St Petersburg University Students Triumph at ICPC World Finals in Baku
A student team from St Petersburg University has won the ICPC World Finals 2025, the world’s largest student programming competition.
This year’s final, held in Baku, brought together teams from more than 100 countries, representing around 140 of the world’s leading universities. Four teams were awarded gold medals, but the outright victory went to the students of St Petersburg University.
Outstanding Performance
The challenge requires participants to solve complex algorithmic problems under time pressure, writing code with minimal mistakes and failed attempts. Over five hours, the St Petersburg University team successfully solved 11 out of 12 problems, finishing well ahead of their rivals.
Presidential Congratulations
The victory was acknowledged by Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, himself an alumnus of the university. He praised the team for their «deep fundamental knowledge, exceptional dedication and teamwork» in overcoming strong competition from the world’s most prestigious universities. He also expressed gratitude to the teachers, coaches and parents who supported the students in reaching this milestone.
The Winning Team
St Petersburg University squad, named Polar Bear Transform, included fourth-year mathematics undergraduates Maksim Turevskiy and Leonid Danilevich, as well as first-year master’s student in modern mathematics Fedor Ushakov. The team was coached by the university’s programming trainer, Ivan Kazmenko.
Their achievement cements St Petersburg University’s reputation as a global leader in competitive programming and academic excellence.
