Dr. Benjamin Portheault on Chess Psychology: Overcoming Rating Anxiety & Mental Barriers 🎙️ [No Board Needed]

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Jun 22, 2025

Dr. Benjamin Portheault, a performance coach blending psychology and meditation to help players manage pressure. He talks about using meditation to create mental distance, spotting and defusing toxic self-talk, handling rating anxiety and time trouble, and pre-game rituals to preserve love for the game. Short practical tools and mindset shifts for staying present and resilient in high-pressure situations.

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ANECDOTE

Late Starter Who Coached Olympiad Players

Benjamin Portheault learned chess in his 30s and still plays tournaments to test coaching ideas.
He worked with the English team at the Olympiad and uses meditation plus psychology in his coaching.

ADVICE

Postpone Regret, Focus On Now

When a past mistake arises, tell yourself you'll handle it later and focus on the current position.
Use open monitoring to notice the thought, acknowledge it, and return to drawing/holding the position.

ADVICE

Name Your Negative Stories

Catch toxic self-stories and give them a ridiculous name to defuse them immediately.
Journal recurring stories at tournaments so you can recognize and plan responses.

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00:00 Intro12:03 Pressure14:37 Alan Watts' Fantasy17:53 Meditation21:04 Playing the Position in Front of You27:01 Toxic Self-Talk 30:24 Rating Anxiety 33:42 Confidence and Self-Efficacy41:23 Handling Losses45:21 Pain = Suffering x Resistance52:35 Time Trouble55:07 Giving up Control58:00 Self-Adopted Identities1:00:28 Beauty in Complexity1:03:46 Preserving the Love for the Game1:15:31 Pre-Game RitualsBenji Portheault, a seasoned performance coach with experience working with chess players of all levels, including super grandmasters, joined the podcast to discuss the mental aspects of chess. Throughout the conversation, he explored topics such as meditation, dealing with tilt, tournament preparation, and the psychology of chess success. Benji gave insights into how identity, confidence, and mindset play crucial roles in a player's performance. His approach combines modern psychology with meditation techniques to help players build resilience and manage the stress of competition effectively.A major focus of the discussion was on managing emotions during games, particularly in high-pressure situations. Benji explained the importance of developing self-awareness, identifying negative thought patterns, and learning how to reset mentally after mistakes. He introduced techniques such as open monitoring meditation and mental reframing to help players regain focus and prevent one mistake from snowballing into further blunders. He also emphasized the need for practical routines before and during games, including recognizing the feeling of playing well and recalling past successful experiences to build confidence.The conversation also touched on broader topics like rating anxiety, tournament nerves, and the importance of maintaining a love for the game. Benji encouraged players to cultivate a healthy relationship with chess, understanding that improvement requires embracing both wins and losses as learning experiences. He highlighted how professionals and amateurs alike struggle with the psychological challenges of competition, making mental training just as crucial as tactical and strategic preparation.