Nearly There! Chess World Holds Its Breath As 11-Year-Old Oro Goes For Glory

He's past the half-way point—and he's still in the running. Not to win the $232,000 tournament, but to write himself into chess history.

IM Faustino Oro, the boy wonder from Argentina nicknamed the "Messi of chess", has to get through four more rounds unscathed at the Aeroflot Open in Moscow before he's named the world youngest grandmaster ever.

That Oro is even in Russia trying to make history is, shall we say, controversial. Many see it as unnecessary and serving Russia's propaganda needs.

The Aeroflot is far from an independent tournament with no political ties. It is organised by the Chess Federation of Russia and Russia's Ministry of Sport with the support of the state-owned airline Aeroflot.

But nevertheless Oro is special, and his record attempt is special.

Going into Round 6, Oro is on 3.5/5 after a Round 5 draw with the black pieces against the 34-year-old Russian GM Aleksey Goganov on Monday. Oro pushed, but couldn't break through.

His performance rating is 2516, below the 2600 he needs to get his third and final GM norm but certainly within range. Oro did say before the event that he's obsessing over getting that norm.

Oro has already broken records galore. But this is the big one. The youngster is already the youngest ever 2500-rated player, is chasing the record held since 2021 by the American GM Abhimanyu Mishra.

Two more wins and two draws, however, would do it. In Round 6 Oro faces the Iranian IM Reza Mahdavi.

On Monday, the lead was shared by GM Ian Nepomniachtchi and IM Lev Zverev with both on 4.5/5.

Round 6 is scheduled for Tuesday, March 3. The games will start at 5pm Moscow time. Wednesday will be a double round day before the final round on Thursday.