Faustino Oro's flawless Argentine debut: 25 simultaneous wins

In the hushed hall of the Museo de Arte in Tigre, a dozen‑year‑old prodigy set up 25 boards at once, his eyes scanning each position as spectators held their breath. The 12‑year‑old Gran Maestro Faustino Oro, who lives in España, opened his Argentine tour by winning every game.

Faustino Oro continues to prove why he is counted among the world’s brightest chess talents. At just 12, the Spanish‑based Grandmaster returned to Argentina for a series of exhibition matches, beginning with an immaculate performance in Tigre.

The opening stop took place at the Museo de Arte de Tigre, concluding the Semana Internacional del Ajedrez. A full house of children, families and fans filled the venue as Oro faced his opponents.

He simultaneously challenged 22 pupils under 16 from the Escuela Municipal de Ajedrez de Tigre and three invited players from the Federación Argentina de Ajedrez, emerging victorious in all 25 games.

Dubbed the “Messi del ajedrez”, El Gran Maestro Oro this year became the youngest Grand Maestro in Argentine history and the second‑youngest worldwide, a title held by fewer than 2,000 people across the globe.

At the ceremony, the municipality honoured the 12‑year‑old, who explained, “I enjoy playing chess a lot. During the week I train between five and seven hours a day.”

He also praised the quality of his opponents and the organisation, stating, “It was a very well‑organized event and the level of the kids from the Escuela Municipal de Tigre is very good.”

Following his flawless showing in Tigre, Oro will appear in Mar del Plata on Thursday 6 August and in Rosario on Saturday 8 August, again taking on 25 players simultaneously in each city.

The tour forms part of the Visit Argentina campaign, using the prodigy’s international appeal to showcase the country’s top tourist destinations.