Results 2023 - West Division
Congratulations to the 167 students who participated in the West Division of the 2023 Simon Marais Mathematics Competition! We are very pleased that students from so many Universities performed well and are excited to report the results*. We will be sending additional information to all Local Coordinators shortly, so that students that did not place or win a cash prize can receive feedback on their performance. Meanwhile, our thanks to all Local Coordinators for their key contribution to the success of an event that crosses so many time zones.
Please keep in mind that seven of the eight problems were scored on a scale 0-7, while B4 was scored on a scale 0-14.
Individual prize-winners (101 participated):
1st place: A$4000
Luka Horjak (University of Ljubljana), 46
2nd place: A$2800
Jorge Casanova Moya (Universidad de Zaragoza), 43
3rd place: A$1200
Jelle Bloemendaal (Utrecht University), 37
4th place: A$800
Daniel Cortild (University of Groningen), 33
5th place (joint): Total A$1600, A$800 per student
Jul Comhaire (KU Leuven), 27
Lukas Das (KU Leuven), 27
7th place (joint): Total A$2400, A$800 per student
Pieter Mantel (Utrecht University), 24
Tjeerd Morsch (University of Groningen), 24
Szymon Urban (University of Groningen), 24
10th place (joint): Total A$800, A$400 per student
Alexander Adamson (Durham University), 23
Jan Pantner (University of Ljubljana), 23
Pairs prize-winners (33 pairs participated):
1st place: Total A$8000, A$4000 per student
Lovro Drofenik & Jaka Vrhovnik (University of Ljubljana), 48
2nd place (joint): Total A$8000, A$2000 per student
Hylke Hoogeveen & Jippe Hoogeveen (Utrecht University), 41
William Stewart & Jean Weight (Stellenbosch University), 41
4th place: Total A$1600, A$800 per student
Thian Tromp & Kevin van Dijk (Utrecht University), 40
5th place: Total A$1600, A$800 per student
Benjamin Kleyn & Danielle Kleyn (Stellenbosch University), 35
6th place: Total A$1600, A$800 per student
Pau Martínez Veciana & Martí Solà Bertran (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona), 34
7th place: Total A$1600, A$800 per student
Patrick Creagh & Alexander Milner (Durham University), 31
8th place: Total A$1600, A$800 per student
Jon Mikoš & Beno Učakar (University of Ljubljana), 30
9th place (joint): Total A$1600, A$400 per student
Frederick Howard & Maximus Smith (Durham University), 28
Matevž Miščič & Maša Žaucer (University of Ljubljana), 28
Tomàs Planelles Alonso & Miguel Puelma Martínez (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona), 28
William Rea & Luke Saharia (Durham University), 28
University prize-winners (16 participated):
1st Place:
University of Ljubljana, 133
2nd Place:
Stellenbosch University, 104
3rd Place:
Utrecht University, 102
(See Rule 5.5 for the method of calculating University Scores: "A University score will be calculated for each University based on the performance of its participating students, as follows. The University score will be the maximum over all possible Eligible Groupings for that University. An Eligible Grouping consists of at most 3 individuals and at most 2 pairs, such that at most 4 of the students involved are of the same gender. An Eligible Grouping score is the sum of up to five scores: one for each individual and each pair in that Eligible Grouping.")
Hofflin Prize (across two Divisions):
(Total A$3000, awarded for most creative solution to any problem in the Competition)
Jeff Li & Stanley Li (Australian National University), for their solution to A3. Their existence construction is simpler in that it uses an induction on only one base case (all other solutions, including the official one, needed at least two), and this construction also provides the interesting insight that for even n, the minimal case does not need to include a set of size 1.
Merit Prizes
(A$1000 for individuals and A$2000 for pairs outside the Top 10, subject to reduction if necessary to ensure that the amount does not exceed that of any Top 10 prizes in the same Division and category - awarded for creative or insightful work on any problem)
Although they placed in the Top 10 and were thus ineligible for Merit Prizes, the following entrants were commended by the markers for their creative solutions:
Jorge Casanova Moya (Universidad de Zaragoza), for their C1 and C3 solutions.
Luka Horjak (University of Ljubljana), for their C3 solution.
Best individual entry by country (only scores 7 and above):
Belgium (joint):
Jul Comhaire (KU Leuven), 27
Lukas Das (KU Leuven), 27
Slovenia:
Luka Horjak (University of Ljubljana), 46
South Africa:
Kerry Porrill (Stellenbosch University), 22
Spain:
Jorge Casanova Moya (Universidad de Zaragoza), 43
The Netherlands:
Jelle Bloemendaal (Utrecht University), 37
United Kingdom:
Alexander Adamson (Durham University), 23
Best pairs entry by country (only scores 7 and above):
Belgium:
Luca Dehennin & Michiel Dombrecht (KU Leuven), 27
Slovenia:
Lovro Drofenik & Jaka Vrhovnik (University of Ljubljana), 48
South Africa:
William Stewart & Jean Weight (Stellenbosch University), 41
Spain:
Pau Martínez Veciana & Martí Solà Bertran (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona), 34
The Netherlands:
Hylke Hoogeveen & Jippe Hoogeveen (Utrecht University), 41
United Kingdom:
Patrick Creagh & Alexander Milner (Durham University), 31
Top Quartile listings for Individuals, Pairs and Universities:
Names in italics will receive Best-in-University Prizes: $200 for individuals and $400 for pairs (A$200 per student), with a minimum of A$100 per student in case of ties. This year the cut-off for Best-in-University prizes was set at top 15%.
In the West Division these Prizes are sponsored by Stonehage Fleming Charitable Foundation / Marais.
Individual:
Luka Horjak (University of Ljubljana), 46
Jorge Casanova Moya (Universidad de Zaragoza), 43
Jelle Bloemendaal (Utrecht University), 37
Daniel Cortild (University of Groningen), 33
Jul Comhaire (KU Leuven), 27
Lukas Das (KU Leuven), 27
Pieter Mantel (Utrecht University), 24
Tjeerd Morsch (University of Groningen), 24
Szymon Urban (University of Groningen), 24
Alexander Adamson (Durham University), 23
Jan Pantner (University of Ljubljana), 23
Wietske de Vos (University of Groningen), 22
Kerry Porrill (Stellenbosch University), 22
Job Petrovčič (University of Ljubljana), 20
Jack Wright (Durham University), 20
Matija Skrt (University of Ljubljana), 18
Joseph Ward (University of Birmingham), 18
Franciszek Kobus (University College London), 17
Leon Ma (Durham University), 17
Jasper van de Vuurst (Utrecht University), 17
Jaume Capdevila Jové (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona), 16
Jasper Dijt (University of Groningen), 16
Finn Hogan (Durham University), 16
Phong Nguyen (Durham University), 15
Luka Peruš (University of Ljubljana), 15
Hugo Trebše (University of Ljubljana), 15
Manuela Verdonck (KU Leuven), 15
Pairs:
Lovro Drofenik & Jaka Vrhovnik (University of Ljubljana), 48
Hylke Hoogeveen & Jippe Hoogeveen (Utrecht University), 41
William Stewart & Jean Weight (Stellenbosch University), 41
Thian Tromp & Kevin van Dijk (Utrecht University), 40
Benjamin Kleyn & Danielle Kleyn (Stellenbosch University), 35
Pau Martínez Veciana & Martí Solà Bertran (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona), 34
Patrick Creagh & Alexander Milner (Durham University), 31
Jon Mikoš & Beno Učakar (University of Ljubljana), 30
Frederick Howard & Maximus Smith (Durham University), 28
Matevž Miščič & Maša Žaucer (University of Ljubljana), 28
Tomàs Planelles Alonso & Miguel Puelma Martínez (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona), 28
William Rea & Luke Saharia (Durham University), 28
Universities (top performer in country noted in brackets):
University of Ljubljana, 133 (Slovenia)
Stellenbosch University, 104 (South Africa)
Utrecht University, 102 (The Netherlands)
KU Leuven, 96 (Belgium)
(*) We remind all participants of Rule 5.1: "Grading and scoring decisions are final and no correspondence will be entered into."
Congratulations to the 167 students who participated in the West Division of the 2023 Simon Marais Mathematics Competition! We are very pleased that students from so many Universities performed well and are excited to report the results*. We will be sending additional information to all Local Coordinators shortly, so that students that did not place or win a cash prize can receive feedback on their performance. Meanwhile, our thanks to all Local Coordinators for their key contribution to the success of an event that crosses so many time zones.
Please keep in mind that seven of the eight problems were scored on a scale 0-7, while B4 was scored on a scale 0-14.
Individual prize-winners (101 participated):
1st place: A$4000
Luka Horjak (University of Ljubljana), 46
2nd place: A$2800
Jorge Casanova Moya (Universidad de Zaragoza), 43
3rd place: A$1200
Jelle Bloemendaal (Utrecht University), 37
4th place: A$800
Daniel Cortild (University of Groningen), 33
5th place (joint): Total A$1600, A$800 per student
Jul Comhaire (KU Leuven), 27
Lukas Das (KU Leuven), 27
7th place (joint): Total A$2400, A$800 per student
Pieter Mantel (Utrecht University), 24
Tjeerd Morsch (University of Groningen), 24
Szymon Urban (University of Groningen), 24
10th place (joint): Total A$800, A$400 per student
Alexander Adamson (Durham University), 23
Jan Pantner (University of Ljubljana), 23
Pairs prize-winners (33 pairs participated):
1st place: Total A$8000, A$4000 per student
Lovro Drofenik & Jaka Vrhovnik (University of Ljubljana), 48
2nd place (joint): Total A$8000, A$2000 per student
Hylke Hoogeveen & Jippe Hoogeveen (Utrecht University), 41
William Stewart & Jean Weight (Stellenbosch University), 41
4th place: Total A$1600, A$800 per student
Thian Tromp & Kevin van Dijk (Utrecht University), 40
5th place: Total A$1600, A$800 per student
Benjamin Kleyn & Danielle Kleyn (Stellenbosch University), 35
6th place: Total A$1600, A$800 per student
Pau Martínez Veciana & Martí Solà Bertran (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona), 34
7th place: Total A$1600, A$800 per student
Patrick Creagh & Alexander Milner (Durham University), 31
8th place: Total A$1600, A$800 per student
Jon Mikoš & Beno Učakar (University of Ljubljana), 30
9th place (joint): Total A$1600, A$400 per student
Frederick Howard & Maximus Smith (Durham University), 28
Matevž Miščič & Maša Žaucer (University of Ljubljana), 28
Tomàs Planelles Alonso & Miguel Puelma Martínez (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona), 28
William Rea & Luke Saharia (Durham University), 28
University prize-winners (16 participated):
1st Place:
University of Ljubljana, 133
2nd Place:
Stellenbosch University, 104
3rd Place:
Utrecht University, 102
(See Rule 5.5 for the method of calculating University Scores: "A University score will be calculated for each University based on the performance of its participating students, as follows. The University score will be the maximum over all possible Eligible Groupings for that University. An Eligible Grouping consists of at most 3 individuals and at most 2 pairs, such that at most 4 of the students involved are of the same gender. An Eligible Grouping score is the sum of up to five scores: one for each individual and each pair in that Eligible Grouping.")
Hofflin Prize (across two Divisions):
(Total A$3000, awarded for most creative solution to any problem in the Competition)
Jeff Li & Stanley Li (Australian National University), for their solution to A3. Their existence construction is simpler in that it uses an induction on only one base case (all other solutions, including the official one, needed at least two), and this construction also provides the interesting insight that for even n, the minimal case does not need to include a set of size 1.
Merit Prizes
(A$1000 for individuals and A$2000 for pairs outside the Top 10, subject to reduction if necessary to ensure that the amount does not exceed that of any Top 10 prizes in the same Division and category - awarded for creative or insightful work on any problem)
Although they placed in the Top 10 and were thus ineligible for Merit Prizes, the following entrants were commended by the markers for their creative solutions:
Jorge Casanova Moya (Universidad de Zaragoza), for their C1 and C3 solutions.
Luka Horjak (University of Ljubljana), for their C3 solution.
Best individual entry by country (only scores 7 and above):
Belgium (joint):
Jul Comhaire (KU Leuven), 27
Lukas Das (KU Leuven), 27
Slovenia:
Luka Horjak (University of Ljubljana), 46
South Africa:
Kerry Porrill (Stellenbosch University), 22
Spain:
Jorge Casanova Moya (Universidad de Zaragoza), 43
The Netherlands:
Jelle Bloemendaal (Utrecht University), 37
United Kingdom:
Alexander Adamson (Durham University), 23
Best pairs entry by country (only scores 7 and above):
Belgium:
Luca Dehennin & Michiel Dombrecht (KU Leuven), 27
Slovenia:
Lovro Drofenik & Jaka Vrhovnik (University of Ljubljana), 48
South Africa:
William Stewart & Jean Weight (Stellenbosch University), 41
Spain:
Pau Martínez Veciana & Martí Solà Bertran (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona), 34
The Netherlands:
Hylke Hoogeveen & Jippe Hoogeveen (Utrecht University), 41
United Kingdom:
Patrick Creagh & Alexander Milner (Durham University), 31
Top Quartile listings for Individuals, Pairs and Universities:
Names in italics will receive Best-in-University Prizes: $200 for individuals and $400 for pairs (A$200 per student), with a minimum of A$100 per student in case of ties. This year the cut-off for Best-in-University prizes was set at top 15%.
In the West Division these Prizes are sponsored by Stonehage Fleming Charitable Foundation / Marais.
Individual:
Luka Horjak (University of Ljubljana), 46
Jorge Casanova Moya (Universidad de Zaragoza), 43
Jelle Bloemendaal (Utrecht University), 37
Daniel Cortild (University of Groningen), 33
Jul Comhaire (KU Leuven), 27
Lukas Das (KU Leuven), 27
Pieter Mantel (Utrecht University), 24
Tjeerd Morsch (University of Groningen), 24
Szymon Urban (University of Groningen), 24
Alexander Adamson (Durham University), 23
Jan Pantner (University of Ljubljana), 23
Wietske de Vos (University of Groningen), 22
Kerry Porrill (Stellenbosch University), 22
Job Petrovčič (University of Ljubljana), 20
Jack Wright (Durham University), 20
Matija Skrt (University of Ljubljana), 18
Joseph Ward (University of Birmingham), 18
Franciszek Kobus (University College London), 17
Leon Ma (Durham University), 17
Jasper van de Vuurst (Utrecht University), 17
Jaume Capdevila Jové (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona), 16
Jasper Dijt (University of Groningen), 16
Finn Hogan (Durham University), 16
Phong Nguyen (Durham University), 15
Luka Peruš (University of Ljubljana), 15
Hugo Trebše (University of Ljubljana), 15
Manuela Verdonck (KU Leuven), 15
Pairs:
Lovro Drofenik & Jaka Vrhovnik (University of Ljubljana), 48
Hylke Hoogeveen & Jippe Hoogeveen (Utrecht University), 41
William Stewart & Jean Weight (Stellenbosch University), 41
Thian Tromp & Kevin van Dijk (Utrecht University), 40
Benjamin Kleyn & Danielle Kleyn (Stellenbosch University), 35
Pau Martínez Veciana & Martí Solà Bertran (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona), 34
Patrick Creagh & Alexander Milner (Durham University), 31
Jon Mikoš & Beno Učakar (University of Ljubljana), 30
Frederick Howard & Maximus Smith (Durham University), 28
Matevž Miščič & Maša Žaucer (University of Ljubljana), 28
Tomàs Planelles Alonso & Miguel Puelma Martínez (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona), 28
William Rea & Luke Saharia (Durham University), 28
Universities (top performer in country noted in brackets):
University of Ljubljana, 133 (Slovenia)
Stellenbosch University, 104 (South Africa)
Utrecht University, 102 (The Netherlands)
KU Leuven, 96 (Belgium)
(*) We remind all participants of Rule 5.1: "Grading and scoring decisions are final and no correspondence will be entered into."