ChessManiac.com - How to Become a Chess Professional: "Have you got what it takes?

Your desire to become a professional deserves respect. First of all you should arm yourself with patience, as the way from an amateur to....

ChessManiac.com :: View topic - Chess History - Early modern writers: Ruy Lopez, Part II by Sarah Beth: "Leonardo di Bona was also known as Leonardo di Cutri, il Puttino and Cavaliere Errante (by King Sebastian of Portugal). He was born in 1542 in the town of Cutro in the Province of Crotone in region of Calabria, Italy. He was a small man which may be why he was called il Puttino which means the Boy.

Along with Paolo Boi (sometimes referred to as Paola Bove; sometimes called il Bove, the Ox; often referred to as Siracusano because he was from Syracuse, Sicily) Leonardo was the best player of the 16th century and a new breed of wandering chess professional. Both Leonardo and Boi made their entire living playing chess and they either traveled to where chess was played or they worked for rich patrons.

Leonardo, after studying chess intently for two years, traveled to Madrid to re-challenge Ruy Lopez. He was accompanied by his friend, Giulio Cesare Polerio (nicknamed l'Abruzzese because was born, in 1548, in Lanciano, an ancient town in the Chieti province of the Abruzzo region of Italy In Madrid). He played Ruy Lopez in off-hand games for money, winning every game. Philip II learned of this and decided to stage a match in his court. This was seemingly a big deal. Boi, who had traveled separately to Madrid, came by to observe. In the court was Ruy Lopez and Alfonso Ceron, a Portuguese player considered 2nd only to Ruy Lopez. Leonardo and Ruy Lopez were to play 5 games. If one could win 3 consecutive games, there was a 3000 scudi bonus!

Well the match progressed. Ruy Lopez won the first two games. Philip II, who had probably seen all this before and assumed the probable outcome, made to leave, figuring what he had heard of Leonardo was exaggerated and that the match was a mis-match. But Leonardo begged the king to stay,"

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