Spanish stamp on the Chess Olympiad 2004. The name of "Ruy López de Segura" appears on it

Ruy López de Segura (born 1530 in Zafra near Badajoz, died 1580) 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. He studied and lived in Salamanca. Considered by many to be the first unofficial world chess champion. Events June 25 - Augsburg confession presented to Charles V of Holy Roman Empire. ... Badajoz, the capital of the Spanish province of Badajoz in the autonomous community of Extremadura, is situated close to the Portuguese frontier, on the left bank of the river Guadiana, and the Madrid-Lisbon railway. ... Events March 1 - Michel de Montaigne signs the preface to his most significant work, Essays. ... From left, a white king, black rook and queen, white pawn, black knight, and white bishop in Staunton chess pieces. ... Salamanca: Plaza Mayor Salamanca (population 156,006 (2002)) is a city in central Spain, the capital of the province of Salamanca in the autonomous community of Castile-Leon. ... The 1984 World Chess Championship was between Anatoly Karpov (left) and Garry Kasparov (right). ...

The Ruy Lopez Opening is named after him. The Ruy Lopez, sometimes known as the Spanish Game, is a chess opening characterised by the moves 1. ...