Isaac and Alex strike gold in prestigious international Maths competition

Tonbridge students Isaac King and Alex Chui put in outstanding performances when they took part in the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) in Tokyo this summer.

Both were awarded Gold medals, an achievement which placed them among the top 54 students in the world.

The Lower Sixth’s Isaac (CH4) and Second Year student Alex (CH2) were part of the UK team, pictured, and helped the national side to a highly respectable 13th position overall in the world rankings.

A total of 112 counties, and more than 600 contestants, took part in this year’s IMO, the premier ‘World Championship’ Maths competition for senior school students.

The UK team featured the top six school-age mathematicians in the country, meaning that simply being selected for the IMO is a remarkable achievement in itself. It is also extremely rare for any school to provide two of the six contestants for a national team.

Gold medals were awarded to the top 54 individuals; Silver medals to 90 more; and Bronze medals to 170. Isaac and Alex’s results meant they were the two highest ranked members of the UK team.

James Priory, Tonbridge’s Headmaster, offered the pair his warmest congratulations. “For Isaac and Alex to both earn Gold in one of the world’s most prestigious Maths competitions is truly sensational,” he said. “Their success is well deserved, is a huge credit to the School and is also a great accolade for our outstanding Mathematics Department.”

Earlier this year, Alex and Isaac were also selected to represent the UK at the Romanian Master of Mathematics competition. Alex was awarded a Silver medal and Isaac a Bronze.

The boys are pictured with the UK team during the competition, above, and below at Tonbridge.