Faustino Oro goes to tiebreaker in 2025 Chess World Cup second round

Argentine chess prodigy Faustino Oro is still going strong at the 2025 Chess World Cup, after making it through to a tiebreaker against Indian Grandmaster Vidit Santosh Gujrathi, who is ranked 27 in the world. If Oro, 12, beats Gujrathi in Thursday’s match, he will go on to face Sam Shankland from the United States. The World Cup, played under a knockout system, is held in Goa, India, and features 206 chess players from 80 countries. It awards US$2 million in prizes, of which US$120,000 will go to the winner. The Argentine player is the youngest participant in the tournament. On Monday, he became the youngest player ever to win a match at a Chess World Cup when he beat Croatia’s Ante Brkic 5-3 in a tiebreaker match in the first round.  “I’m pleased to move to the next round,” said Oro after beating the Croatian player. “Brkic is a great player, so I’m thrilled, as I wasn’t sure I could win.”  “My chess hero is Magnus Carlsen, no doubt,” he added, “and my dream is to win the World Championship.” Oro’s successes have made him a child star, with former world champion and world number one Garry Kasparov nicknaming him “‘Chessi” — a nod to Argentine football superstar Lionel Messi —  after he won the Masters Tournament at the Club d’Escacs in Barcelona to become the youngest player ever to achieve the rank of International Master. The young chess star amazed the world in March 2024, when he beat Carlsen, the world number one, during the 2024 Bullet Brawl. Oro beat the five-time World Chess Champion in 48 moves and finished 21st overall in the tournament.