HKUST Firebirds Secure 1st Runner-Up at HKCERT Capture The Flag 2025

The HKUST Junior Firebird Cybersecurity Competition Team—icebird—from the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, achieved the 1st runner-up title at the HKCERT Capture The Flag (CTF) 2025 competition, held in February 2026, in the tertiary institution category.

Comprising current COMP 3633 students Kong Chi Yuen Jimmy, Jiang Kit Hoi Ivan, Shah Dhairya Pankaj, and Ma Zheng Qing Issac, the "icebird" team demonstrated good problem-solving and technical acumen in this highly competitive cybersecurity challenge.

About the Competition

Organised by the Digital Policy Office (DPO), the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC), and the Hong Kong Computer Emergency Response Team Coordination Centre (HKCERT), the HKCERT Capture The Flag competition is one of Hong Kong's largest and most prestigious on-site cybersecurity contests. The 2025 edition featured four categories—Secondary School, Tertiary, Open, and International—attracting top talent within the territory.

CTF competitions simulate real-world cybersecurity scenarios, requiring participants to identify and exploit vulnerabilities within virtual systems. Teams earn points by successfully capturing "flags" hidden within these challenges, a process that hones both technical expertise and analytical thinking.

Superior Team Performance

In the final, the COMP 3633 "icebird" team distinguished themselves with strategic precision and teamwork, securing the 1st runner-up position among strong contenders. Their success underscores HKUST's growing strength in cybersecurity education and training, as well as the remarkable talent and potential of its students in safeguarding digital environments even at a junior stage.

Congratulations to Kong Chi Yuen Jimmy, Jiang Kit Hoi Ivan, Shah Dhairya Pankaj, and Ma Zheng Qing Issac on this outstanding achievement!

From the left: Kong Chi Yuen Jimmy, Jiang Kit Hoi Ivan, Shah Dhairya Pankaj, Ma Zheng Qing Issac