You got me with the gauntlet once. 
But yeah, 1v1 is all about controlling the items (specifically red armor and mega health) and positioning.
I still suck compared to the top guys. I played a pro a few weeks ago and lost 35-1. Then again, most of them have been playing since Quake 3 came out in 1999. 
Hell yes. and how many times did you get me with the gauntlet?
end of story.

I wonder how good joe rogan would get, apaprently he was Really good at quake when he played it like 8-10 hours a day, and now he doesnt dare to anymore lol.
saw a CRAZY ASS Live montage on YT a few hours ago, cannot find the exact one again, a bunch of space maps and he had Crazy hits while the enemy was in the air from faaaaar far away lol