Pakistani Wins Individual Flash CTF Championship at 2025 Technology Olympiad

Tehran, Iran – On October 30, the Iran International Innovation District (IIID) hosted the individual Flash Capture The Flag (CTF) final, one of the most challenging cybersecurity events at the 2025 Technology Olympiad. After six elimination rounds, a Pakistani contender emerged as champion.

The final brought together 64 top participants from various countries for the only individual final in the Olympiad’s cybersecurity segment. Over the course of six one-hour rounds, competitors faced complex hacking, decryption, and flag-retrieval challenges, all in a head-to-head elimination format.

Event manager Mohammad Hossein Doroudian explained that in each round, two participants competed directly, with the highest scorer advancing and the other eliminated. This format, he noted, made the contest one of the most intense moments of the Olympiad.

The top three finalists were:
• Ali Taqi Wajid (Pakistan) – Champion
• Muhammad Hassan Faraz (Pakistan) – Runner-up
• Usman Abdul Halim (Indonesia) – Third Place

Doroudian concluded that the high skill level of all competitors reflected global standards. The diverse nationalities among the winners underscored the Olympiad’s international stature in cybersecurity.