I didn't witness all games in detail, so I can't provide the same quality of information for every match. Feel free to add corrections, fun facts, trash etc.
ZaltorTheMerc
The_Pharos
This match provided a first upset with respect to the seeding at the beginning of the tournament. The lower classified player proved to be superior. For the first game, they chose to avoid BF and played Mayans-Mongols war on Arabia. The_Pharos' homemap was Ghost Lake, where he faced Zaltor's Spaniards with Goths. Clemensor streamed it: Watch!
FreshFeeling99
nimanoe
This battle of benelux started with a Nomad Chinese-Mirror (during the outlaw days of NAoC3). Surprisingly, the lower seeded FreshFeeling took the victory. Arena as the LeO clan player's homemap provided an interesting 1h27m Korean-Aztec war. The Belgian tried his luck on Nomad again as homemap, but nimanoe's Mayans mastered his Teutons in the end. Great T90Official casting moment, when nimanoe prevents a castle of 99: Watch G1, G2, G3.
Blotch (vs) John the Late (scheduled for Tue 20 GMT)
AoCZone's talented UK youngster had bad luck with his opponent from the other side of the North Sea. schreddaaa didn't schedule. Luckily he could be replaced by another German with ease and the scheduling went well and fast.
Agandonn
thepeganator
The Commonwealth matchup was a sure thing for the European. In both games, he didn't need more than 40min to force the "gg" (BF Mon-Tur, TI Azt-Jap). Like Blotch and CenTriX, Agandonn is in the 10xx group of participants.
warrior_yoddha
Dinnuk
Dinnuk showed in this match why he could be one of the contestants for the Champion title. In two BF games, he dominated his 11xx opponent (recorded games post pending). They decided to play Blind Random as a third game anyway, which looks like Dinnuk already prepares for the League Stage, where the map is set for game 1 in every match.
mavi
pumukel
This set took some time and was very disputed. In the first session, a 4h30m BF Brits vs Huns was patiently fought out. In the second session, the Indian was well prepared for his homemap Arena and crushed his enemy (Per-Hun). In a third date, the Swiss could turn the match around again on Arabia, being Brits again, against Aztecs.
Shut_up
HyunA
This interesting match unites three upsets. First, HyunA's participation was critized by potential NAoC3 players, because he seemed to be overpowered. Second, Shut_up made use of restarts and one game was played with picked civs, both not in accordance to the rules of the tournament. Many arguments, facts and PMs were exchanged between the admins and players for some days until the match could finally get finished. Third, although being the highest seed, HyunA lost the set against not-so-sure-about-the-12xx-rating-80-games-anymore-Shut_up. The first game was BF Vik-Per, followed by Arabia Tur-Sar evening the score out, and finally the highly controversial third game on BF again, in it's counting version Celts vs Huns. As an admin, my respects goes to HyunA, who had a big advantage in the save&exited game and could have continued there, but agreed in the spirit of sportmanship to start a new one. So HyunA is clearly the man of Round 1! For game 2, Maiwingkos provides a VOD: Watch!
CenTriX
Riyuzaki
In this 10xx-vs-13xx rendez-vous, the Norwegian showed a nice Mayan titanic: he let his army of plumeds stand behind his BF wall without micro to get it massacred by bombard cannons and onagers of his Saracens opponent. Meanwhile, his plumeds where also blocking his dozen of siege rams, which could have pushed Riyuzaki back eventually. The Norwegian's homemap Gold Rush didn't brake the 30min mark, the Brits drove away the Mayans from the middle fast. This match was also the opening of the tournament! T90Officials cast had a good mixture of making fun of noob plays and constructivly analyzing: Watch G1 (3h50m), G2.
Spin-off: Noob Basher of the Season Kappa
blunder
Rablebok
In NAoC3's first week, already one spin-off match could be played. Blind Random generated Team Islands. The Norwegian specators were very happy about this, because Rablebok trained a lot on water lately. He went to Feudal with 24 pop (Byz), while his enemy did it on 28 (Fran). The "gg" was called on 12:09. The Canadian had more luck after he chose Continental out of the seven maps for game 2. His mainland was vast, his fishing corner paradisical, while the opposite was the case for his challenger. As Mongols, he pushed in with siege and knights and a fire ship to kill the fishing, Rablebok pushed back with monks and siege, but when the imperial mangudais approached, all hope was gone. On the deciding Ghost Lake, Rablebok beat a Japanese with Vikings by superior Xbow eco harassement and walling. This game shall be dedicated to PhilippeleBon, the originator of NAoC.
I think NAoC3 started with a successful first week, thanks a lot to all players, streamers, followers and especially my co-admin prv_limb!
ZaltorTheMerc
2:0
This match provided a first upset with respect to the seeding at the beginning of the tournament. The lower classified player proved to be superior. For the first game, they chose to avoid BF and played Mayans-Mongols war on Arabia. The_Pharos' homemap was Ghost Lake, where he faced Zaltor's Spaniards with Goths. Clemensor streamed it: Watch!
FreshFeeling99
1:2
This battle of benelux started with a Nomad Chinese-Mirror (during the outlaw days of NAoC3). Surprisingly, the lower seeded FreshFeeling took the victory. Arena as the LeO clan player's homemap provided an interesting 1h27m Korean-Aztec war. The Belgian tried his luck on Nomad again as homemap, but nimanoe's Mayans mastered his Teutons in the end. Great T90Official casting moment, when nimanoe prevents a castle of 99: Watch G1, G2, G3.
Blotch (vs) John the Late (scheduled for Tue 20 GMT)
AoCZone's talented UK youngster had bad luck with his opponent from the other side of the North Sea. schreddaaa didn't schedule. Luckily he could be replaced by another German with ease and the scheduling went well and fast.
Agandonn
0:2
The Commonwealth matchup was a sure thing for the European. In both games, he didn't need more than 40min to force the "gg" (BF Mon-Tur, TI Azt-Jap). Like Blotch and CenTriX, Agandonn is in the 10xx group of participants.
warrior_yoddha
0:2
Dinnuk showed in this match why he could be one of the contestants for the Champion title. In two BF games, he dominated his 11xx opponent (recorded games post pending). They decided to play Blind Random as a third game anyway, which looks like Dinnuk already prepares for the League Stage, where the map is set for game 1 in every match.
mavi
1:2
This set took some time and was very disputed. In the first session, a 4h30m BF Brits vs Huns was patiently fought out. In the second session, the Indian was well prepared for his homemap Arena and crushed his enemy (Per-Hun). In a third date, the Swiss could turn the match around again on Arabia, being Brits again, against Aztecs.
Shut_up
2:1
This interesting match unites three upsets. First, HyunA's participation was critized by potential NAoC3 players, because he seemed to be overpowered. Second, Shut_up made use of restarts and one game was played with picked civs, both not in accordance to the rules of the tournament. Many arguments, facts and PMs were exchanged between the admins and players for some days until the match could finally get finished. Third, although being the highest seed, HyunA lost the set against not-so-sure-about-the-12xx-rating-80-games-anymore-Shut_up. The first game was BF Vik-Per, followed by Arabia Tur-Sar evening the score out, and finally the highly controversial third game on BF again, in it's counting version Celts vs Huns. As an admin, my respects goes to HyunA, who had a big advantage in the save&exited game and could have continued there, but agreed in the spirit of sportmanship to start a new one. So HyunA is clearly the man of Round 1! For game 2, Maiwingkos provides a VOD: Watch!
CenTriX
0:2
In this 10xx-vs-13xx rendez-vous, the Norwegian showed a nice Mayan titanic: he let his army of plumeds stand behind his BF wall without micro to get it massacred by bombard cannons and onagers of his Saracens opponent. Meanwhile, his plumeds where also blocking his dozen of siege rams, which could have pushed Riyuzaki back eventually. The Norwegian's homemap Gold Rush didn't brake the 30min mark, the Brits drove away the Mayans from the middle fast. This match was also the opening of the tournament! T90Officials cast had a good mixture of making fun of noob plays and constructivly analyzing: Watch G1 (3h50m), G2.
Spin-off: Noob Basher of the Season Kappa
blunder
1:2
In NAoC3's first week, already one spin-off match could be played. Blind Random generated Team Islands. The Norwegian specators were very happy about this, because Rablebok trained a lot on water lately. He went to Feudal with 24 pop (Byz), while his enemy did it on 28 (Fran). The "gg" was called on 12:09. The Canadian had more luck after he chose Continental out of the seven maps for game 2. His mainland was vast, his fishing corner paradisical, while the opposite was the case for his challenger. As Mongols, he pushed in with siege and knights and a fire ship to kill the fishing, Rablebok pushed back with monks and siege, but when the imperial mangudais approached, all hope was gone. On the deciding Ghost Lake, Rablebok beat a Japanese with Vikings by superior Xbow eco harassement and walling. This game shall be dedicated to PhilippeleBon, the originator of NAoC.
I think NAoC3 started with a successful first week, thanks a lot to all players, streamers, followers and especially my co-admin prv_limb!