The 99th edition of Argentine Absolute Chess Championship This Friday, December 6, will have a memorable day, because four of the twelve finalists reached the last round with a chance of winning the tournament. And one of them is Faustino Orothe youngest international master in history.
Yes, the 11-year-old precocious genius reached the final round with a chance of being Argentine champion. An absolute madness, which marks the talent and the promising future that awaits him, prior to his participation with Ilan Schneider in the World Cup of quick games and blitzin New York, between Christmas and New Year’s.
The great teacher Sandro Mareconumber 1 in the country, drew in the penultimate round with White in 32 moves against the GM Federico Pérez Ponsa and maintained leadership with 7.5 points on 10 wheels. He is undefeated in the tournament, in search of his second national title, and this Friday he will play with black against MI Pablo Acostawho comes from engaging with the GM Diego Valerga.
The great teacher Fernando Peraltafive-time Argentine champion, deducted half a point from Mareco thanks to his victory in great form with black against Gaspar Asprelli. Now he has 7, he is undefeated and this Friday he will have to play the all-or-nothing chance with white against Faustino Oro. A game to look forward to.
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The youngest international chess master in history and an unmissable talk.
Faust He is one of those who marches with 6.5 units in third place, along with the grandmaster Diego Floresthe only one who beat him in this championship. The boy refuted a horse sacrifice by the FIDE master with white German Spata and finished off by playing all the best ones with enviable skill.
“What stands out among all the children who play is his practical solidity: He puts the pieces well in each place, is patient and punishes a bad opponent play. He lives chess as a game and he loves it,” he told Clarion the international master Mario Villanuevaone of his coaches.
As soon as he finished his game, as Spata had to return to La Plata, Faustino analyzed the game with Villanueva. The kid’s ability was evident when he mentioned each variant he had thought about for each position.
At the next table, the international teacher was smiling Lucas Coro and the great teacher Leandro Krysawho analyzed their tables. And Fausti latched on to every request selfie and he even signed a book for a Colombian child.
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We know more about Faustino Oro.
Flores, Argentine heptacampeón, one away from the legendary Migue Najdorf’s record of eighthe had to work much more than necessary to beat the FIDE master with white after an extensive fight Ariel Tokman and also ended up with 6.5. In the last round he will go as black against Spata.
The other three games in the final round, which will be played this Friday from 1 p.m. at the Buenos Aires Government headquarters (Uspallata 3150) will be Pérez Ponsa-Coro, Tokman-Valerga and Krysa-Asprelli. If there is a tie on points, the tiebreaker will follow. And everything will conclude with the award ceremony.
Whatever happens, it will be difficult to forget this 99th final of the Argentine Absolute Chess Championship.