Vo Quang Phu Duc, a math major from Quoc Hoc Specialized High School in Thua Thien-Hue, impressed viewers with his vast knowledge and smart strategies during the competition. By winning the third quarter-final match with 185 points, Phu Duc secured his place in the upcoming grand final of the 24th edition of The Road to Olympia Mount, positioning himself as a formidable opponent that other finalists must be wary of.
Starting strong with a victory in the weekly competition: Securing the wreath was no challenge
In Week 1 - Month 1 - Quarter 3, Phu Duc and Hai Long created a thrilling score-chasing battle, constantly changing positions and making the competition highly unpredictable. However, Phu Duc made a stunning comeback by quickly ringing the bell and correctly answering the clue in the Overcome Obstacle round. His decisiveness and determination led him to finish with 275 points, claiming the winner’s laurel wreath.
Phu Duc during the weekly competition.
Facing difficulties and pressure after narrow miss in the monthly round
Despite his strong start in the weekly competition, Phu Duc almost faced elimination in Month 1 - Quarter 3 when he missed the wreath to a competitor from Lao Cai.
After scoring only 45 points in the Warm-up round, Phu Duc hastily rang the bell to answer the clue in the Obstacle Course, but his answer was incorrect, causing him to exit that round early. Although he made a significant efforts to improve his score in the following rounds, Phu Duc was unable to secure an overall victory in the monthly competition.
However, luck was on his side, as his score of 240 points made him the highest-scoring runner-up and earned him a covetedspot in the third quarter-final.
Phu Duc during the monthly competition.
A determined mindset in the quarter-finals
Maintaining his confidence and composure, Phu Duc began the quarter-finals strong, leading the pack with 50 points in the Warm-up round, sharing the lead with Duy Khanh. Tuan Minh followed him closely with 40 points and Duy Hung with 30 points. Phu Duc answered six consecutive questions correctly to maintain his lead with 105 points.
In the Overcome Obstacle round, despite Duy Khanh successfully guessing the clue “Gulf of Tonkin Incident” and earning 50 points, Phu Duc remained in the lead. In the Speed-up round, Phu Duc continued his steady performance, adding 90 points to keep his leading position. Although Tuan Minh made a surge with 120 points, Phu Duc still held the top spot with a total of 195 points, intensifying the competition.
Phu Duc during the third quarter-final.
In the Finish round, Phu Duc chose a set of questions worth 20 - 20 - 30 points but missed the answers to all of them, losing a key opportunity to secure more points. Meanwhile, Tuan Minh capitalized on the situation, answering correctly and raising his total to 190 points, surpassing Phu Duc.
Despite the setback and being briefly overtaken by Tuan Minh, Phu Duc remained calm and continued to give correct answers, gradually regaining crucial points. In the end, Phu Duc finished with 185 points, beating Tuan Minh by 10 points and was declared the winner.
Phu Duc celebrates his victory with teachers and friends.
With this victory, Phu Duc successfully won the third quarter-final and advanced to the grand final of the 24th The Road to Olympia Mount and bringing the live broadcast back to Hue.
Phu Duc has now brought the broadcast back to Quoc Hoc Specialized High School in Hue for the 7th time.
Phu Duc’s journey in The Road to Olympia Mount serves as a testament to perseverance, relentless effort, and a burning passion for knowledge. From the early preparations, through each intense match, to the euphoric moment of bringing the satellite broadcast home, Phu Duc has undergone a challenging but unforgettable and emotionally charged journey.
The grand final of The Road to Olympia Mount 2024 will be broadcast live at 8:30 AM on Sunday, October 13, 2024, on VTV3 and streamed online on VTV News.
The final is sponsored by Thaco - Truong Hai Group.
