The Mental Game by Alexander Galkin (hardcover)

The Mental Game by Alexander Galkin is an English-language hardcover chess book about the mental side of competitive success, from pressure and frustration to the daily work behind top-level results.

What this book is about

Grandmaster Alexander Galkin writes about eighteen months of work with Alexandra Maltsevskaya, the winner of the World Junior Championship 2018 and the European Rapid Championship 2022. The book presents that collaboration honestly, showing both the turning points and the difficult moments that shaped the process.

A year after the period covered here, Maltsevskaya became World Junior Champion. That makes The Mental Game a useful read for chess players, coaches, and anyone interested in the mental side of competitive chess and player development.

Inside the book

This title combines a direct, personal narrative with coach’s commentary, so you get both the human side of the story and a practical view of training and form-building. It also includes 11 annotated games from Maltsevskaya’s championship performance at the World Championship.

It is a strong choice if you want a chess book that goes beyond opening theory and move-by-move analysis and instead shows how preparation, the trainer-player relationship, and handling pressure all matter in the fight for titles.

Key details

• Product type: hardcover chess book
• Language: English
• Author: Alexander Galkin
• Page count: 288
• Content focus: mental preparation and psychology in chess
• Subject: work with Alexandra Maltsevskaya
• Bonus content: 11 annotated games