IDD

The little things mount up, and all the little mistakes in the end usually end up in a proper ass whoopin.
Happened to me playing epitome vs SR and Lithium (I think it was Lith) with Deathly. Got gpwnt badly. Thankfully our level was zaitox, where we managed to get 2 scores in a 3-2 game. So whereas I did get pwnt, the 2nd round of my 1st ladder could be dubbed "A New Hope" (rep for the Star Wars ref plz!).

Still the point I was trying to make is, that not only do strategies change every once and again, and not only do people figure out new tricks, but the fact of the matter is, although one never loses "the JJ2 touch" completely, small mistakes and imperfections can quickly add to the oppositions tally of scores, where a quick 5-0 loss is not something unexpectable. You will make the wrong decisions at crucial points in the game, people who with more routine will kill you or dodge your attacke when you will least expect it, and even when you will have a brilliant idea, you might fail to execute it properly. A good player might be able to pwn mediocre players even after years of absence, but should that player encounter above average players of the day, it is very likely that the rivers will run red

And it could hardly be said that the player has forgotten how to "ride the bike", it's just that it might takke a while before he can ride with the best again.

Such a player could encounter difficulties in reaching the very top again, if the gameplay has evolved too much in the time of his absence, so the player in question must be smart enough to realize, that sticking to the same patterns might not work like it has in the past. But we are talking of small adjustments in the gameplay. Incredibly, such small adjustments are often very hard to achieve, which begs to question, whether they are indeed so small. Thing is, in every competition, the differences are way smaller then people imagine them to be. People are, after all, pretty similar. If 2 different people train the same sport, their bodies will produce similar results. So a lot will depend on those minute differences in talent, in smart preparation, good tactics, psychological stability etc. On the surface there will be very few things distinguishing the two apart, yet come the time to perform, one might well squash the other in a spectacular display of strength and cunning. And that in spite of the fact that they are both the best of the best at what they do. But one of them managed to arrange all the pieces in such a fashion so as that all the events would culminate in his victory. He not only went through extensive preparation and general training, but it is very likely his preparation involved studying the opponent as well, knowing all the time, that his opponent is doing the same.

I know that if I feel like playing, I will always do good on Zeal Alpha. Sure if I'm there when the likes of Fawful play even semi seriously, I most likely won't have the best stats in the server, but I will definitely be up there with the best. Playing a 3v3, or god forbid, a 2v2 or a duel on Zeal Duels is a whole different matter altogether.