Russian chess players challenged Faustino to a duel with an ironic phrase

Faustino Orothe young 10-year-old Argentinian chess player, continues to create a stir in the sport. This time, two renowned Russian chess players They ironized on the networks about the Argentine’s results and hinted that he himself might be winning”With help“.

It all started with the message from the Russian Nepomniachtchi on social networks, when he referred to the score that the Argentine has in the ranking of the Chess.com website: “Surely 3,200 next week and 3,300 in a month.” In addition, between ironies, Kramnik He challenged Faustino to a face-to-face duel to be held in London.

The accusation against Faustino Oro

When the Russian Nepomniachtchi wrote his message on social media, The X community thought he was flattering the little ArgentinianHowever, a series of tweets and replies suggested the Russians were being ironic.

It all started on July 14 when , when the Chess.com site – online chess games website – updated Faustino Oro’s positioning in 20th place in the table with 3102 points (or ELO, as the app’s ranking is known). This news quickly prompted Nepomniachtchi’s initial comment: “Surely 3200 next week and 3300 in a month”.

This message was added Vladimir Kramnikcurrent world runner-up, who responded to his Russian teammate’s post: “It’s not impossible, at least the rate of improvement makes us think that it’s quite realistic. This year, taking into account recent performances and the level of play, he’s already a player of over 2600. At the age of ten! Never seen before in history, but probably just the beginning”.

What could have been simple compliments quickly turned into ironic comments. After the first two messages, Kramnik, who won the world championship in 2000, when he beat Kasparov in London, continued with more posts – no less ironic – referring to the progress of the Argentine boy, which he summed up in one sentence: “Ultimately, considering the above, the sky is the limit here.”.

This caused that David Martinez – coach of the Spanish Olympic team – was the first to begin to suspect that so much adulation towards little Faustino was nothing more than an ironic speech. “Yesterday Nepo pointed out the growth of Faustino Oro in what I thought, and I want to continue thinking, was praise. Today Kramnik published a response, mixed with statistics, that seems ironic and already makes me doubt the intention of both. What do you think?“, the Spaniard asked his community in X.

The response of Internet users was unanimous: Russian Kramnik hints that Faustino Oro’s victories on the Internet are “with help” (he uses some computer module), and that is why he wants to have a face-to-face match with him to prove his suspicion and gain more publicity by hanging on to the boy’s “fame.”

Among so many messages on social networks, Kramnik sent a proposal to Martínez and Faustino’s parents to hold a face-to-face meeting for 12 games in Londonwith all travel and accommodation expenses paid. However, from the Argentine’s entourage there has not yet been a response.

Faustino Oro: the little international chess grandmaster

Considering Faustino’s career, it could be said that the accusations against the young chess player are unfounded. Three weeks ago, Fausti surprised the entire chess world with a historic record: the Argentine achieved the title of international chess master at just 10 years, 8 months and 16 days of age, after a great performance in a live tournament held in Barcelona, ​​Spain.

The Argentinean won the title after tying with Chilean master Fernando Valenzuela Gómez. In this way, Fausti totaled 6.5 points, enough for his final position at the top of the competition and to reach the score required for the granting of the 3rd and final norm (performance) of international master.

Thus, the Argentine broke the record – that was in the hands of Abhimanyu Mishra – and became the youngest chess player in history in reaching the international chess master title.