Before i say anything else, I still think FNC were the best team this year specifically because they had the highest peak (Masters).
But for the mfs saying Champions <= Masters + LOCK//IN, you guys have to be trolling. LOCK//IN was completely single elim Bo3s until the Bo5 playoffs where there was just semis and a final Bo5. Idk why we're hyping up a tourney that was literally a one-time experiment with just a 500k prize pool (winner gets only 100k). I understand the argument for Masters of course but it's just not on the same lvl compared to Champions even with the inclusion of LOCK//IN.
The winning prize pool for Champions 2023 was more than DOUBLE than Masters + LOCK//IN and the Champs winner gets a 50% cut from the champs skin ( likely would amount to even more than 1 mill thanks to the game releasing in China), the comparison shouldn't even be close. VCT is literally named after the final tourney for a reason, it'll be like saying MSI + an experimental season-opening tourney > Worlds, it's just a different level of prestige. No player or org wouldn't say that they would prefer to be in EG spot this year compared to FNATIC.