Before reaching the final match to face Hai Phong, the gamers from Bac Ninh had a memorable journey. It can be said that Bac Ninh did not perform as impressively in the League round as in previous seasons. They even finished in fourth place, which meant they advanced to the next round with a “second chance” ticket. However, their seemingly sluggish preparation in the League round turned out to be the moment for Bac Ninh to retract and then burst forth powerfully at crucial moments. A real earthquake was created by Bac Ninh in the Finals, when the Thanh Hoa team and GPlay were successively knocked out, leaving many fans astonished. The whirlwind they created swept away opponents and foretold an incredibly exciting final match.
And indeed, in the final match, that whirlwind continued to shake the championship contender – Hai Phong. Bac Ninh launched an aggressive and powerful attack, with clear intentions and no hesitation in overwhelming their opponent. They continuously won in the games and led the opponent with a score of 8-4. When that score was achieved, many fans began to extend early congratulations to the representatives of Bac Ninh, the duo 2k1 Bac Ninh and Sang Club.
However, Hai Phong has never been a simple opponent. Especially when their lineup includes Manh Hao and Van Huong, true veterans in the professional AoE community. Despite facing a precarious situation, meaning if they lost one more game, they would be eliminated, Hai Phong still showcased the resilience of those who have battled for many years. The duo Hao and Huong gradually narrowed the score, match by match. Until they equalized at 8-8, viewers realized something ominous for Bac Ninh. Because AoE is like that, sports are inherently like that. When there is a significant advantage but you cannot finish off your opponent, allowing them to equalize, the psychological pressure will return and weigh heavily on oneself. In the final match, Hai Phong secured the victory to complete a perfect and classic comeback, officially becoming the new king of the AoE Battlefield ITEL Cup ITEL 3.
This also means that Bac Ninh once again became the runner-up. This time, they are certainly more regretful than last season when they “held gold yet let it fall.” But nonetheless, the journey they created this season is still incredibly memorable. It is also the motivation to drive gamers to have higher aspirations in the next season. As for Hai Phong, this championship is truly well-deserved for them. In the 2vs2 Shang Free format, their skill and resilience have indeed triumphed!