Ctrl, alt, compete: ASU coders head to world finals
The 2025 Arizona State University International Collegiate Programming Contest, or ICPC, team. From left: Zilin Jiang, Sahaj Rastogi, Benjamin Jeter and Theodore Gossett. Jiang, an assistant professor of mathematics and computer science, is the team’s coach and faculty sponsor. Rastogi is an undergraduate computer science student in the School of Computing and Augmented Intelligence, part of the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at ASU, while Jeter and Gossett are mathematics students in the School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences in The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. The ASU team has qualified to compete in the ICPC World Finals in August. Photo courtesy of the ICPC
Imagine this: You and two teammates are huddled around a single computer, five hours on the clock, a dozen difficult problems in front of you. You’ve got to solve as many as possible, using brains, teamwork and flawless code. The problems range from graph theory puzzles to optimization nightmares. The margin for error? Practically zero. You’re judged not just on correct answers, but also how efficiently your code runs.
We’re talking competitive programming. If that sounds like something between a mathlete duel and a hacker sprint, you’re not wrong. It’s a fast-paced, high-pressure intellectual sport where coders race against the clock to solve mind-bending algorithmic problems.
Like all competitive arenas, programming has its own ultimate showdown. The International Collegiate Programming Contest, or ICPC, is the Olympics of college coding. It’s the world’s oldest, largest and most prestigious programming contest for university students. At ICPC events, the best student programmers in the world not only face off in the ultimate test of skill and strategy but also support and learn from one another along the way.
This year, a trio of students supported by the School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences in The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the School of Computing and Augmented Intelligence, part of the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, revived ASU’s ICPC team with their sights set on making their mark on the global stage.
After a stellar performance at the North American championship in May, the team is now headed to the ICPC World Finals in Baku, Azerbaijan, on Aug. 31.
Meet ASU’s A-Team
ASU’s return to the competitive programming scene is a comeback story worthy of its own Netflix series. The university hasn’t had an ICPC team in over a decade. That changed when Sahaj Rastogi, Benjamin Jeter and Theodore Gossett decided to reestablish ASU’s presence.
Sahaj, an undergraduate computer science student with a background in competitive programming, pitched the idea of forming a team to his classmates. Jeter, an undergraduate mathematics student, brought his experience as a high school mathlete. Gossett, a mathematics doctoral student, rounded out the group with his robust academic expertise.
Fueled by curiosity and competitive spirit, the team got going. For five months, they put in the time, often working more than 15 hours each week to prepare. Wherever and whenever possible, they entered local and regional competitions for practice. In the spring, they attended a training camp at Columbia University and competed in an event at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey.
And they didn’t do it alone. Zilin Jiang, is an assistant professor of mathematics in the School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences and has a joint appointment in the Fulton Schools. He served as the team’s faculty sponsor and their coach. Jiang, winner of the prestigious 2024 Delbert Ray Fulkerson Prize, which recognizes outstanding papers in discrete mathematics, is passionate about fostering problem-solving communities and regularly encourages students to get involved in clubs where they collaborate, challenge themselves and grow outside the classroom.
From regionals to world finals
Their first major challenge: the Rocky Mountain regional competition. Last November, teams from eight U.S. states and two Canadian provinces gathered on the campus of Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. The team placed fourth and qualified to advance to the next round.
The team continued to hone their C++ skills and, in May, they headed to Orlando for the ICPC North America Championship. When they weren’t busy cracking the code of competitive programming, they were hanging out with other teams, solving extra problems for kicks and enjoying social events hosted by sponsors like JetBrains and Jane Street.
Rastogi says that the opportunity for networking is one of the best elements of these events.
“The ICPC has a culture of generosity and friendliness,” he says. “Even after the contest ended, we were still discussing solutions to the problems with other teams just because we find it inherently interesting and love to talk about it with other people who share the same interests.”
At the championship, the ASU team finished 12th, landing just one spot behind Harvard University. Thanks to that performance, they’re heading to the ICPC World Finals in Baku from Aug. 31 to Sept. 5. The team’s travel will be supported by donated funds from Hudson River Trading.
Jiang says he can’t wait to see how the team will do in the finals.
“I’m so proud,” he says. “The team members can be pretty hard on themselves from time to time, but they shouldn’t be. They should really celebrate these fantastic results.”
Donatella Danielli, Foundation Professor and director of ASU’s School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences, which provides critical financial support for the team, says competitive programming is a great demonstration of the synergy between math and computer science.
“Competitive programming is a natural extension of mathematical thinking,” she says. “It challenges students to think critically, apply logical reasoning and develop creative solutions under pressure — all skills that are deeply rooted in mathematics and essential for success.”
Ross Maciejewski, director of the School of Computing and Augmented Intelligence, is pleased that the school can provide support for the ICPC team.
“Zilin’s dedication to student mentorship and experiential learning is truly inspiring,” he says. “His ability to create spaces where students not only excel academically but also grow as individuals is a testament to the kind of student-centered education we strive for in the Fulton Schools.”
Also interested in leveling up?
Whether you’re a math whiz, a gamer tired of boss fights or just someone who likes a good challenge, competitive programming might be your next obsession.
In spring 2026, Assistant Professor Zilin Jiang is launching a new course — CSE 598: Introduction to Competitive Programming. The class will be open to anyone, even students with zero coding experience.
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