The final rounds of the 46th and 47th International Collegiate Programming Contest (ICPC) World Championships took place on Thursday, April 18, 2024, in Luxor, Egypt. Amongst the elite participants, the team from the University of Warsaw’s Faculty of Mathematics, Informatics, and Mechanics emerged victorious, securing the coveted bronze medal in the 47th edition.
University of Warsaw Trio Shines in Prestigious Student Programming Contest
Comprising Arkadiusz Czarkowski, Bartłomiej Czarkowski, and Tomasz Nowak, the Warsaw team’s achievement signifies a remarkable success in a competition renowned as one of the most prestigious in the realm of student programming contests.
Teams undergo a rigorous three-tiered elimination process—institutional, national, and regional—before reaching the final rounds. In the recent regional eliminations, 3,450 universities from 111 countries competed for a spot, highlighting the calibre required to advance.
A total of 131 teams made it to the 46th finals, with 136 teams competing in the 47th edition. Representing Poland, the University of Warsaw’s team fought alongside peers from Jagiellonian University, with only the top 12 teams clinching medals, emphasizing Warsaw’s achievement.
Despite challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical factors, both editions were rescheduled to April 2024. Each final comprised teams tackling 11 problems, with only five overlapping between the two editions.
University of Warsaw Eyes Another ICPC Medal at 48th World Finals
With a strong legacy boasting five gold, seven silver, and now six bronze medals across 29 appearances, the University of Warsaw continues to excel in the ICPC arena. The upcoming 48th ICPC World Finals in Astana, Kazakhstan, mark the last chance for Warsaw’s team, alongside peers from Jagiellonian University and the University of Wrocław, to clinch another medal.
At the Luxor finals, Polish talent shone brightly. Mentors like Kamil Dębowski and Bartosz Klin, both veterans of past ICPC campaigns, supported winning teams. Jakub Pachocki, a former vice world champion and now Research Director at OpenAI, enriched the event with his insights during an alumni lecture.
The University of Warsaw team’s journey was supported by the Faculty of Mathematics, Informatics, and Mechanics, the Foundation for the Development of Computer Science, and sponsors like Atende S.A. and Huawei Research Center in Warsaw.
For more information on the ICPC, visit icpc.global and follow the University of Warsaw team’s journey on their Facebook page.
As the countdown begins for the 49th ICPC World Finals in Astana, the celebration of the University of Warsaw’s 30-year legacy in the competition promises to be a momentous occasion. Polish participants eagerly anticipate commemorating this milestone with yet another triumphant medal.