What’s your favorite thing about competitive programming?
Solving interesting problems.

How did you start out in competitive programming?
Some friends told me about competitive programming and I started solving some problems.

Who do you think is the most fierce or talented coder at Topcoder and why?
There are a lot of strong coders at Topcoder. Currently no. 1 in the ratings is tourist.

Where do you work? Tell us about your space(s).
Tesoro Investments, a quantitative hedge fund.

How does it feel to be a first time TCO Finalist?
I am happy to be a part of the big onsite finals.

What are you most looking forward to at your first-ever TCO Finals?
How interesting the event will be!

Did you strive to make it TCO this year and if so, why does it matter to you?
I practiced a lot in previous years, and this year I only competed in major tournaments. But it definitely matters to me as Topcoder was one of the first platforms where I took part in programming competitions.