Posted: 23rd April 2024

Oxford took one gold medal and placed fourth in the 46th World Final of the International Collegiate Programming Contest (ICPC).

Last Thursday in Luxor, Egypt, two Oxford teams participated in the World Finals of the International Collegiate Programming Contest (ICPC). Two finals took place in parallel as the 46th and 47th Finals were rescheduled from 2022 and 2023 due to the pandemic.

In the 46th World Final, the Oxford team took a gold medal and fourth place (out of 124 teams participating). This is the first gold for Western Europe since 2006, and the first one for a British team in the entire history of the competition. In the 47th World Final, the Oxford team took 41st place out of 130 teams participating.

The ICPC is the world’s most prestigious competitive programming contest for students, where four gold, four silver and four bronze medals are awarded, and all teams are scored to determine their place in the final rank. Qualifying for the World Finals is a huge success, so this is a great achievement for both teams. This shows the level of our students in the department.

Department of Computer Science Associate Professor Bartek Klin, who has been coaching the Oxford teams, commented on the skills required not just for the individuals - but for the team as a whole - to compete in the ICPC.

The ICPC format requires a combination of exceptional programming and problem-solving talent, the ability to work without mistakes under severe time pressure, and strong communication skills. To perform at the top level, a team must work as a single, well-prepared and focused mind. I am happy to see that Oxford has so many students able to do that. Associate Professor Bartek Klin

  
The Oxford team that took fourth in the 46th World Finals included:

• Radostin Chonev (University College, graduated in 2022)
• Viktor Kozhuharov (Magdalen College, 3rd year CS)
• Harris Leung (Merton College, 3rd year M&CS)

This team solved nine out of eleven problems, earning their position on the final scoreboard and a gold medal. Not only did the team win a gold, but they also found the first correct solution to the problem Y. Harris Leung solved the problem just six minutes into the competition, which was the fastest time any problem was solved. Associate Professor Bartek Klin encourages anyone interested in the problem to have a look and see if they can ‘understand the statement in six minutes, let alone find and implement a solution for it’.

If you are interested in the problem solved by Harris Leung, you can find it at: https://icpc.global/worldfinals/problems/2022-ICPC-World-Finals/icpc2022.pdf

To mark the success of the World Finals, the plaque has been put up in the Wolfson building reception.
 
Oxford’s second team took part in the 47th World Finals, this team included:

• Xingjian Bai (St John's College, 4th year M&CS)
• Andy van Horssen (St John's College, 2nd year M&CS)
• Yichen Huang (St Catherine’s College, 4th year CS)

The two Oxford teams had qualified for the events in earlier European regional competitions. Our team (including Viktor and Harris) will also be competing in the 48th World Finals (2024) in Astana, Kazakhstan, in September.

• Radostin Chonev (University College, graduated in 2022)
• Viktor Kozhuharov (Magdalen College, 3rd year CS)
• Harris Leung (Merton College, 3rd year M&CS) 

Before the event.

• Radostin Chonev (University College, graduated in 2022)
• Viktor Kozhuharov (Magdalen College, 3rd year CS)
• Harris Leung (Merton College, 3rd year M&CS)  

During the competition.

• Radostin Chonev (University College, graduated in 2022)
• Viktor Kozhuharov (Magdalen College, 3rd year CS)
• Harris Leung (Merton College, 3rd year M&CS)  

After the event.

• Xingjian Bai (St John's College, 4th year M&CS)
• Andy van Horssen (St John's College, 2nd year M&CS)
• Yichen Huang (St Catherine’s College, 4th year CS)

Both Oxford teams at the awards ceremony.

The final scoreboard can be found at: https://icpc.global/worldfinals/scoreboard/2023/scoreboards/46/index.html

Our competitive programming teams are proudly supported by OxFORD Asset Management, a technology driven investment firm.