Faustino Oro is three rounds into his Grandmaster norm bid at the Aeroflot Open, and the Argentine prodigy is delivering. After wins in rounds one and two and a hard-fought draw against a 2600-rated GM in round three, he sits at 2.5/3 and is on pace for both the norm and the rating points he needs.
Oro is 14. He will turn 15 in September. Sergey Karjakin earned his GM title at 12 years and 7 months, the youngest in history. If Oro completes the title requirements this week, he breaks that record, one of the most celebrated milestones in chess.
The chess world is following closely. His games are broadcast live on multiple platforms, and Argentina's national federation has issued daily updates. His play is direct and tactically complex. He does not play for draws. Against Uzbek GM Abdulla Yusupov in round two, he found a pawn sacrifice in the middlegame that most grandmasters would miss.
Five rounds remain. That is a long way to go at this level. But the start he has made is not luck. He is playing the best chess of his career at exactly the right moment.