Zimbabwe is an intriguing chess nation bursting on the scene behind the brilliance of International master Robert Gwaze in the 2002 Chess Olympiad in Bled, Slovenia. Gwaze's golden performance cast Zimbabwe in the spotlight and paved the way for rising players such as Farai Mandizha (pictured right).

Mandizha, who earned his FIDE Master's title at the 2003 African Junior Championships in Tripoli, Libya. Heralded as one of the most promising players on the African continent, he is known as an aggressive player. In his American debut, he demolished the teenage phenom, GM Hikaru Nakamura on his way to a +2 score and IM norm. This is indeed a breakthrough win for the young player as he will become known in the American circuit in coming months.