Won 4 placement matches in a row, then lost the next 6. After losing those 6 (I think 3 of them were because of people leaving, and 3 because I think I started getting matched with scrubs, i.e. people who just didn't want to do everything it took to win because they would rather play Genji/Hanzo/etc). I got placed at 45, and dwindled at around 46 and 47 for a few hours of play (with a 50% win ratio).

But I started getting consecutive losses, and I tilted. I've since then dropped to 36, and -- just like the very snowball-y game -- my play snowballed.

I learned a bunch of things though: 1. The so-called ELO hell is real, but a huge part of it is psychological. Another is the snowball effect of getting grouped with crappy teammates (if you play solo) that the matchmaking system thinks . 2. You may have the best intellect/skills, but they're useless if you're psychologically weak and you don't do stuff at your best. I guess you could think that the ELO/skill ratings/MMRs also take your psychological maturity into account. 3. Doing competitive play placement matches without queueing up with competent friends/acquaintances with a similar skill level is dictated by the gods of RNG. You can only do so much to carry the team, e.g. even if you carry your team's damage/kill output as a flanker but they don't follow through your kills by helping you push or contest a point, it's all pointless. (Those games are the most psychologically jarring ones, btw.) 4. Don't play when you're not at your best. (Thanks, Captain Obvious.)

I can't wait for the next season to start so I can redeem myself. lol