I'm not so sure that ego is fighting on an emotional level...

I think the home of the ego is the mind...thinking...

Fighters lost in their ego do often fight emotionally (use anger to overcome fear etc...). I think its a balance between the emotions and thinking - its the type of emotions and type of thinking... Positive emotional state for performance include include the sense of challenge, feeling strong and confident in ones self and one's abilities (as opposed to being about beating someone else), sense of curiosity, courage, drive and a certain level of enjoyment.

Balance - the left and right hemispheres of the brain (left "thinking" and right "feeling) as well as all the other aspects of the two sides...

zone - zen etc

I agree - the more out of ego you are the more you and slip into the state of being related or called 'the zone' or a 'zen state'.

the thinking isn't getting in the way and the feeling isn't getting in the way (the mind isn't getting in the way)- but they are functioning - almost as a recording or observation of what is happening... be it the higher self, the subconscious an altered state or whatever label or explanation you can give... it happens and its experienced more of a ride than being in control it seems to me...

The strong focus on winning (and for many that usually means not loosing) and the emotions, judgments and fears around that tends to keep one out of a zen state or the zone etc

At least thats my opinion and expereience