GCL Contenders Champions: Faustino Oro, GM Jose Martinez, IM Mai Narva Clinch Inaugural Titles

Argentina’s 12-year-old prodigy, Faustino Oro, famously dubbed the “Messi of Chess,” triumphed in the Prodigy (U21) category of the GCL Contenders 2025 Knockout Challengers Round, alongside GM Jose Martinez

(Male) and WGM Mai Narva (Female). This trio will now act as official ambassadors for Season 3 of the Global Chess League (GCL), a collaboration between Tech Mahindra and FIDE, set to take place at Mumbai’s Royal Opera House from December 13–24, 2025, in partnership with Chess.com.

In an electrifying finale, the skilled Oro defeated Indian GM Pranav Anand, while GM Jose Martinez bested American streamer and blitz specialist IM Andrew Tang. Estonia’s GM Mai Narva captured the women’s title with a victory over Ukraine’s WGM Yuliia Osmak. Their achievements conclude an intense two-month-long competition featuring over 11,500 players across three divisions: Male, Female, and Prodigy (U21).

“We’re thrilled to see Faustino, Jose, and Mai emerge as the winners of the GCL Contenders 2025. Their performances capture the global and inclusive essence of what the Global Chess League stands for, uniting players across generations and geographies on one platform,” said Gourav Rakshit, Commissioner of the Tech Mahindra Global Chess League.

“The Contenders format has been a fantastic step toward discovering the next wave of chess stars and bringing fans closer to the action,” he added.

Oro’s rapid rise has grabbed headlines across the chess world: from defeating World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen in an online blitz game to becoming the youngest player ever to cross the 2500 Elo mark earlier this year. Joining him are Mexico’s GM Jose Martinez, a formidable online rapid player with multiple Chess.com titles, and Estonia’s GM Mai Narva, a two-time national champion and Olympiad regular. Together, they represent the new wave of global chess talent that the league aims to spotlight.

“Playing in the Global Chess League Contenders was a challenging and unique experience, every match pushed me to think faster and adapt better,” said Oro, who won the title in the prodigy category.

“It’s exciting to see how the Global Chess League connects players from all over the world, and I’m proud to be part of this journey as one of its ambassadors.”

“Winning the GCL Contenders 2025 has been a special experience. The competition brought together such diverse playing styles and energy, and that’s what makes it unique. I’m looking forward to being one of the ambassadors of the league that celebrates both excellence and inclusivity in chess,” said women’s category winner GM Mai Narva.

“The GCL Contenders format was incredibly unique yet challenging, with every round testing your consistency and speed. It’s been inspiring to see how GCL is giving players across all levels a global stage to showcase their skills. I’m proud to be joining the league as an ambassador and look forward to what’s next,” said GM Jose Martinez after winning the title in the men’s category.

All matches were played in rapid format on Chess.com and streamed live on GCL’s official YouTube channel, ensuring transparency through advanced fair-play protocols, including camera monitoring and anti-cheating measures. GCL continues to enhance the fan experience with real-time insights and smarter broadcast integration.