This debate is so silly because almost every trophy but one or 2 can be argued to be fraudulent in some way so what's the point of calling them frauds just accept they were the best at that period of time
irrelevancy and flukes differ, idk where you categorize the word "fraudulent" for but I don't consider Madrid a fluke but instead the least relevant tourney since LOCK//IN and probably even farther back considering FNC and LOUD remained strong teams for the rest of the year. On the other hand, I think Champs 2021 was relevant but was still an absolute fluke bc of the winner.
the first masters was def not a fluke lmao, people just don't care about it anymore, that's my point about irrelevancy. If that tournament was double elim SEN most likely would've still won. As time passes it'll continue becoming more and more irrelevant, that's just how it is. I mean TenZ is literally the only guy from that SEN roster that's still playing in Tier 1 after only 3 years.
xd
LOCK//IN itself didn't hold much weight for sure, but the fact 3/4 teams that made it to the playoffs remained a top tier team throughout the rest of the year is still important. If Madrid's top 4 can't pull off the same thing for the rest of the year (ignoring the Jinggg upgrade for PRX) then you can make a real argument that it was less relevant than LOCK//IN, people are already doing it rn too.
lots of tourneys seem fraudlent from outside control but why is nobody talking about tokyo? fnc only one because leo blatantly cheated by turning on walls:
Split vs EG (this round https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TG485ChbqiY ), EG would have won and gotten two map ban and map pick, Ban Bind Lotus Pick Fracture (EG win) Haven (FNC win) Pearl (EG win) Split (Could go either way) Ascent (EG win)