HKUST Firebirds Clinch Championship at Cyber Attack and Defence Elite Tournament 2026

The HKUST Firebird team from the Department of Computer Science and Engineering has won the championship in the Tertiary Institution category at the Cyber Attack and Defence Elite Training cum Tournament 2026, held from August 24 to 26.

Comprising Dhairya Pankaj Shah and Chi Yuen Jimmy Kong, the Firebird team demonstrated outstanding problem-solving skills, technical expertise, and teamwork in this highly competitive cybersecurity challenge. Both students completed COMP 3633 in Spring 2026 and are currently enrolled in COMP 4633 in Fall 2026.

About the Competition

Jointly organised by the Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau (CSTCB) of the Hong Kong Police Force, the Digital Policy Office (DPO), the Hong Kong Internet Registration Corporation Limited, and the Hong Kong Cyber Security Professionals Association, the three‑day event combined intensive training with a high‑stakes competition.

The training covered common attack vectors, defence techniques, and an agentic artificial intelligence module, while the competition tested participants' crisis management and real‑time problem‑solving skills.

The event attracted over 100 organisations and 200 professionals for the training, and more than 660 teams—totalling 1,500 participants from industry and academia—competed in various categories.

Outstanding Team Performance

During the competition, the Firebird team excelled through strong coordination, quick vulnerability identification, and effective countermeasures. Their victory underscores HKUST's excellence in cybersecurity education and its dedication to cultivating future cyber defenders, while adding another accolade to the team's growing record and reinforcing HKUST's standing in the field.

Congratulations to Chi Yuen Jimmy Kong and Dhairya Pankaj Shah on this excellent achievement!

Dhairya Pankaj Shah (left), Chi Yuen Jimmy Kong (right)