Feeling the Flow.
Every fibre of my body was totally relaxed. I was lying on my back and progressively relaxing each muscle group from my head down to my toes. ( Yes, I have muscles in my head too). It took awhile but now that I was totally relaxed I began to imagine myself playing the best chess game of my life. Visualizing and kinesthetically sensing what the experience would be like. I replayed this in my mind several times, making it more intense and realistic each time. Then I continued to relax and breathe deeply for awhile.
As I rose and headed to the tournament room I felt unusually calm, I knew my preparations had been good. More importantly, I was confident that I could handle spontaneously anything that my opponent would throw at me .
My opponent was one of the best chess players in the country and had beaten me on several occassions before but I'd done my homework and improved on my game alot since then. Also I'd detected several minor flaws in his style of play. I looked forward to testing our skills. I had no excuse to lose.
Shaking hands, pressing the clock, pushing my pawns, it was all just how I'd pictured it before and now I began to realize that I knew the position on the board very well. It was one rich in possibilities for both sides and somewhat complex. This position was a major turning point worthy of many hours of analysis, but instead I played almost instantly, it seemed my hand was thinking for itself and the pieces were almost talking to me, telling me where to put themselves for maximum effect.
I could read my opponent's mind, feel his emotions, nothing could surprise me. He seemed uneasy, not wanting to be under such pressure and amazed by my speed of play. Some of the spectators seemed to find it amazing also as they pressed nearer to the board. My intense focus and concentration barely noticed them although I was intensely aware of everything on the chess board, and even the clock's ticking, the room itself seemed but a distant haze.
I felt like a channel for some sort of Universal Power which was surging through me. I remained calm and controlled. It was all very easy. I simply trusted my intuition.
The delicate equilibrium of the position was almost imperceptibly broken by a slight innaccuracy of my opponent. There was no sense of urgency. No rush . I simply continued to improve my position but I knew now it was all over.
Several moves later my opponent realized it also and tipped over his King.
" I resign . You played like a Grand Master . " he said.
I smiled. It was a genuine compliment which reminded me somehow of when I beat someone fairly on ICC and they had accused me of using a computer.
The tournament director was all smiles at the news of my upset victory.
" You've been reading some chess books ? " he asked with a smile.
" Just feeling the flow ", was my quiet reply as the ecstatic joy of an important tournament victory hit me like a wave.
Written by Mark J. B. Bowen.© 2003
