• Log InLog In
  • Register
Liquid`
Team Liquid Liquipedia
EDT 14:56
CEST 20:56
KST 03:56
  • Home
  • Forum
  • Calendar
  • Streams
  • Liquipedia
  • Features
  • Store
  • EPT
  • TL+
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Smash
  • Heroes
  • Counter-Strike
  • Overwatch
  • Liquibet
  • Fantasy StarCraft
  • TLPD
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Blogs
Forum Sidebar
Events/Features
News
Featured News
[ASL19] Finals Recap: Standing Tall4HomeStory Cup 27 - Info & Preview18Classic wins Code S Season 2 (2025)16Code S RO4 & Finals Preview: herO, Rogue, Classic, GuMiho0TL Team Map Contest #5: Presented by Monster Energy6
Community News
Flash Announces Retirement From ASL28Weekly Cups (June 23-29): Reynor in world title form?12FEL Cracov 2025 (July 27) - $8000 live event16Esports World Cup 2025 - Final Player Roster14Weekly Cups (June 16-22): Clem strikes back1
StarCraft 2
General
The SCII GOAT: A statistical Evaluation Weekly Cups (June 23-29): Reynor in world title form? StarCraft Mass Recall: SC1 campaigns on SC2 thread How does the number of casters affect your enjoyment of esports? Esports World Cup 2025 - Final Player Roster
Tourneys
FEL Cracov 2025 (July 27) - $8000 live event HomeStory Cup 27 (June 27-29) WardiTV Mondays SOOPer7s Showmatches 2025 $200 Biweekly - StarCraft Evolution League #1
Strategy
How did i lose this ZvP, whats the proper response Simple Questions Simple Answers
Custom Maps
[UMS] Zillion Zerglings
External Content
Mutation # 480 Moths to the Flame Mutation # 479 Worn Out Welcome Mutation # 478 Instant Karma Mutation # 477 Slow and Steady
Brood War
General
Flash Announces Retirement From ASL Help: rep cant save Where did Hovz go? [ASL19] Finals Recap: Standing Tall BW General Discussion
Tourneys
[Megathread] Daily Proleagues [BSL20] GosuLeague RO16 - Tue & Wed 20:00+CET The Casual Games of the Week Thread [BSL20] ProLeague LB Final - Saturday 20:00 CET
Strategy
Simple Questions, Simple Answers I am doing this better than progamers do.
Other Games
General Games
Stormgate/Frost Giant Megathread Nintendo Switch Thread Path of Exile What do you want from future RTS games? Beyond All Reason
Dota 2
Official 'what is Dota anymore' discussion
League of Legends
Heroes of the Storm
Simple Questions, Simple Answers Heroes of the Storm 2.0
Hearthstone
Heroes of StarCraft mini-set
TL Mafia
TL Mafia Community Thread Vanilla Mini Mafia
Community
General
Trading/Investing Thread US Politics Mega-thread Things Aren’t Peaceful in Palestine Stop Killing Games - European Citizens Initiative Russo-Ukrainian War Thread
Fan Clubs
SKT1 Classic Fan Club! Maru Fan Club
Media & Entertainment
Anime Discussion Thread [Manga] One Piece [\m/] Heavy Metal Thread Korean Music Discussion
Sports
2024 - 2025 Football Thread NBA General Discussion Formula 1 Discussion TeamLiquid Health and Fitness Initiative For 2023 NHL Playoffs 2024
World Cup 2022
Tech Support
Computer Build, Upgrade & Buying Resource Thread
TL Community
The Automated Ban List
Blogs
from making sc maps to makin…
Husyelt
Blog #2
tankgirl
Game Sound vs. Music: The Im…
TrAiDoS
StarCraft improvement
iopq
Heero Yuy & the Tax…
KrillinFromwales
Trip to the Zoo
micronesia
Customize Sidebar...

Website Feedback

Closed Threads



Active: 649 users

The best of the best and underdogs

Blogs > Yapa
Post a Reply
RHWY
Profile Blog Joined December 2011
Ireland43 Posts
Last Edited: 2013-06-25 17:09:06
June 25 2013 17:06 GMT
#1
The difference between players in a competitive setting


There are many cases of players that put in stellar performers in qualifiers or in practice but crumble when it comes to crunch time. What separates the winning players from excellent practice partners? If we start with the premise that winners are not born, but developed over time, with hard work and a certain amount of luck, we end up in place where players can be deemed the architects of their own destiny. They are in control of where they can be and should be held accountable for where they are currently.

[image loading]


For this reason we can generally admire the talent and skill that a person can show in games, even more so if the player can do this in a competitive setting. It is much harder to perform at the highest level in competition because of the vast quantity of variables that can affect both mind and body. In a practice setting conditions should be close to perfect. You, the player, control when you eat, what you eat, how you hydrate, what quality of practice routine you will use. Other factors including sleep, exercise, and specific practice focus are also within the player’s control. What can separate the good players from better players is mostly the ability to either: control these variables and use them to make you better or to have the ability to not let these conditions affect your potential play. The outcome of both methods results in a performance increase but only one of them is proactive in nature.

If we can see what separates the good players from the better players, what is the defining characteristic that makes the best players so good compared to better players. The best players will utilize both of the previous methods. They are able to control the variables that they can while being able to not let external factors influence their performances. This mindset is paramount for improving as well being able to take what is learnt in practice into a competitive setting consistently.

[image loading]


How does a world class player lose to someone of lesser skill?


Colluding with popular opinions of players from the public we can assume that in competitive play there are cases whereby ‘less skilled’ players or teams will play ‘higher skilled’ players or teams. This is where the ‘Underdog’ or ‘Cinderella story’ lends itself into sporting vernacular. There is nothing more exciting than a giant slaying with a smaller team beating the odds and beating a big named team.

[image loading]


The better player can underperform for a number of reasons, some of which are psychological as well as physical. The better players can be in a mental state whereby he/she is not expected to ever lose. This places a lot of pressure to NOT lose, so much so, that winning actually becomes difficult. The opposite also poses a problem if the better player decides that the game is a forgone conclusion thereby switching to autopilot and drastically underestimating their opponent. Even the best athletes in the world can get complacent, forgetting what made once made them great. Practice can become mundane with the players just going through the motions. It sometimes takes a shock loss to spur them to re-evaluate their craft.

A host of external variables can lower the overall performance level such as poor diet, sickness, lack of proper equipment as well as the all-encompassing variable ‘luck’. The more intangible factors such as concentration, motivation and other mental faculties are indeed exhaustible resources that must be controlled and used in moderation. Players that are jet setting across the globe in the hope of winning tournaments on foreign soil are much more susceptible to trouble performing at their top level. Going across time zones and spending a lot of time acclimatizing to a new environment can be mentally and physically draining. For every hour change in time zone you travel to you can expect to spend (approximately) one day adapting. These players also will be out of their standard routine for many days. It is very difficult to always be ‘on’ and in a competitive mindset. There is certainly a case to be made for developing off seasons for players to recharge and relax. In the current climate players must be flexible to attend and qualify for all the major league and tournaments which can lead to overtraining problems. Once overtraining is an issue it is usually too late to alleviate the downturn without full and substantial rest. Note that tolerance to overtraining can be supplemented with a holistic lifestyle and properly periodized plans. Athletes tolerance to overtraining is not always equal across the board, some players will feel the negative effects after a smaller amount of training hours while others will have a much higher upper level.

[image loading]


How can a lesser player beat a more skilled player?


A ‘lesser’ player can beat a ‘better’ player if he/she can play above their normal level. This can usually coincide with the better player playing at a lower level than they normally show. These two factors can come together to create a perfect storm of variables with the upset much more likely. There is usually little to no pressure on the underdog to win with nobody expecting anything more than a walkover for the better player. Another advantage also stems from the backing that the crowd will give towards the player who looks like he/she will cause an upset. Sport is a spectator event and the crowd bay for drama and shock value. Home advantage theory may also play a part as an unbiased crowd may often root for the underdog.

[image loading]


Winning can also stem from having a better strategy that can supplement obvious deficits in ability making the outcome of the game less in favour of the better player. Players can address skill discrepancies by limiting themselves to a more mechanical pre meditated game plan. Player styles can mix moreso than people expect with sporting upsets happening quite often. Sometimes athletes can struggle with some things that they are not familiar or have experience practising with. These are often the most tough matches as decisions or actions are not fully autonomous.

Winning is the product of aptitude of task, hard work, consistency, planning and dedication. The more you put into it the more you are likely to get. Consistently winning ensures a place in history and rightfully so. When you see athletes or teams losing to an underdog it highlights that when having an off day they can stumble, which makes their consistency to rarely falter all the more impressive.

Feel free to ask any questions or PM me and Ill try answer

Follow me on Twitter @eS_Performance

****
@es_performance @LiquidTLO @LiquidRet
bypLy
Profile Joined June 2013
757 Posts
June 25 2013 18:37 GMT
#2
great block, thumbs up
StrinterN
Profile Joined April 2010
Denmark531 Posts
June 25 2013 22:14 GMT
#3
Really nice read! +5
Twitter: @Strintern Stream: http://www.twitch.tv/strintern
pillsauschlau
Profile Joined March 2011
United Kingdom12 Posts
June 25 2013 22:34 GMT
#4
yay good stuff man !
Please log in or register to reply.
Live Events Refresh
uThermal 2v2 Circuit
16:00
Warm Up Cup #1
uThermal469
SteadfastSC257
Liquipedia
[ Submit Event ]
Live Streams
Refresh
StarCraft 2
mouzHeroMarine 619
uThermal 469
SteadfastSC 257
IndyStarCraft 144
UpATreeSC 112
BRAT_OK 103
ProTech57
trigger 54
goblin 38
MindelVK 23
StarCraft: Brood War
PianO 96
sas.Sziky 65
Aegong 62
scan(afreeca) 30
yabsab 6
IntoTheRainbow 5
Dota 2
Gorgc9732
League of Legends
Grubby3458
Dendi1227
Counter-Strike
ScreaM2535
fl0m1949
pashabiceps382
Heroes of the Storm
Liquid`Hasu454
Khaldor154
Other Games
summit1g3299
FrodaN1952
Beastyqt592
mouzStarbuck295
elazer156
KnowMe127
Mew2King79
Trikslyr78
Sick58
ZombieGrub30
Organizations
StarCraft 2
Blizzard YouTube
StarCraft: Brood War
BSLTrovo
sctven
[ Show 20 non-featured ]
StarCraft 2
• LUISG 5
• davetesta4
• HeavenSC 4
• sooper7s
• Migwel
• LaughNgamezSOOP
• AfreecaTV YouTube
• IndyKCrew
• intothetv
• Kozan
StarCraft: Brood War
• STPLYoutube
• ZZZeroYoutube
• BSLYoutube
Dota 2
• WagamamaTV569
League of Legends
• Jankos2119
• TFBlade1280
• masondota2274
Other Games
• Scarra1382
• imaqtpie914
• Shiphtur266
Upcoming Events
OSC
4m
SHIN vs Bunny
Cham vs MaNa
SKillous vs TBD
PAPI vs Jumy
Gerald vs Moja
ArT vs TBD
Replay Cast
5h 4m
The PondCast
15h 4m
RSL Revival
15h 4m
ByuN vs Classic
Clem vs Cham
WardiTV European League
21h 4m
Replay Cast
1d 5h
RSL Revival
1d 15h
herO vs SHIN
Reynor vs Cure
WardiTV European League
1d 21h
FEL
1d 21h
Korean StarCraft League
2 days
[ Show More ]
CranKy Ducklings
2 days
RSL Revival
2 days
FEL
2 days
Sparkling Tuna Cup
3 days
RSL Revival
3 days
FEL
3 days
BSL: ProLeague
3 days
Dewalt vs Bonyth
Replay Cast
5 days
Replay Cast
5 days
The PondCast
6 days
Liquipedia Results

Completed

Proleague 2025-06-28
HSC XXVII
Heroes 10 EU

Ongoing

JPL Season 2
BSL 2v2 Season 3
BSL Season 20
Acropolis #3
KCM Race Survival 2025 Season 2
CSL 17: 2025 SUMMER
Copa Latinoamericana 4
Championship of Russia 2025
RSL Revival: Season 1
Murky Cup #2
BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025
ESL Impact League Season 7
IEM Dallas 2025
PGL Astana 2025
Asian Champions League '25
BLAST Rivals Spring 2025
MESA Nomadic Masters
CCT Season 2 Global Finals
IEM Melbourne 2025
YaLLa Compass Qatar 2025

Upcoming

CSLPRO Last Chance 2025
CSLPRO Chat StarLAN 3
K-Championship
uThermal 2v2 Main Event
SEL Season 2 Championship
FEL Cracov 2025
Esports World Cup 2025
StarSeries Fall 2025
FISSURE Playground #2
BLAST Open Fall 2025
BLAST Open Fall Qual
Esports World Cup 2025
BLAST Bounty Fall 2025
BLAST Bounty Fall Qual
IEM Cologne 2025
FISSURE Playground #1
TLPD

1. ByuN
2. TY
3. Dark
4. Solar
5. Stats
6. Nerchio
7. sOs
8. soO
9. INnoVation
10. Elazer
1. Rain
2. Flash
3. EffOrt
4. Last
5. Bisu
6. Soulkey
7. Mini
8. Sharp
Sidebar Settings...

Advertising | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use | Contact Us

Original banner artwork: Jim Warren
The contents of this webpage are copyright © 2025 TLnet. All Rights Reserved.