BUENOS AIRES – The 100th Argentine Chess Championship ignited with palpable tension today as 11-year-old prodigy Faustino Oro made his debut, drawing against International Master Mario Villanueva in a match broadcast live on YouTube. Oro, who recently achieved his first Grandmaster norm, is captivating the chess world with his rapid ascent and performance.
The tournament,unfolding over eleven days,features twelve players vying for the national title. Beyond Oro’s remarkable presence, the first round saw Leonardo Tristán lose to Grandmaster Federico Pérez Ponsa, who is celebrating a recent victory over Alexei Shirov in the Clarín Cup and a rise to Fifth category in table tennis. Cristian Dolezal defeated Pablo Barrionuevo, while Diego Valerga and Julian Villca drew. Carlos David Gómez secured a win against Grandmaster Candela Francisco Guecamburu, and Flores and Acosta concluded their match in a draw.
“With Faust I played when he was 7 and he looked kind of good. Now my students tell me: ‘You’re going to play against Fausti!!!'” remarked FIDE Master Carlos David Gómez to Clarín, observing Oro’s advancement.
Tournament officials, led by referee Leandro Plotinsky, enforced “anti-cheating” rules, scanning players and their belongings for electronic devices. Ten rounds remain in the championship, promising further intense competition.
