The third quarterfinal of the "Road to Olympia" competition, broadcast on 20/7, featured four contestants: Doan Thanh Tung (Le Quy Don Specialized High School, Khanh Hoa), Hoang Cong Nguyen (Thai Binh Specialized High School, Hung Yen), Pham Tuan Thanh (Lien Ha High School, Hanoi), and Le Hoang Tran Chau (Le Quy Don Specialized High School, Quang Tri).

At the start of the competition, Tung acknowledged his fortunate "narrow escape" to the quarterfinals. He had been the highest-scoring runner-up in the monthly rounds with 165 points.

Doan Thanh Tung during the Road to Olympia quarterfinals, broadcast on 20/7. Photo: VTV

Doan Thanh Tung during the Road to Olympia quarterfinals, broadcast on 20/7. Photo: VTV

Tung, the first contestant in the "Start" round, answered five out of six individual questions incorrectly, earning only 10 points for his answer about Con Dao, Vietnam's first marine Ramsar site. Meanwhile, Cong Nguyen and Tuan Thanh each scored 30 points, while Tran Chau earned 40.

In the joint "Start" round, which featured 12 questions, contestants buzzed in for a chance to answer. Correct answers added 10 points, while incorrect ones deducted 5. Tung and Tuan Thanh each buzzed in three times, answering all correctly for an additional 30 points. Tran Chau also buzzed in three times but answered only one question correctly. Cong Nguyen earned an additional 10 points in this round.

Tuan Thanh led after the "Start" round with 60 points, while the other three contestants each had 40.

In the "Obstacle" round, the contestants had to find a 7-letter keyword. The first question, about semiconductors, awarded Tung 40 points, Cong Nguyen 30, and Tuan Thanh 20.

As the MC read the next question, Tung, followed by Tuan Thanh, buzzed in to answer. Tung guessed "rare earth," while Thanh suggested "silicon."

"I answered based on intuition, without any data to confirm. I thought I should try my luck," Tung explained. Tuan Thanh said his "silicon" answer was based on the semiconductor information in the first question and a partially revealed image clue.

Tung celebrated as "rare earth" was revealed as the correct answer, propelling him into the lead with 100 points. The image clue, taken by Gia Chinh for VnExpress newspaper, depicted a rare earth mine in Northwest Vietnam.

Rare earth at a mine in Northwest Vietnam. Photo: Gia Chinh

Rare earth at a mine in Northwest Vietnam. Photo: Gia Chinh

In the "Acceleration" round, Tung extended his lead by answering all 4 questions correctly, earning 130 more points. He was the quickest to answer two questions, one about powder coating technology and another involving arranging paintings by their names.

Tran Chau earned 90 points with three correct answers, coming in second for speed. Tuan Thanh and Cong Nguyen earned 60 and 50 points, respectively.

At the end of this round, Cong Nguyen had 100 points, Tuan Thanh and Tran Chau both had 130, and Tung held a comfortable lead with 230.

With the highest score, Tung was the first to compete in the "Finish" round. He expressed his desire to bring something special back for the upcoming 40th-anniversary celebration of Le Quy Don Specialized High School. He chose the 60-point question set but failed to answer any of the three questions correctly, losing 20 points.

Tung's first question asked for a line from the song "Youth's Aspiration" by composer Vu Hoang, inspired by President Ho Chi Minh's words at the opening ceremony of Vietnam National University on 19/1/1955.

Tung's answer was, "Don't ask what the Fatherland has done for you, but ask what you have done for the Fatherland today." Tuan Thanh then attempted to answer, singing a similar line but replacing "ask" with "wonder."

However, the correct answer was, "Don't ask what the Fatherland has done for you, but ask what you have done for the Fatherland today." As a result, Tuan Thanh lost 10 points.

During Tuan Thanh and Cong Nguyen's turns in the "Finish" round, Tung gained 60 points with history and geography questions but lost 15 for an incorrect physics answer.

Ultimately, Tung won the competition with 255 points. Tuan Thanh came in second with 120 points, followed by Tran Chau with 110 and Cong Nguyen with 60.

Thanh Tung receives the laurel wreath and the 30 million VND prize. Photo: VTV

Thanh Tung receives the laurel wreath and the 30 million VND prize. Photo: VTV

The Olympia final typically takes place in October. In addition to Tung, two other finalists are Le Quang Duy Khoa from Quoc Hoc Specialized High School, Hue City (Quarter I winner), and Nguyen Nhut Lam from Cai Be High School, Tien Giang.

The final contestant will be determined after the fourth quarterfinal.

Le Nguyen