Ruy López de Segura

Ruy Lopez de Segura
Born	c. 1530
Died	c. 1580

Ruy López de Segura (mid-1500s) was a Roman Catholic priest in Spain who was an expert chess player and the first to publish a modern analysis of it, including the Ruy Lopez opening which is named after him and is still used often by top players. In 1561 he published the first textbook about chess, the Libro de la invención liberal y arte del juego del Axedrez (“Book of the Liberal Invention and Art of Playing Chess”). Some consider Ruy Lopez to have been the first unofficial world chess champion.

King Philip II was very impressed by López and awarded him a gold rook on a chain, which he then wore around his neck on occasion.

He defeated the top chess players in Italy during a trip there between 1560 and 1573.

Ultimately a top Italian player named Leonardo da Cutre was able to defeat López in Spain in 1575.