whe i'm in a competition and my opponent is

The meme uses Squidward's unsettling, intense stare to convey that "locked in" competitive energy you get when things suddenly get serious. It's perfect for describing that moment when you're casually doing something and then you find out your rival or someone you wanna beat is also competing—suddenly you go into try-hard mode and get that thousand-yard stare of determination. The blank, hollow-eyed expression is basically your soul leaving your body as you enter beast mode. People use it to joke about how their entire demeanor changes when competition enters the chat, whether it's gaming, sports, quizzes, or literally anything where there's an opponent involved.