Argentinian prodigy Faustino Oro scored a memorable victory over American grandmaster Andy Woodward on Wednesday, winning their 12-game blitz match 7½–4½ on the newly relaunched Internet Chess Club (ICC). The match began disastrously for Oro—he dropped the first three games—but the 12-year-old responded with remarkable composure, ripping off five straight wins to seize full control of the contest. From there, he kept his lead and closed the match comfortably.
The showdown drew high interest from fans, not only because both players are among the most gifted youngsters in the world, but also because it was streamed across ICC’s social channels, with Oro even joining the commentary. Woodward simultaneously streamed the battle on his Twitch channel, adding to the event’s accessible, modern, fan-friendly atmosphere.
A Clash Between Two of the World’s Brightest Talents
This match was more than a casual blitz exhibition. It was a meeting between two elite members of the Top 10 Chess Prodigies to Watch in 2025, as ranked on Attacking Chess.
According to that list, Faustino Oro sits at #1, the highest-rated overall prodigy with a perfect index score of 100. Nicknamed the “Messi of chess,” Oro has shattered a long list of age-based records. He became the youngest player ever to reach 2300 classical Elo, the fastest to achieve an IM norm (later surpassed), and in June 2024, the youngest International Master in history at just 10 years and 8 months. He made global headlines in May 2024 by defeating Magnus Carlsen in a Bullet Brawl event on Chess.com. In late 2025, he earned his first GM norm in Madrid with a performance rating of 2759, and on October 1, 2025, became the first 11-year-old ever to reach 2500.
At #10 on the prodigy list is Andy Woodward, a Grandmaster from Frisco, Texas. Born in 2010, Woodward is already one of the strongest American juniors of all time. He earned his GM title in January 2024 at age 13 years and 8 months, becoming the second-youngest GM in U.S. history. His résumé includes defeating Hans Niemann at the 2023 World Junior Championship, reaching the finals of the 2023 and 2024 Puzzle World Championships (winning in 2025), and scoring powerful GM-level performances in European norm events. Woodward entered the ICC match as the older, higher-rated, and more experienced blitz competitor.
Their previous encounters favored Woodward, who beat Oro both at the 2024 Jeddah International Chess Festival and in a later online event. But Wednesday’s match served as a reminder that Oro’s progress has been explosive.
A Match of Momentum Swings
The match format was simple: 12 blitz games at 3+0, no increment. Fast, unforgiving, and perfect for showcasing calculation speed and nerves.
- Games 1–3: Woodward started strong, punishing Oro’s early inaccuracies and racing to a 3–0 lead. At that point, most viewers expected Woodward to run away with the match.
- Games 4–8: Oro flipped the script. Showing trademark tactical sharpness and surprising resilience for his age, he won five games in a row, turning a 0–3 deficit into a commanding 5–3 lead.
- Games 9–12: The final stage featured back-and-forth chances, but Oro held firm, neutralizing Woodward’s attempts to mount a comeback. The match ended 7½–4½, a statement win for the world’s top-ranked prodigy.
Spotlight on ICC’s New Era
The event was also a milestone moment for the Internet Chess Club, one of the oldest online chess platforms in existence. Founded in 1995, ICC was the pioneer of commercial online chess, hosting grandmasters, live commentary, and some of the earliest computer-engine tournaments. But as modern platforms grew, ICC’s popularity declined.
In 2024–2025, ICC began a major relaunch, shifting away from paid subscriptions toward a freemium, web-based model. Longtime clients like BlitzIn and Lantern Chess have been retired in favor of a cleaner, more accessible interface. With the new ownership aiming to rebuild ICC’s identity, high-profile youth matches like Oro–Woodward help signal that the platform is embracing modern chess culture while honoring its legacy.
What Comes Next
The rivalry between Oro and Woodward is far from over. Their next meeting is already scheduled for the 2026 Tata Steel Challengers in Wijk aan Zee, where the two prodigies will compete over-the-board in one of the world’s most prestigious developmental tournaments. Given their accelerated rise, spectators are eager to see how both players adapt to classical-time-control pressure.
For now, though, Faustino Oro walks away with the momentum. His comeback win on ICC is another reminder of why he sits at the top of the global prodigy rankings—and why the chess world keeps comparing him to a future superstar.
I’m Xuan Binh, the founder of Attacking Chess, and the Deputy Head of Communications at the Vietnam Chess Federation (VCF). My chess.com and lichess rating is above 2300. Send me a challenge or message via Lichess. Follow me on Twitter (X) or Facebook.
