Battle of 125 Python Minds – Pure Code Challenge at IIID

At the Iran International Innovation District (IIID), 125 of the nation's top Python and Django programmers — selected from over 1,500 participants — have gathered for the final round of a unique competition that bans all AI tools to measure true coding ability.

Mehdi Kordbacheh, project manager for Quera's AI and programming competitions, said the Python/Django finals began on Tuesday, October 27, 2025, at IIID's Fan Bazaar Hall. Contestants entered preparation in May and advanced through training and qualifying rounds to reach today's event.

He explained that an initial five-to-six-hour training session introduced the question format, followed by the preliminary round on September 24 that drew around 1,500 competitors. The top 125 reached the finals. All challenge questions were prepared by Quera's design team and delivered via its dedicated online platform. Automated scoring and anti-cheating checks ensure accuracy and fairness.

Between the preliminary and final stages, a special webinar was held for selected contestants to familiarize them with Pardis Technology Park and develop skills such as stress management, focus, and competition strategies.

Kordbacheh noted that in other tracks such as algorithms and data, foreign participants joined, but in the Python/Django league, all 125 finalists are elite domestic programmers demonstrating high-level expertise.

To ensure genuine capability assessment, free internet access and AI tools were disabled. Participants may only use specified resources and the designated work environment. Over 80% of competitors are 19–22-year-old students from top Iranian universities, many aiming to build professional careers in software development and technology.