Esteban Canal (1896 – 1981) was a leading Peruvian chess player who had his best tournament results in the 1930s. FIDE made him an honorary International Grandmaster in 1977.

Canal had an even record against Max Euwe. Here is a win against Euwe in Venedig in 1948 (moves given in algebraic chess notation):

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bb5 Bb4 5. O-O O-O 6. d3 d6 7. Ne2 Bg4 8. c3 Bc5 9. Ng3 Nh5 10. Nf5 Bb6 11. d4 exd4 12. cxd4 d5 13. h3 Bxf5 14. exf5 Nf6 15. Bxc6 bxc6 16. Be3 Ne4 17. Rc1 Re8 18. g4 Qf6 19. Qa4 Qe7 20. Rfe1 Rad8 21. Rxc6 Rd6 22. Rxd6 Nxd6 23. Qc6 Rb8 24. Qxd5 Qd7 25. Bf4 h6 26. Ne5 Qa4 27. Nc6 Rf8 28. f6 Re8 29. Re7 1-0

Canal played his most famous game, sometimes called the "Peruvian Immortal," at a simultaneous exhibition. In just 14 moves, he sacrificed both his rooks and his queen to finish with Boden's mate:

Canal-N.N., Budapest 1934 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qa5 4.d4 c6 5.Nf3 Bg4 6.Bf4 e6 7.h3 Bxf3 8.Qxf3 Bb4 9.Be2 Nd7 10.a3 O-O-O?? 11.axb4! Qxa1+ 12.Kd2! Qxh1 13.Qxc6+! bxc6 14.Ba6#

12...Ne5 was a slightly better try, but White still mates quickly after 13.Bxe5! (13.Rxa1 Nxf3+ 14.Bxf3 gives White a won ending after 14...Rxd4+ 15.Ke3 Rxb4 16.Rxa7 or 14...a6 15. Ne4!) 13...Qxh1 (13...Rxd4+ 14.Bxd4 Qxh1 15.Bxg7 +-) 14.Qxf7 Ne7 15.Qxe6+! Rd7 16.Bg4 Rhd8 17.Qd6 forcing mate.