Daniel Yanofsky focuses on the life and achievements of the Polish-Canadian chess Grandmaster. Born in Brody, Poland on March 26, 1925, he moved to Canada at a young age and began playing chess in Winnipeg. He was a child prodigy and became the youngest person to win the Canadian Chess Championship at the age of 16.
Yanofsky's chess career greatly expanded internationally, representing Canada in nine Chess Olympiads between 1950 and 1974. He achieved several significant wins, most notably beating former world champion Mikhail Botvinnik in Groningen in 1946. In 1964, Yanofsky was awarded the title of International Grandmaster, becoming the first person in the Western Hemisphere to be given this honour. He also played professionally, winning accolades including Canadian champion a total of eight times and British champion in 1953.
His second career was equally fruitful as a lawyer, alderman, and then Mayor of West Kildonan. Despite his focus on local politics, which led to his induction into the Canadian Chess Hall of Fame in 2001, he retained his love for chess and maintained a connection with it until his death in 2000. His contributions to chess are commemorated via the annual Abe Yanofsky Memorial Open, named in his honour.