source: chessbase.com
The Legends & Prodigies tournament is currently ongoing in Madrid, Spain. As the name suggests, the participants are old grandmasters like Peru's Julio Granda Zúñiga and young players aiming to become grandmasters. The tournament is round-robin with a time control of 90 minutes for the game and 30 second increments per move from the start of the game.
One of the participants is eleven year old Faustino Oro, the Argentinian prodigy called the "Messi of Chess" and is considered one of the most promising young talents in the game. He is currently leading the tournament and earned his first grandmaster norm. He needs two more norms to earn the grandmaster title.
source: chessbase.com
Pichot vs Oro
This game in round 6 was the crucial game where both players were tied for the lead. The youngster beat the veteran to grab the lead in the tournament.
In the 29th move, Pichot made a blunder with Ra2. There follows 30. Rb1! where Black cannot capture because of back rank mate. Black had to move the Queen and keep guarding the eighth rank 30. ...Qe8. After 31. Qd6 Rc2 32 Bf4 Black has no answer against the threat of Rb8, losing a piece.
Game: https://lichess.org/broadcast/leyendas--prodigios-2025-legends-and-prodigies/round-6/1qcu05EO/X8Bc0cH0
Cuenca Jimenez vs Oro
The following game was in the first round where Faustino faced against Spanish GM Cuenca Jimenez. After 24 moves, the game is equal with both players nursing weaknesses in their positions. White has a weak d4 while Black has his weakness on e6. Oro had a big lead on the clock with 16 minutes vs 4 for his opponent.
Later in the 37th move, under time pressure, White made a mistake which Faustino took advantage of. White moved g3, preventing the capture of his pawn on g2 but computer analysis says Bxh5 was the best move.
After 37. ...h4 38. Kh2 hxg3 39. fxg3 Rxd4 Black had the winning position and won on move 54.
Game: https://lichess.org/broadcast/leyendas--prodigios-2025-legends-and-prodigies/round-1/qOQevFA9/TJWnYDQC
The Future Stars of Chess
Faustino Oro is considered one of the most promising young talents in the game. I first saw him beating speed demon Hikaru Nakamura in blitz and I knew this kid is strong. I'll be following this kid along with the other prodigies Woodward, Murzin and Mishra.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UR3lKBn5WRw