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Ruy Lopez de Segura was a Spanish priest whose book Libro de la invención
liberal y arte del juego del Axedrez
was one of the first fundamental chess
books in Europe, only after Pedro
Damiano's. He studied and lived in Salamanca.
He was considered by many to be the 1st unofficial world chess champion and was probably
the father of international competition when he
won the first international chess tournament in
Madrid, Spain in the year 1560. He would
go on later to Rome in 1571 and defeat Giovanni
Leonardo di Cutri and Pablo Boi,
the two best Italian players.
Leonardo
and Boi would have their
revenge against Lopez in 1575 in
presence of King Felipe II. His name lives on in
both a popular chess opening, as well in the
chess book he wrote in 1561.
His
opening, generally known as the Spanish Opening,
but many English players call it the Ruy Lopez
is one of the most famous of all openings. |
