They are the Champions of France! In true conquering spirit—just as manager Imad Mihoubi had predicted in his pre-match comments—Karimisbak and MarwanMC9, accompanied by their coach Kalash, gave Troyes no chance in the eLigue 1 final, securing a resounding 4-1 victory! This marks a historic achievement, as it is the very first time that AS Monaco Esports has won this competition!
Off to a flying start in the final!
At La Cigale in Paris, the opening match pitted MarwanMC9 against ManuBachoore, a two-time World Champion. Although the Monegasque quickly fell behind 0–2, he nevertheless pulled off a fabulous comeback to win 5–4 and secure the first point of this Best-of-7 series.
This certainly took the pressure off Karimisbak going up against Levi de Weerd, as the player who swept the board at the eLigue 1 Awards just before kickoff—claiming Season MVP, Best International Player, and Best Performance—put on a masterclass, securing an utterly commanding 4–1 victory!
Marwan beaten at the last; Karim responds
Back on a stage entirely dedicated to the cause of the Rouge et Blanc, Marwan subsequently fell short against Levi, succumbing 6–5 in the final moments of extra time. It was a cruel turn of events—especially given that he had created a massive scoring opportunity in the 90th minute. Yet this was not enough to faze Karim, who immediately went on to secure his second victory of the series against ManuBachooure with a 2–1 scoreline, holding firm against a barrage of attacks from Troyes!
Three match points in favor of the Rouge et Blanc…
This narrow yet crucial victory allows AS Monaco Esports to take a 3–1 lead and have three match points for the title. In an attempt to seal the deal, Marwan returned to the arena to face Levi de Weerd once again—firmly determined to avenge his defeat in Match 3. Although the script initially goes against him as he falls behind 3–1, the Moroccan international refuses to give up, leveling the score late in the match with a lightning-fast counterattack (3–3, 82nd minute).
A Hitchcockian scenario to conclude
And so, once again, we headed into extra time—a period where defenses typically gain the upper hand over offenses... At least, that is, until the 117th minute. That was the moment Marwan chose to take destiny into his own hands, unleashing a sumptuous curling strike—reminiscent of Vitinha—that found the top corner of the Troyes net. It was a magnificent goal—a fitting reflection of his playoff campaign thus far—that allowed his side to retake the lead with just moments remaining (4–3).
A first title for AS Monaco Esports in eLigue 1!
The hardest part is over; he then proceeds to brilliantly defend against his opponent's attack to secure that fourth point—a moment that earned AS Monaco Esports' first-ever title in eLigue 1!
It is simply mind-blowing when looking back at their journey: to reach the final, Karimisbak and MarwanMC9—who finished third in the regular season—defeated Lorient (five-time winners of the competition) in the quarter-finals, and then PSG in the semi-finals—a squad featuring two of the very best players on the planet. There is, therefore, nothing left to say but: Bravo, guys—and thank you for taking us on such a thrilling ride! DAGHE MUNEGU !!! 🇲🇨🔥
