🧮 ETH Mathathon 2026 — A 20-Hour Overnight Math Competition!

For the very first time, MindPhair and RecMaths are teaming up to present the Mathathon — a brand-new 20-hour overnight competition where mathematical thinking, creative strategy, and game theory collide. 🧠⚡️

This is not your typical hackathon. No solo coding marathons, no endless debugging in isolation — the Mathathon is a live, head-to-head, game-based battle where your algorithms go up against every other team's in real time.

🏕️ What to Expect

Kicking off on Saturday 16th May at 14:00 in CAB, right at the heart of ETH's central campus, challenges will be rolled out progressively throughout the afternoon and evening. You'll have the whole night to test, refine, and sharpen your approach across multiple rounds.

• 🍽️ Dinner on Saturday evening is included
• 🌅 Breakfast Sunday morning is included
• 🎉 A few surprises are planned — you'll have to show up to find out!
• 🏆 Winner ceremony takes place on Sunday 17th May at 11:00

⚙️ How the Competition Works

Each challenge is centred around a predefined game — think competitive grid battles, strategic number puzzles, and decision-making under uncertainty. Your team builds an algorithm that plays autonomously, and it gets simulated against every other team's submission in a round-robin format. The strategy that performs best across all matchups takes the crown.

A custom-built platform lets you upload code in any compilable language, with an integrated IDE included. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned coder, the barrier to entry is intentionally low — but the ceiling is as high as your ambition.

✨ Highlights at a Glance

• 🎮 Progressive challenges dropped throughout the event — something new all night long
• 🔁 Continuous test rounds so you can iterate and improve your strategy in real time
• 🤝 Sign up solo and form a team on the day — groups of up to 4 people
• 🍽️ Dinner + breakfast included
• 🏆 Winner ceremony on Sunday at 11:00
• 🌍 Open to everyone — not just ETH students!

🚀 Secure Your Spot

Only 80 places are available — spots will go fast!

👉 Sign up now and claim your place at the Mathathon!

Whether your passion is mathematics, computer science, physics, game theory, or just a love of clever puzzles — this overnight experience was made for you. 🌟