young players see real-life inspiration, not abstract advice.
- Series potential: You can spin off “Prodigy Profiles” monthly.
- Authority building: Show you know the stories behind top chess talent — readers come back.
If you’re a parent, coach, or young player:
- Subscribe to Chess Visionaries for more prodigy stories and training insights
- Share this post with others who want to nurture talent
- Suggest the next prodigy you’d like us to profile
Together, we can map the journeys of tomorrow’s chess legends — starting with Faustino Oro.