Ruy López de Segura: a new biography sheds fresh light on a major figure in chess history
Known to chess players around the world through the opening that bears his name, Ruy López de Segura remains one of the most important figures in the history of the game. A recently published book in Spain is devoted to him: Ruy López de Segura, la cara oculta del tablero, by Daniel Gragera Ledesma and Francisco de Asís Gragera Ledesma. The book is written in Spanish and is presented as the result of nearly five years of research based on extensive work in archives, libraries, and collections. An English translation is also planned in the coming months.
The authors revisit the life of Rodrigo López de Segura, known as Ruy López, who was born around 1530 in Zafra, and they highlight the importance of his 1561 treatise, Libro de la invención liberal y arte del juego del axedrez, one of the landmark works of Renaissance chess literature. Through his contribution to chess theory and especially to the study of openings, Ruy López appears as one of the pioneers of modern chess.
The volume also attracts attention for its reassessment of several traditional historical narratives. In particular, it challenges some long-accepted accounts concerning the encounters between Spanish and Italian players in the sixteenth century, including the famous event usually associated with El Escorial in 1575. Whether or not all of its conclusions gain universal acceptance, the book clearly shows that the early history of modern chess remains an active and evolving field of research.
Francisco de Asís Gragera Ledesma, Daniel Gragera Ledesma
Ruy López de Segura
La cara oculta del tablero
- PublisherIndependently published, 2025
- ISBN979-8287003395
- Languagesspanish
- Pages550
- Formatshardback
- See alsoRuy López de Segura: a new biography sheds fresh light on a major figure in chess history