1980s YA sci fi duels in different environments - use of laws of physics to win duel

[Lucy]

1980s YA sci fi duels in different environments - I read this book as a teenager. It is definitely 1980s or could be late 70s. I remember there was a young man who ended up fighting duels or might have been some kind of competition. The competitors could select the environment in which the duel or battle took place. I remember he used the laws of physics/ gravity to win a duel.

I think the front cover had a kind of grid design and there might have been pillars / sculptures also

[Sue]

The Duelling Machine by Ben Bova? They fight in VR. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&r...

[Lucy]

Sue wrote: "The Duelling Machine by Ben Bova? They fight in VR. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&r......"

I’m afraid this isn’t it - it was definitely written later and was a YA novel - but the dueling in different environments is very similar concept to this one. Thanks for the suggestion though :)