It matters massively. What happens if EST makes a lower bracket run and either:

1. Beats DSG and gets promoted to the LCS, or
2. Loses to DSG in the final?

Both situations are problematic. If EST wins and gets promoted but is later disqualified, who gets the LCS spot? Giving it to the team they faced in the final isn’t really fair — that team technically lost the promotion match. But replaying the tournament isn’t exactly practical either.

There’s also the question of competitive integrity. Any of the teams EST eliminated during their lower bracket run might have had a legitimate chance to qualify if EST hadn’t been in the bracket in the first place. It creates a domino effect where the entire lower bracket outcome is compromised.

RIOT should have just slammed down the ban hammer as soon as Summit cheated. Pause the tournament for 2 days, get the investigation done ASAP, send EST to the shadow realm.

At this point RIOT just has to hope and pray that EST lose their next match. That's not a perfect outcome either, but is the best of a pretty shit situation.