Every tournament starts with someone, somewhere, holding a flawless bracket. It never lasts. This year the dream died early – but the player who came closest didn't get there on luck, and what they did is entirely copyable.
What they got right
They were boring where it was correct to be boring and brave in exactly two places: one early favourite to stumble, one outsider to over-perform. Both landed. Everything else was sensible. That's the whole trick – a calm bracket with a couple of sharp edges.
Perfection's gone for another year. Calling it better than your friends, though, is still very much on the table.