Road to Mount Olympia: Dien Bien Schoolboy Makes Spectacular Comeback to Win the Laurel Wreath

This week’s   contest brought together four talented contestants: Do Anh Minh (Vinschool Primary, Secondary, and High School in Hanoi), Nguyen Dieu Linh (Vinh Phuc Specialized High School in Phu Tho), Tran Anh Quan (Le Quy Don Specialized High School in Dien Bien), and Tran Gia Linh (Chau Van Liem High School in Can Tho). Notably, Anh Minh drew attention as his mother had participated in the very first season of Olympia.

The final weekly match of Quarter 3 kicked off with the Individual Warm-up round, where contestants took turns showcasing their confidence and quick reflexes. Both Anh Minh and Dieu Linh scored 40 points, displaying steady performance from the start. Anh Quan and Gia Linh entered the competition with determination, earning 20 points each. The General Warm-up round heated up with rapid bell rings as contestants raced to answer. Dieu Linh continued her strong showing, raising her score to 45 and taking the lead. Anh Minh followed with 40 points, Anh Quan increased his score to 25, and Gia Linh secured her first 10 points.

The Overcome Obstacle round challenged the contestants with an 11-letter keyword puzzle. Anh Minh chose row 3 and earned 10 points, while Dieu Linh also scored on that question. Anh Quan tackled the first row but did not find the correct answer.  Dieu Linh seized her opportunity   when she selected row 4 and immediately rang the bell with the correct answer “Cu Chi Tunnels”,  to loud cheers from the audience.

At the end of this round, Dieu Linh was still in the lead with 95 points. Anh Minh was in second place with 50, followed by Anh Quan with 25 and Gia Linh with 10.

The Speed-up round  featured an exciting race for points  among the contestants. With consistent performance and quick reflexes, Dieu Linh extended her lead to 135 points. Anh Quan made a remarkable comeback by answering several key questions correctly, reaching 105 points and moving into second place. Anh Minh improved his score to 80 points, while Gia Linh finished with 30   but remained determined for the final leg.

Dieu Linh began the Finish round by selecting a set of three 20-point questions. She missed the first question, answered the second correctly, and chose not to use the “star of hope” on the final question, which she also missed. Anh Quan seized the opportunity to answer that final question correctly , marking  a  turning point  in the round.

Next   was Anh Quan, who also selected three 20-point questions. He answered the first correctly, briefly taking the lead. However he missed the second question, and  Anh Minh scored on that rebound. For the final question, Anh Quan used his “star of hope” and answered correctly, giving him a significant advantage over the other three.

For his third turn, Anh Minh selected a 20–30–20 set. He missed the first question, and Dieu Linh attempted but failed to answer. Regaining his momentum, Anh Minh answered the second question correctly and went on to score again on the third question with the help of the “star of hope”, boosting his total to 160 points.

The last contestant in the Finish round, Tran Gia Linh, selected a 20–20–30 set. Despite her efforts, she was unable to score on any of the three questions, including one with the “star of hope”. During this round, Anh Quan   seized two more rebound opportunities and answered both correctly. These crucial points enabled the  student from Dien Bien   to surge ahead and clinch the overall victory.

After four rounds, Tran Anh Quan (Le Quy Don Gifted High School – Dien Bien) made a spectacular comeback to win the laurel wreath with 215 points, securing the final spot in the Month 3 – Quarter 3 match. Do Anh Minh came in second with 160 points, followed by Nguyen Dieu Linh with 125  points after a fierce contest. Though she did not add to her score in the final round, Tran Gia Linh left a lasting impression with her persistence and determination until  the very end.