The Inevitability of Winning
The following article is adapted from my Substack newsletter.
During the previous summer, I participated in a match in the second division of the Spanish league and a rather peculiar incident occurred before the game against a Spanish FM.
A sensation of absolute inevitability regarding my win overcame me at that moment.
This experience was exceedingly unusual, especially considering my typical pre-game doubts that persist regardless of the opponent. Confidence in myself has never been a strong suit, yet this time, the force of "inevitability" seemed to create a mental shield impervious to doubts or insecurities.
This was an entirely novel sensation for me. Yet, in spite of this, when the game started, I found myself unable to recall my opening analysis, resulting in a few imprecisions.
Still, luckily, my opponent made a significant strategic error, leading to a position with "two results" only. As the game unfolded, my confidence soared, and I found genuine joy in the process of playing.
I won the game and I experienced a profound sense of accomplishment.
Curiously, the following day, I struggled to recreate the same feeling.
It's worth noting that the sensation in Spain differed from the well-known psychological concept of "flow." While I had experienced "flow" before, doubts persisted. In this instance, the feeling of inevitability was so potent, akin to the certainty that the sun would rise the next day.
Following the Spanish league, I didn't play until November. Before my November game, I recollected the "feeling of inevitability" and recognized the necessity of maintaining internal calmness to invoke it.
This brought to mind Botvinnik, who asserted that he could only perform well when experiencing inner tranquility. Successfully calming my mind and setting aside daily worries, I managed to bring back the feeling of inevitable victory.
Similar to the experience in Spain, the game unfolded seamlessly and I was satisfied with the quality of my moves.
The ability to modify my mentality in such an effective manner was exhilarating, although I must admit it remains a challenge to replicate at will. Ideally, consistent access to this mental state would be very much desirable, but thus far, it has remained elusive.
I wonder whether top players routinely experience similar sentiments, blending them with their innate self-confidence. Perhaps I should start asking questions, though I understand that few, if any, may be willing to discuss it openly.
P.S. This week's video serves as a prequel to the previous week's, illustrating the critical juncture in the game and detailing my preparation and thoughts leading up to that point.
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