Leonardo de Bona and Paolo Boi

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In 1575, the Madrid Chess Tournament brought together the finest chess minds of the Renaissance era. Among them were Giovanni Leonardo di Bona and Paolo Boi, both representing the Kingdom of Naples (Italy), who faced off against Spanish champion Ruy López de Segura. The event, hosted by King Philip II of Spain at the royal court in Madrid, is considered the first known international chess competition. Giovanni Leonardo emerged victorious, shifting chess dominance from Spain to Italy in a moment that forever shaped chess history.

Leonardo di Bona and Ruy López playing at the Spanish court , Leonardo de Bona and Paolo Boi

📷 Leonardo da Cutro and Ruy López play chess at the Spanish Court (1871)
Luigi Mussini: Painting (License: CC-PD-Mark) via Wikimedia Commons

Paolo Boi — 📷 **Unknown artist** *Book illustration* License CC PD Mark via Wikimedia Commons

Leonardo di Bona

Born: c. 1542, Cutro, Calabria, Kingdom of Naples (Italy)
Died: c. 1597, location uncertain

Giovanni Leonardo di Bona, also known as «Il Puttino», was one of the leading chess masters of the 16th century. Initially trained in law, he redirected his passion toward chess and quickly gained renown in Italy and abroad. After a loss to Ruy López in Rome in 1560, Leonardo traveled extensively, improving his play through competition and study. By the time of the 1575 Madrid tournament, his preparation paid off: he defeated all opponents, including López and fellow Italian master Paolo Boi. His win at the Spanish court granted him not only fame but also recognition from King Sebastian of Portugal, whom he later served. Leonardo’s style combined classical positional understanding with bold tactical play. Though few of his games survive, his influence persisted through students and admirers, including Alessandro Salvio, who would later document his career.

“He who knows how to wait and prepare shall find victory with grace and force.” – Leonardo di Bona

Paolo Boi

Born: 1528, Syracuse, Sicily, Kingdom of Naples (Italy)
Died: 1598, Naples, Kingdom of Naples (Italy)

Paolo Boi, known as «Il Siracusano», was Leonardo’s lifelong rival and compatriot. Boi’s travels took him across Italy, Spain, and Portugal, where he impressed both royalty and fellow masters with his brilliance and elegance at the board. At the 1575 Madrid tournament, Boi took second place, defeating Ruy López but narrowly losing to Leonardo. Boi’s style was admired for its refined tactics and clarity of plan. He was also known for his intellect and wit, earning praise from Pope Pius V and others in Rome. Despite never publishing his own treatise, Boi’s games and reputation spread across Europe, and he was remembered as one of the first chess professionals in history.

“A man of chess is a man of thought. Let the board reveal the soul.” – Paolo Boi

Match Overview

🗓️ Match Dates: 1575 (exact dates not recorded)
📍 Location: Madrid, Kingdom of Spain
✅ Format: Match-style encounters between top masters
⏱️ Time Control: Classical, unspecified
💰 Prize Fund: Honorarium and royal patronage
📄 Main Sponsors: King Philip II of Spain

Participants and Results

Player	Origin	Outcome
Giovanni Leonardo di Bona	Cutro, Calabria, Italy	1st Place
Paolo Boi	Syracuse, Sicily, Italy	2nd Place
Ruy López de Segura	Zafra, Spain	3rd Place
Alfonso Cerón	Granada, Spain	4th Place

Table: Participants of the 1575 Madrid Chess Tournament and Their Outcomes

Leonardo’s victory marked a pivotal shift in chess dominance from Spain to Italy, highlighting the prowess of the Italian school of chess.