WINNING IS A HABIT

Having tutored close to a thousand chess players of various ages and in varied capacities, I have been afforded a rare opportunity to comprehend the prevailing psyche amongst chessplayers. Most chessplayers find it difficult to beat a chessplayer who has a very dominant history over them even after becoming clearly better. The combination of the opponents confidence (based on previous results) and the attendant doubts, and sometimes 'pain' inflicted by the results prevents a player from getting a positive result over his previously superior foe. I have seen this over and over again. I even have a personal story. Though the Hikaru Nakamura vs Magnus Carlsen's example doesn't quite fall into this category (since it will be wrong to say Nakamura is better than Carlsen), it gives us some valuable insight. It is shocking the number of superior positions Nakamura has failed to convert against Carlsen.

The same observation applies to tournaments. Some players don't just win tournaments, no matter the field or the level of their preparation. If it ain't one thing, it's another. They somehow find a way to falter at some point. I am sure the reader has an example of this. Most such chessplayers suddenly start winning tournaments after 'accidentally' winning one.
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After Mariya Myzychuk won the FIDE Women's World Chess Championship 2015 (knock out), earning the International Grandmaster title alongside, she suddenly became a much better player and has overtaken her elder sister, Anna Muzychuk (also a GM) in the live ratings. She was highly instrumental in helping the Ukrainian female team finish second place in the European Team Chess Championship 2015. Prior to that, at the Women's Grand Prix in Monte Carlo (2015), she placed second (tied with Humpy Koneru) just behind the highest rated female player, Hou Yifan. Those who might have followed her games for a while would agree with me that she has consistently demonstrated competence for a pretty long while. However, becoming World Champ has infused her with some belief. She suddenly seems more potent! This is all basic psychology though.

/> It is difficult, and most will say impossible, to divorce chess from psychology. But as long as you allow your history with your opponent to pose a palpable distraction during a game, your opponent's pieces will differ in value from yours. Don't bring that extra baggage to the board, or tournament. Chess is hard enough the way it is.

Try to always play the game (position) and not the player. It might seem impossible at first, but the more you try, the easier it becomes, with each subsequent attempt, to forget the player sitting in front of you during a game. I understand the value of studying an opponent, and an opponent's games before a game. I am not saying you should stop doing that. I am of the opinion that one becomes a better player if one always strives to play what the position demands, as opposed to what one feels might pose the most problems or discomfort to one's opponent.