Leonardo Costa started playing chess at the age of four and a half.

[3] In June 2017 he became German Youth Chess Champion in age group U10,[4] in June 2019 German Youth Chess Vice Champion in age group U12[5] and in August 2021 German Youth Chess Champion in age group U14.

[6] In December 2021, the commission for competitive sports of the German Chess Federation decided on special funding for him, with which he should make the leap into the German national chess team and maybe even the top of the world in the long term.

At the 93rd German Chess Championship in Magdeburg 2022, Costa won, although only placed 24th, in a field with several International Master and Grandmasters and won the title of German master.

At the World Youth Chess Championship in agr group 14 in 2022 in Mamaia, he finished 18th after retiring in the last round in a single draw, completely winning; otherwise he would have shared third place.