Dan Elman at age 4 was taught and influenced by his Russian born father, then by chess players who escaped the pogroms then later the Holocaust. As a University student (1955-1962) he played for teams in Switzerland and Belgium, competing in several European countries. Upon returning to Canada he won competitions in his City (5 times), and Province (7 times). Elman retired from competitive play in 1975. His interest then focused on chess organizations, chess camps, and chess lectures.
