In a beautiful display of mentorship and support, five-time world chess champion Magnus Carlsen has shared inspiring words with 12-year-old chess prodigy Faustino Oro, who is making waves in the chess world with his extraordinary talent.

The young Argentinian player, affectionately dubbed the "Messi of Chess" due to his homeland connection with football legend Lionel Messi and his similar journey from Argentina to Spain, received glowing praise from the world's top-ranked player during a conversation on the Take Take Take app.

Carlsen, known for his own legendary achievements, offered a charming twist on the Messi comparison. "I think Faustino is a lot better at 12 than Messi was at 12," Carlsen said warmly. "He's on a good path. Just embrace it and enjoy it and you know, one day Messi will be lucky to be compared to you if you continue like this."

The Norwegian champion was particularly impressed by Oro's rare positional understanding of chess, a sophisticated skill uncommon among players so young. "He has a wonderful positional feeling for chess which is quite rare among such young players," Carlsen noted with evident admiration.

Beyond celebrating Oro's technical prowess, Carlsen offered wisdom that reflects his experience at the highest levels of the game. He encouraged the young player to focus on the joy of chess rather than fixating on breaking records. "I do think that there are more important things right now than records," Carlsen advised thoughtfully. "I would focus on just trying to keep it light, not think about results a whole lot."

What makes this story even more heartwarming is Oro's mature and grounded response. The 12-year-old demonstrated remarkable perspective, saying, "I don't care much about records. I care much more about trying to play better chess all the days, trying to improve and trying to play and enjoy the game."

Carlsen highlighted the positive environment surrounding the young talent, noting that Oro "seems to really love chess" and "seems to have great support to kind of let him do his thing." The champion observed how Oro plays enthusiastically both online and in every tournament opportunity available to him.

Regarding the comparison to Messi, Oro responded with humble appreciation: "I also like to be compared with Messi and I'm happy. That for sure is important." His balanced approach to recognition shows maturity beyond his years.

Carlsen's message resonated with genuine encouragement: "Believe me, it's fun to be that much into something and be that good at it at such an early age. So just enjoy it and the pieces will fall where they may."

This touching exchange between generations of chess excellence showcases the supportive spirit within the chess community. As Oro continues his remarkable journey toward potentially becoming the youngest grandmaster in history, he does so with the blessing and guidance of one of the game's greatest champions, reminding us all that pursuing passion with joy is the greatest achievement of all.