How Does Faustino Oro Beat Andy Woodward in Only 18 Moves?

Faustino Oro just win his ICC blitz match against American grandmaster Andy Woodward in style. In the twelfth and final game, the 12-year-old Argentinian prodigy defeated Woodward in just 18 moves, delivering a precise tactical knockout that showcased why many already call him the “Messi of chess.”

It was the perfect exclamation point to Oro’s 7½–4½ comeback victory. And it left many viewers asking: How does a 12-year-old beat a grandmaster that quickly—especially one as strong and experienced as Andy Woodward?

Here’s a move-by-move look at what actually happened, and why this short game was no accident but the product of deep understanding, sharp calculation, and flawless exploitation of a single mistake.

A Sharp Ruy Lopez—and a Dangerous Choice by Black

Woodward chose the Neo-Arkhangelsk Variation of the Ruy Lopez, an ambitious and theoretical line. For the first 10 moves, everything was normal:

1.e4 e5
2.Nf3 Nc6
3.Bb5 a6
4.Ba4 Nf6
5.O-O Bc5
6.Re1 O-O
7.c3 b5
8.Bb3 d6
9.d4 Bb6
10.Bg5 h6

Up to here, both players followed well-known plans.

But the game turned sharply when Woodward played:

11…Bg4?!

It looks natural—pinning the knight—but in this position the move is asking for trouble. Oro immediately finds the only good move.

The Good 12.Bd5! — The Move That Starts Everything

Oro responds with the powerful:

12.Bd5!

This is the kind of move only confident attacking players find in blitz. The bishop hits c6, and more importantly, it threatens to overload Black’s position.

Woodward needed to react with extreme precision (12…Bd7)

Instead, he played:

12…Qd7?

A natural-looking move—but a fatal mistake.

This allows Oro to unleash the full tactic hidden in Bd5.

The Tactical Collapse

After 12…Qd7?, Oro strikes:

13.Bxf6!, weakening Black’s king pawn structure.

Black is forced to recapture:

13…gxf6

Now the dark squares around Black’s king are fatally weakened.

The knockout punch arrives two moves later:

15.Nxe5!

This stunning queen sacrifice rips open the center, attacks d7, f7, and exploits the overloaded queen. In a blitz game—especially the final one of a tense match—this is the last thing a defending side wants to face.

Woodward took the knight:

15…fxe5??

And this immediately loses to:

16.Qxh5!

White wins a clean pawn with a crushing attack. In an 18-move blitz game, that’s effectively game over.

Black’s Final Error—and Instant Resignation

Desperation led to the final mistake:

17…Qxf5??

Trying to trade queens only accelerates the loss. After:

18.exf5

White is simply a piece up (the knight on c6 or rook on a8 will be gone) with a safer king, healthier structure, and complete control.

Woodward resigned, ending the game after only 18 moves.

Why This Miniature Is So Impressive

This wasn’t a random blitz blunderfest. Oro won because he understood the exact tactical flaws in Black’s setup and punished them instantly:

1. He exploited an off-side bishop (…Bg4?)

Placing the bishop on g4 allowed White’s Bd5 to come with crushing force.

2. He played Bd5!—a master move at any age

This is a top-engine move and hard to find in fast time controls.

3. He recognized the moment to sacrifice (Nxe5!!)

Instead of letting the pressure fade, he chose the direct path.

4. He kept total control in conversion

No second chances, no counterplay—just a clean 18-move execution.

For a 12-year-old to deliver this level of tactical clarity under match pressure is extraordinary.

The Perfect Finish to a Statement Victory

The miniature didn’t happen in isolation—it capped a match defined by momentum swings. Oro had already overcome a 0–3 deficit and won five straight games to seize control. Finishing with a tactical masterpiece symbolized his entire recovery: confident, precise, and unforgiving.

Their next chapter comes in January at the 2026 Tata Steel Challengers. If this 18-move finish is any indication, both the rivalry and their careers are just getting started.