I believe that intelligence is not often the decisive factor here. I think the key lies in the time one dedicates or invests to understand the discipline and be competitive. In other words, if you are highly intelligent, you may likely find it easier to become a skilled player or comprehend concepts. However, someone not as fortunate can achieve the same with more invested time and effort. Being intelligent doesn't hold much value if you're unwilling to dedicate time to improve/learn and lack sufficient discipline.
That's how I see it.