Farai Mandizha: International Master

Farai Mandizha is a long way from his home in Zimbabwe, but over the past few years has made a presence in the U.S. chess scene. Over this time he has made an impression in his New York base and has now achieved the difficult task of earning the International Master (IM) title in the U.S.

He earned his last norm at the Philadelphia Open just one week after an IM performance in the New York International. At the recently ended World Open, he continued his onslaught by scoring 7.5/9 in the under-2400 section and should vault well over 2400 to qualify for the title.

What is so difficult about earning norms in the U.S. is that there are few opportunities. However there are a few new tournaments that will afford such a chance and Mandizha got norms in two of them.

The New York International is only in its third year and the Philadelphia International has only been in existence for four years. The World Open and Foxwoods had been the only marquee tournaments offering the best norm opportunities. In addition, these tournaments are very strong which means that you have to be in top form. The Zimbabwean IM-elect has definitely been in form.

Here is an assessment of Mandizha’s IM norm performances.

2006 Foxwoods Open
Title	Player	Nation	Flag	ELO	Result
GM	Hikaru Nakamura	USA		2664	1
GM	Alonso Zapata	Columbia		2470	½
IM	Bryan Smith	USA		2384	0
WFM	Hana Itkis	USA		2100	1
IM	Alan Stein	USA		2434	1
GM	Joe Gallagher	Switzerland		2530	0
GM	Dashzegve Sharavdorj	Mongolia		2449	0
FM	Boris Reichstein	USA		2168	1
IM	Ali Frhat	Egypt		2376	1
Score: 5½-3½ (IM norm)

2010 New York International
Title	Player	Nation	Flag	ELO	Result
	Andy Applebaum	USA		unr	1
GM	Mark Paragua	Philippines		2497	½
GM	Alexander Shabalov	USA		2585	1
GM	Surya Ganguly	India		2672	1
GM	Jaan Ehlvest	USA		2591	0
GM	Sundaraja Kidambi	India		2520	½
IM	Dean J Ippolito	USA		2480	½
GM	Rashad Babaev	Azerbaijan		2534	½
GM	Robert L Hess	USA		2590	0
Score: 5-4 (IM norm)

2010 Philadelphia International
Title	Player	Nation	Flag	ELO	Result
IM	Anthony Bellaiche	France		2455	½
IM	Gabriel Battaglini	France		2420	1
IM	Samuel Shankland	USA		2575	½
	Amanda Mateer	USA		2098	½
FM	Louis Jiang	Canada		2298	1
IM	Salvijus Bercys	USA		2476	½
GM	Mark Paragua	Philippines		2497	1
GM	Mikheil Kekelidze	Georgia		2580	0
GM	Amon Simutowe	Zambia		2464	½
Score: 5½-3½ (IM norm)

IM-elect Manidizha has played very well in this stretch and perhaps he is now competition with fellow Zimbabwean IM Robert Gwaze on who will be the first Grandmaster of the country. Gwaze certainly has the raw talent and perhaps they will both reach the prestigious plateau. However, the issue of viable opportunities becomes the issue. Despite the fact that Mandizha could have opted to get the IM title in a singular African Championship, the three-norm system certainly gives a measure of how a player stands against the strongest competition.

FM Victor Shen vs. IM-elect Farai Mandizha at 2010 World Open. Nigeria’s IM Oladapo Adu watching the action. Shen won the section with a remarkable 8/9. Mandizha scored 7½ (losing only to Shen) and Adu tied for 3rd-5th with 7. Photo by Daaim Shabazz.