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Giovanni
Leonardo di Cutri or Giovanni Leonardo di Bona, also
known as Il Puttino, was an early Italian chess
master and considered by many the 2nd unofficial world
chess champion.
Giovanni
Leonardo was born in Cutro, Calabria. He studied law in
Rome. In 1560, he lost a match to
Ruy López in Rome. In
1566-1572, he traveled and played chess in Rome, Genoa,
Marseille, and Barcelona. He had played many times
against Paolo Boi in Italy and they were regarded as
being equal in their chess strength.
He won the
first known international master tournament in the
history of chess in Madrid in 1575, therefore
becoming the strongest chess master of the time.
After their success at the Court of Spain, Leonardo and Boi both traveled, although separately, to Lisbon,
where they tested their chess skill against Il Moro, the
eminent chess champion of King Don Sebastian, of
Portugal. Again, they both succeeded, first Leonardo,
soon followed by Paolo Boi, in defeating Il Moro.
And again
the King was generous with his rewards. After this
triumph, Leonardo, having been called
the wandering knight (Il Cavaliere errante) by
King Don Sebastian, left Portugal to return to Italy and
settle in Naples where he became the chess master for
the Prince of Bisignano. |
