Heuristic Finalists
AWTF 2026 / HEURISTIC DIVISION / ENGLISH
AWTF 2026
ATCODER WORLD TOUR FINALS
GP30 RANK
#2
eijirou
eijirou
JAPAN
RATING
3281
GP30 SCORE
374.5
GP30 RANK
#2
“I aim to conquer everything.”
INTERVIEW
What inspired you to start competitive programming?
I started it as practice for programming.
How many on-site contests have you participated in?
Around three.
What were your results in those contests?
:(
What types of problems do you enjoy?
Problems that require deep and natural observations.
Do you have a favorite problem on AtCoder?
Chokudai Contest 005 - Colorful Panel
Do you follow any pre-contest routines?
I go to the restroom.
Do you remember the first problem you solved?
Welcome to AtCoder
What music do you listen to while solving problems?
I have unconsciously sung Ex-Otogibanashi before.
What is the most challenging problem you’ve ever solved?
AHC019 - Silhouette Block Puzzle Creation
What do you usually do on holidays?
DanceDanceRevolution
Who is a competitive programmer you respect?
chokudai and wata
How many hours of sleep do you get?
9 hours
What are your aspirations for AWTF2026?
I aim to conquer everything.
HANDLE
eijirou
COUNTRY
JAPAN
DIVISION / ROLE
HEURISTIC
PROFILE PHOTO
Not submitted
AWTF 2026
ATCODER WORLD TOUR FINALS
GP30 RANK
#3
Shun_PI
JAPAN
RATING
3113
GP30 SCORE
373.6
GP30 RANK
#3
“Last year, I struggled with the difficult problems and couldn’t find a good approach. This year, I’ll do my best to perform better.”
INTERVIEW
What inspired you to start competitive programming?
When I was 26, I found it during new employee programming training. I started heuristics when AHC began.
How many on-site contests have you participated in?
Four?
What were your results in those contests?
2nd place in the HACK TO THE FUTURE 2023 finals.
What types of problems do you enjoy?
Problems where you can build up logical reasoning from insights and eventually derive a direction.
Do you have a favorite problem on AtCoder?
Treant's Forest（AHC054）
Do you follow any pre-contest routines?
I take caffeine.
Do you remember the first problem you solved?
Sphere Packing (CADDi 2019)
What music do you listen to while solving problems?
I do not listen to music.
What is the most challenging problem you’ve ever solved?
Problems where you cannot even stand at the starting line unless you find a genius greedy approach.
What do you usually do on holidays?
Play with my cat.
Who is a competitive programmer you respect?
wata
How many hours of sleep do you get?
8–10 hours
What are your aspirations for AWTF2026?
Last year, I struggled with the difficult problems and couldn’t find a good approach. This year, I’ll do my best to perform better.
HANDLE
Shun_PI
COUNTRY
JAPAN
DIVISION / ROLE
HEURISTIC
PROFILE PHOTO
Submitted
AWTF 2026
ATCODER WORLD TOUR FINALS
GP30 RANK
#4
saharan
JAPAN
RATING
3318
GP30 SCORE
365.0
GP30 RANK
#4
“I’ll do my best not to introduce bugs.”
INTERVIEW
What inspired you to start competitive programming?
I became interested when AtCoder was created.
How many on-site contests have you participated in?
A dozen or so...?
What were your results in those contests?
I won once.
What types of problems do you enjoy?
I like strange heuristic problems.
Do you have a favorite problem on AtCoder?
Exploring Another Space (AHC029)
Do you follow any pre-contest routines?
Recently, not really. I just prepare files.
Do you remember the first problem you solved?
If algorithm problems are included, I do not remember.
What music do you listen to while solving problems?
Up-tempo songs when I want to get fired up.
What is the most challenging problem you’ve ever solved?
Graphorean
What do you usually do on holidays?
I try to come up with interesting ideas.
Who is a competitive programmer you respect?
wata, Psyho, nika
How many hours of sleep do you get?
🤷🤷🤷
What are your aspirations for AWTF2026?
I’ll do my best not to introduce bugs.
HANDLE
saharan
COUNTRY
JAPAN
DIVISION / ROLE
HEURISTIC
PROFILE PHOTO
Submitted
AWTF 2026
ATCODER WORLD TOUR FINALS
GP30 RANK
#5
nikaj
nikaj
GEORGIA
RATING
3332
GP30 SCORE
343.5
GP30 RANK
#5
“Not letting AI win”
INTERVIEW
What inspired you to start competitive programming?
Seeing others do it
How many on-site contests have you participated in?
See my answer from last year and add one
What were your results in those contests?
See my answer from last year and add one third place
What types of problems do you enjoy?
Problems with low variance, since they make testing faster
Do you have a favorite problem on AtCoder?
All the problems on which I won
Do you follow any pre-contest routines?
No preparations needed
Do you remember the first problem you solved?
The first properly solved heuristic problem was SquareRemover (2014 TCO Marathon - Round 1)
What music do you listen to while solving problems?
None
What is the most challenging problem you’ve ever solved?
AHC019 (Silhouette Block Puzzle Creation)
What do you usually do on holidays?
Nothing spectacular
Who is a competitive programmer you respect?
Lots of them (the list keeps growing every year)
How many hours of sleep do you get?
6-8 hours
What are your aspirations for AWTF2026?
Not letting AI win
HANDLE
nikaj
COUNTRY
GEORGIA
DIVISION / ROLE
HEURISTIC
PROFILE PHOTO
Not submitted
AWTF 2026
ATCODER WORLD TOUR FINALS
GP30 RANK
#6
montplusa
JAPAN
RATING
3134
GP30 SCORE
338.0
GP30 RANK
#6
“I’ll do my best with the mindset of a challenger!”
INTERVIEW
What inspired you to start competitive programming?
I became interested in game AI.
How many on-site contests have you participated in?
Two?
What were your results in those contests?
5th place in AWTF2025 Heuristic.
What types of problems do you enjoy?
Problems that require careful thinking.
Do you have a favorite problem on AtCoder?
AHC025
Do you follow any pre-contest routines?
I prepare a folder.
Do you remember the first problem you solved?
Introduction to Heuristics Contest
What music do you listen to while solving problems?
I open and listen to long singing streams on YouTube.
What is the most challenging problem you’ve ever solved?
AHC056（Grid Turing Robot）
What do you usually do on holidays?
I relax at home.
Who is a competitive programmer you respect?
There are many.
How many hours of sleep do you get?
6–7 hours
What are your aspirations for AWTF2026?
I’ll do my best with the mindset of a challenger!
HANDLE
montplusa
COUNTRY
JAPAN
DIVISION / ROLE
HEURISTIC
PROFILE PHOTO
Submitted
AWTF 2026
ATCODER WORLD TOUR FINALS
GP30 RANK
#7
yosupo
yosupo
JAPAN
RATING
3224
GP30 SCORE
286.5
GP30 RANK
#7
“—”
INTERVIEW
Who is a competitive programmer you respect?
ChatGPT Pro was added to the list
HANDLE
yosupo
COUNTRY
JAPAN
DIVISION / ROLE
HEURISTIC
PROFILE PHOTO
Not submitted
AWTF 2026
ATCODER WORLD TOUR FINALS
GP30 RANK
#8
rhoo
rhoo
JAPAN
RATING
3196
GP30 SCORE
284.5
GP30 RANK
#8
“Maximize my probability of winning.”
INTERVIEW
What inspired you to start competitive programming?
Somehow.
How many on-site contests have you participated in?
Once, or twice if algorithm contests are included.
What were your results in those contests?
11th place in HACK TO THE FUTURE 2023.
What types of problems do you enjoy?
Problems that need to be viewed from various perspectives.
Do you have a favorite problem on AtCoder?
AHC033 - Container Handling with Cranes
Do you follow any pre-contest routines?
Nothing in particular.
Do you remember the first problem you solved?
AHC011 - Sliding Tree Puzzle
What music do you listen to while solving problems?
I basically do not listen to music, but if I had to name something, I think I often listen to Bonobo - Black Sands.
What is the most challenging problem you’ve ever solved?
AHC048 - Mixing on the Palette
What do you usually do on holidays?
I do nothing.
Who is a competitive programmer you respect?
wata
How many hours of sleep do you get?
Around 8 hours
What are your aspirations for AWTF2026?
Maximize my probability of winning.
HANDLE
rhoo
COUNTRY
JAPAN
DIVISION / ROLE
HEURISTIC
PROFILE PHOTO
Not submitted
AWTF 2026
ATCODER WORLD TOUR FINALS
GP30 RANK
#9
terry_u16
JAPAN
RATING
3187
GP30 SCORE
264.5
GP30 RANK
#9
“This year, I’m aiming for the championship!”
INTERVIEW
What inspired you to start competitive programming?
In spring 2020, COVID-19 left me with free time, and I happened to see an announcement for a judge update contest on Twitter, now X.
How many on-site contests have you participated in?
Six.
What were your results in those contests?
Runner-up at AWTF2025.
What types of problems do you enjoy?
I like problems where I can use anything that is available.
Do you have a favorite problem on AtCoder?
Graphorean
Do you follow any pre-contest routines?
I brew coffee.
Do you remember the first problem you solved?
PracticeA - Welcome to AtCoder
What music do you listen to while solving problems?
During long contests, I listen to electronic music. Recently, I often listen to Artcore.
What is the most challenging problem you’ve ever solved?
Silhouette Block Puzzle Creation
What do you usually do on holidays?
I do competitive programming or play fighting games. Maybe I just like competing with others.
Who is a competitive programmer you respect?
chokudai, tsukammo, and wata
How many hours of sleep do you get?
6–9 hours
What are your aspirations for AWTF2026?
This year, I’m aiming for the championship!
HANDLE
terry_u16
COUNTRY
JAPAN
DIVISION / ROLE
HEURISTIC
PROFILE PHOTO
Submitted
AWTF 2026
ATCODER WORLD TOUR FINALS
GP30 RANK
#10
asi1024
asi1024
JAPAN
RATING
2994
GP30 SCORE
240.0
GP30 RANK
#10
“—”
INTERVIEW
Questionnaire
No answer yet.
HANDLE
asi1024
COUNTRY
JAPAN
DIVISION / ROLE
HEURISTIC
PROFILE PHOTO
Not submitted
AWTF 2026
ATCODER WORLD TOUR FINALS
GP30 RANK
#11
MathGorilla
JAPAN
RATING
2904
GP30 SCORE
237.0
GP30 RANK
#11
“I’m here to meet competitors stronger than me.”
INTERVIEW
What inspired you to start competitive programming?
I happened to find Typical 90 problem 001, couldn’t solve it, and was impressed after reading the editorial.
How many on-site contests have you participated in?
Two.
What were your results in those contests?
A crushing defeat!
What types of problems do you enjoy?
Problems with visualizers that look great.
Do you have a favorite problem on AtCoder?
Tree Robot Arm (AHC038)
Do you follow any pre-contest routines?
I take a shower.
Do you remember the first problem you solved?
Yokan Party
What music do you listen to while solving problems?
I try not to listen to music during contests.
What is the most challenging problem you’ve ever solved?
Silhouette Block Puzzle Creation (AHC019)
What do you usually do on holidays?
Tennis, games, watching anime, and so on.
Who is a competitive programmer you respect?
Jirotech, wata, nikaj, Rafbill, ... too many to list.
How many hours of sleep do you get?
8 hours
What are your aspirations for AWTF2026?
I’m here to meet competitors stronger than me.
HANDLE
MathGorilla
COUNTRY
JAPAN
DIVISION / ROLE
HEURISTIC
PROFILE PHOTO
Submitted
AWTF 2026
ATCODER WORLD TOUR FINALS
GP30 RANK
#12
bowwowforeach
bowwowforeach
JAPAN
RATING
3207
GP30 SCORE
213.5
GP30 RANK
#12
“May inspiration strike.”
INTERVIEW
What inspired you to start competitive programming?
I wanted to program, but had nothing I wanted to make. Competitive programming gives me topics to work on.
How many on-site contests have you participated in?
Two.
What types of problems do you enjoy?
Simulated annealing speed-up battles.
Do you have a favorite problem on AtCoder?
Problems where the score rises the more you optimize.
Do you follow any pre-contest routines?
None.
Do you remember the first problem you solved?
I do not remember.
What music do you listen to while solving problems?
None.
What is the most challenging problem you’ve ever solved?
Problems that require difficult algorithms are not for me.
What do you usually do on holidays?
Review past problems and maintain libraries and tools.
Who is a competitive programmer you respect?
Kaede
How many hours of sleep do you get?
7 hours
What are your aspirations for AWTF2026?
May inspiration strike.
HANDLE
bowwowforeach
COUNTRY
JAPAN
DIVISION / ROLE
HEURISTIC
PROFILE PHOTO
Not submitted
AWTF 2026
ATCODER WORLD TOUR FINALS
GP30 RANK
#13
yokozuna57
JAPAN
RATING
2969
GP30 SCORE
206.5
GP30 RANK
#13
“I’ll do my best.”
INTERVIEW
What inspired you to start competitive programming?
JOI
How many on-site contests have you participated in?
Many.
What were your results in those contests?
An IOI gold medal, among others.
What types of problems do you enjoy?
Problems that only I can solve.
Do you have a favorite problem on AtCoder?
I quickly forget problems I have solved.
Do you follow any pre-contest routines?
No.
Do you remember the first problem you solved?
No.
What music do you listen to while solving problems?
Nothing in particular.
What do you usually do on holidays?
Sleep.
Who is a competitive programmer you respect?
maroonrk
How many hours of sleep do you get?
10 hours
What are your aspirations for AWTF2026?
I’ll do my best.
HANDLE
yokozuna57
COUNTRY
JAPAN
DIVISION / ROLE
HEURISTIC
PROFILE PHOTO
Submitted
