some things I've learned over the years

a) you can't be good at every match, every day. Even cypher has bad days and plays shit (for his standards) on bad days. It just happens

b) if you're raging, don't focus on "not raging" but on the game mecanics instead - when is the next major pickup ? what is my opponent's stack ? etc.

c) force youself to take your time for rails

d) when you're tired, never duel to win, just play for fun and don't expect much of yourself

e) new addition for QC : I'm struggling hard at not raging when loosing to OP sorlag spit and unhittable anarki - things out of my control. For now I've taken the relax route : I'm not playing duel until rockets are fixed cause its just a nightmare

Play for the enjoyment of the game and the rest will improve with time.

The loss exceeds the enjoyment.

This is the problem why Quake duel (which is the only Esport friendly mode) doesn't get any new players.
Gamers nowadays are conditioned through other games to blame the loss on other factors.

I Lost because my team suck. They picked x/y hero, overpowered. Lag or whatever

So when new players who are the "best players in the world if i didn't had Cyka2003 on my team at dust2", lose, the wakeup call is too much.

It destabilizes the players (biased) view of the world.

That's just poor mindset i'm afraid.

You have to play with the mindset that losing is beneficial. Be grateful that your opponent is beating you because he is basically showing you where your weaknesses are. Also don't take it too seriously, its only game.

I believe a component to this is how you feel mentally, and that's something that you can't affect in the immediate present.

I never got too far in duel, but where I was, it was mostly down to being well rested and with a clear mind so that some aspect of the game could come easy. When that was the case, I would enjoy winning or losing. If I was tired or stressed in my normal life, there was nothing I could do during the game to avoid frustration.

You need to start with a mental checklist before every duel (or at least before every serious session). This will help your mental preparation and stability and avoid raging where possible

We will assume that you of course know the basic QC meta, you understand the map layout and you have half decent aim.

Only use the checklist when you have the full intent of playing seriously though. This is a good way to start winning through mental preparation. Of course raw skill and talent is important, but you should set some rules to avoid frustration

1. Start every game with the BELIEVE that you can beat your opponent. Really believe it as it will feed your winning mentality which shakes off nerves and bad vibes. If you meet a player with double the level as you - don't be intimidated. Assume you are better.

2. If you die - try to give yourself a few seconds to analyze what happened, breathe in, put yourself in the moment again and start over with the idea that you can win the next round if you avoid the mistake you made earlier on. Example - your rushed on an item in a stupid way. Don't do it next time. Ask yourself if it was worthwhile getting the item in the first place?

3. Breathe - don't tense up. Go into duels and specifically focus on this. A tense mind usually results in anxious feelings and will break your flow. You will literally reduce oxygen flow to your brain and have tunnel vision. Your creativity will suffer.

4. In case that you are severely overclassed you can potentially abandon this 'I can win' mentality and try to use the map to your advantage. Go into ambush mode and use sound queues to re position yourself until there is a better moment to engage. You know you can't win in aim, so try to up your brain game and comfort yourself with the idea that you are training something useful. It sucks to be overclassed, in a way you need to admit to yourself that you are not at this level (yet) so use this opportunity to up your brain game. If opponent is aggressive, play defensive, make him tilt. If opponent is tactical and elusive, try to pick a position that is in line with rule 6 and ambush the mofo.

5. Shake off this 'If I rush aggressively I will win' mentality. Only the best of the best can pull that off and they usually rely on their godlike aim to make it work. Admit to yourself that you are not there yet but that you are WORKING on it. Believe that you WILL get better if you keep your focus high.

6. Whenever you have a chance, ask yourself the question if you are in an advantageous position, can you win this potential encounter and can you flee from the situation. If you answer wrong, then you are in disadvantage and you probably deserve to die if you engaged anyway. See 2

7. Are you well rested? If no - maybe don't try to play something that relies heavily on your brain to succeed. Go dish out in FFA

8. Ignore chat. Don't let anyone tilt you. They are just a bunch of goofs sitting behind a monitor and are in no way different from you. It's a guy (chances are high he's even older than you) playing computer games, just like you. The difference is that this goon is trash talking over the internets. The joke is on him ...

9. In case of upcoming rage. Stop and slow down the game. During rage you will do the dumbest things ever, so go back to the breathing advice, find a quiet spot on the map (even 2 seconds is enough) and re-calibrate your mindset until you find your comfort zone back. If this would fail somehow, finish the game -don't be the rage quitting little bitch- and stop dueling for the rest of the evening/day. Go do something fun for crying out loud. Every duel you play during rage mode is WASTED time. You will learn nothing and you will kill your sleep, leaving you prone to violate guideline number 7. Only the strongest mental players can shift their mental state from one duel to the other so again, maybe it's time you call it a day. Don't let rage associate your QC experience with negative feelings.

10. Important. Place yourself in the moment of an online random duel. What is there to win? Nothing besides a small ego boost. There is no award waiting for you, no parade, no lapdance, no money. You proof yourself in cups and tournaments, random online dueling should be used for training aspects of duel to the fullest.

11. Understand that luck is part of the game. You will have a natural tendency to overestimate the times your opponents is lucky and underestimate the times you are lucky but don't admit to it. It gives and it takes. Rationalize that luck goes both ways, even if it doesn't look like that right now. Usually luck can also be helped a little hand if you follow the other guidelines. The more control you have over things the less you get into situations that allow 'lady fortuna' to throw the dices.

If you consistently violate these checks and you keep making the same decisions over and over again you should ask yourself if duel is something for you in this game. If the answer is yes, you will need to change your mentality. If the answer is no/maybe, well - start playing for fun and don't give a rats ass if you win/lose. Try to enjoy your time.

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watch this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rN5d8Ebf_DU

the guy gives examples based on starcraft 2, but what he says applies to pretty much everything competitive

tl;dr treat loses as an opportunity to get better. you lost, you most likely did something wrong. treating loses as an opportunity to rage at people is a dumbfuck mentality and i suggest ending your existence instead. if you have trouble managing anger, set yourself a limit - you lose 2 games in a row, you go for a walk or whatever.