DUPR is Not Given and Taken
A lot of players assume ratings are just “taken” from one player and given to another. That’s not how it works.
DUPR is not a zero-sum system, even though it can feel like it is.
DUPR (like an Elo-style system) adjusts ratings based on how expected a result was.
So:
*Beating someone higher than you = bigger gain
*Losing to someone lower than you = bigger drop
*Close matches matter more than blowouts
*Partner and opponent ratings also affect the calculation
Because of that, the total rating in the system is not fixed. It changes based on new players, new match data, and recalibration.
It only feels zero-sum because in a single match one player goes up and the other goes down, but the amount isn’t equal or fixed.
TLDR: you’re not “stealing” rating from opponents. You’re being measured against expected performance.