rng_58's blog

Retiring from competitive competitive programming
By rng_58, history, 4 years ago, In English

Recently, I feel I've passed my peak as a competitive programmer, and ran out of sufficient energy/motivation to keep the top form and be prepared to win the next contest. I think I've done everything I can do as a competitive programmer, and now it's time to end my career as a professional (mind) sport player.

It was a great experience. I'd like to thank everyone involved in the community, especially:

  • Competitors. It was always nice to compete against you all!
  • Problem writers who gave great problems to the community.

I started my career as a competitive math-puzzle solver in 1999. The first contest was a local one named "junior sansu (arithmetic) olympiad". Since then, I enjoyed this sport a lot for 21 years.

In 2007, I started TopCoder, and it changed my life. The problems were great, and every single match of SRM felt like a once-in-a-life event. A lot of legends were competing there — Petr, tomek, ACRush, then tourist, and many more. I watched them on a screen, like a football boy watching Messi on TV. I dreamed to join them one day, and always stayed on practice rooms on TopCoder Arena and tried to improve. Imagine the moment when I finally reached the Finals, met those legends, and competed with them at the same stage!

Then I became an admin, first at TopCoder, then at AtCoder. Especially in AtCoder, I had a right to decide everything as the leader of the writers' team, and tried to make what I consider to be the ideal form of a competitive programming website. I tried to create a community where the legends and top competitors gather, and compete against each other for solving ad-hoc, math-puzzle-like, elementary, thinking-oriented problems, and newcomers who dream to be the star of the next generation join and practice. I hope you enjoyed the contests!

For now, I'll get some rest for a while, live a calm, non-competitive life, and gradually think what to do next. I'll stay in AtCoder and hope to keep in touch with the community in some form.

Good bye, and good luck to the community in the future!

UPD: thank you everyone for the comments!

  • Vote: I like it
  • +4205
  • Vote: I do not like it

Comments Comments (67)
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4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +617 Vote: I do not like it

F

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    4 years ago, # ^ |
      Vote: I like it -29 Vote: I do not like it

    You handle color is mismatched, I guess it should have been red, but it is showing purple.

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      4 years ago, # ^ |
        Vote: I like it +61 Vote: I do not like it

      No bro his rating graph is mismatched.

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4 years ago, # |
← Rev. 2   Vote: I like it +309 Vote: I do not like it

Me: 2020 cannot get any worse, it's about to end

*rng_58 retires *

PS: Everyone will miss you :)

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4 years ago, # |
← Rev. 2   Vote: I like it +78 Vote: I do not like it

Thanks for all that you have done for the community :)

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4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +69 Vote: I do not like it

So long legend! Your efforts will never be forgotten, especially the influence on AtCoder. Stay safe.

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4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +379 Vote: I do not like it

Thanks for all the amazing problems you created or coordinated in Topcoder and Atcoder!

I personally thank you for reviewing my first ever CP problems, starting with TCO '14 CarrotField and then SRM 664 and many more. I learned a lot from you.

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    4 years ago, # ^ |
      Vote: I like it +257 Vote: I do not like it

    Your problems were nice too and I enjoyed them a lot. Thank you!

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4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +15 Vote: I do not like it

:(

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4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +49 Vote: I do not like it

Good bye rng_58 hope you have a great future ahead.

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4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +103 Vote: I do not like it

I'm sure a lot of people have appreciated (directly and indirectly) and have had their minds enhanced by your hard work and dedication! Good luck in the next steps of your life, and never cease to be proud of what you have created!

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4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it -89 Vote: I do not like it

Nah, you'll keep competing.

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4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +272 Vote: I do not like it

As a same-age rival, I have always followed you. I am really proud to have competed with you at so many worldwide championship contests. It was you who most made me eager to win.

Thanks and kudos to your victorious life!

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    4 years ago, # ^ |
      Vote: I like it +139 Vote: I do not like it

    Thank you! You have a blank of 4 years so good luck in some more contests!

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4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +21 Vote: I do not like it

Thank you rng_58, have a great life and career ahead.

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4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +157 Vote: I do not like it

Thank you for all the comments on old Project Euler problems :)

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4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +15 Vote: I do not like it

thanks for your work on atcoder! atcoder really helped me getting through breakup on quarantine. infinite respect to you

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4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +8 Vote: I do not like it

Good bye rng_58 hope you have a great future ahead.

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4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +2 Vote: I do not like it

Arigato rng_58

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4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +36 Vote: I do not like it

Not related, but I'm curious to know, after retiring from cp, what will you do for living?

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4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +599 Vote: I do not like it

THANK YOU LEGEND !

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4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +64 Vote: I do not like it

I am not crying, you are crying

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    4 years ago, # ^ |
      Vote: I like it +45 Vote: I do not like it

    Damn it ninjas cutting onions in my room again :(

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4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +31 Vote: I do not like it

Personally, I loved the work you did with atcoder. Be it the short, crisp and on point algorithmic problems or the efficient user interface. You will be missed. You'll always inspire me :)

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4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it -29 Vote: I do not like it

Before you leave, can you share your Competitive programming journey with us?. It will stand as a motivation for people like me.

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4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +5 Vote: I do not like it

Thanks for all you have done for the community, Atcoder is something absolutely phenomenal, and it is and will always be one of the best places for competitive programming. Take care in your journey ahead.

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4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +11 Vote: I do not like it

good example of independent,perseverance and worker person, congrats!

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4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +29 Vote: I do not like it

The moment when you were writing on the big screen My C large will fail in the Code Jam. And you couldn't do anything because of time constraints will be memorable :(

Good bye rng_58

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4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it 0 Vote: I do not like it

Thank you for everything you did for the community. Atcoder problems were really nice and helped us in improving mathematical topics, particularly combinatorics and string problems.

Good Luck for your journey ahead!!

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4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it -33 Vote: I do not like it

I am curious what rng_58 has been doing besides competitive programming — and I could not find the information online.

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4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +1 Vote: I do not like it

just when I thought 2020 couldn't get any worse

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4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it 0 Vote: I do not like it

Thanks for your awesome work. I have really enjoyed and learned a lot of insights from your problems since the beginning of my competitive programming life.

Bon Voyage!

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4 years ago, # |
← Rev. 4   Vote: I like it 0 Vote: I do not like it

Your skills !!!

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4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +125 Vote: I do not like it

Thanks for all you've done :)

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    4 years ago, # ^ |
      Vote: I like it +60 Vote: I do not like it

    Thank you! It was a lot of fun to meet you and discuss various things during onsite events!

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4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +79 Vote: I do not like it

It was great to compete alongside you, starting back in the days of TopCoder High School years ago. Best wishes, and hope to still hear from you from time to time!

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4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +49 Vote: I do not like it

Thanks for all your effort for CP. I learn many knowledge and skill of creating problems from you! Thank you very much!

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    4 years ago, # ^ |
      Vote: I like it +58 Vote: I do not like it

    It was very nice to meet you in Nanjing last year. And thank you for writing nice tasks for AtCoder!

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4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +1 Vote: I do not like it

Goodbye. Thanks for Atcoder problems and for being one of the top 0.000001% CP legends

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4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +41 Vote: I do not like it

I started my career as a competitive math-puzzle solver in 1999.
I was just born around that time.

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4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +5 Vote: I do not like it

Good luck for your next journey.

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4 years ago, # |
← Rev. 3   Vote: I like it +31 Vote: I do not like it

Logged back in to Codeforces just to post this. Sad to hear that you're retiring, rng_58!. I really admired you since the good old TopCoder era (ah, really miss it now). Your problems were so interesting and inspired me to become a problem author myself. Thanks for reviewing and coordinating my past SRM problems (wow, it was ~ 8 years ago!)

Best wishes and good luck for your next journey, Makoto! :)

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    4 years ago, # ^ |
      Vote: I like it +44 Vote: I do not like it

    I really miss that era too. I enjoyed a lot to discuss various problem ideas with you. Thank you!

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4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +2 Vote: I do not like it

i miss u rng_58... your retiring news is sad news for me. Hope you have a great future ahead...

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4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +55 Vote: I do not like it

Thanks for everything that you have ever done for this community, you are a true legend. You brought us really quality problems spelled with capital Q and the platform with the most awesome problems — even if AGCs often made me feel depressed I always enjoyed participating in them much more than anything else. I came to cf right now just to check out Prime NY Contest — not to feel ;__;, and now even memes are making me emotional xd

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4 years ago, # |
← Rev. 4   Vote: I like it +13 Vote: I do not like it

fun fact #1: Now this is officially most liked blog(2020) on codeforces. What a way to give sendoff. Thanks for your amazing problems proof

fun fact #2: Five new blogs entered to top 10 in December of 2020

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    4 years ago, # ^ |
      Vote: I like it 0 Vote: I do not like it

    Just look at the margin between first and second it's a hard one to beat

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4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +32 Vote: I do not like it

Thank you for all your contributions to CP and good luck in your next endeavors!

I really enjoyed working with you first as an author and then as a tester back in the old TopCoder times! I guess I always liked your taste in problem selection and I find it matching mine quite a bit :)

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4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +15 Vote: I do not like it

I remember watching Petr, tomek and Snapdragon on Topcoder (about 15-20 years back), wondering how people starting out can get that good. Clearly, you've demonstrated what it took to achieve that level of (legendary) success. Maybe one day you could coach a university team to win the ICPC, or create a masterclass in problem writing :) Good luck with your ventures!

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4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +2 Vote: I do not like it

I have just started my journey. Though I don't know you from long time but still feeling sad. Please tell me about the best thing which motivated you throughout.

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4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it -14 Vote: I do not like it

There are two 'competitive's in the title

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4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it 0 Vote: I do not like it

Goodbye rng_58!

We will never forget your great contribution to CP community!

Good luck and enjoy your new life!

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4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +1 Vote: I do not like it

Good luck and have great future time, rng_58, the champion and the legend. Thank you for great problems and community impact.

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4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +1 Vote: I do not like it

I don't know what to say other than that thank you so much for your great contribution to competitive programming, and enjoy your life after retiring.

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4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +1 Vote: I do not like it

rng_58, All we can say is "Thank you very much!!!".

_ From newbie :(

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4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +4 Vote: I do not like it

Although I don't know much about you (the main reason is maybe that I didn't spend a long time as a competitive programmer) , the story above really touches me. It encourages me to keep working hard on competitive programming and to learn from many people like you.

I believe that many people including me feel a little sad for hearing this news because you created many amazing problems and did a lot for competitive programming. Everyone will miss you. Goodbye rng_58 and hope you have such a great future that just like your life as a competitive programmer!

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4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it -9 Vote: I do not like it

Thank you

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4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +10 Vote: I do not like it

You're a living legend. :)

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4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +9 Vote: I do not like it

This is the most upvoted blog in CF

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4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it -28 Vote: I do not like it

Arnob

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    4 years ago, # ^ |
      Vote: I like it -23 Vote: I do not like it

    One day you'll also be at this stage my friend. Keep working hard. I believe in you!

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