Terms and Conditions for
Participation in the
Wincent DragonByte
Coding Challenge
1. Introduction
These Terms and Conditions (“Terms”) govern your participation in the Wincent DragonByte Coding Challenge (the “Challenge”), an international programming competition organised by Vincentius s.r.o. (“Organiser”, “we”, or “us”). By registering for and participating in the Challenge, you (“Participant” or “you”) agree to be legally bound by these Terms.
If you do not agree to these Terms, do not register or participate in the Challenge.
2. About the Challenge
The Wincent DragonByte Coding Challenge is a global algorithmic programming competition designed to engage developers in multiple phases of technical problem-solving.
Participants will demonstrate their coding skills through a series of challenges, with the top performers invited to a prestigious in-person finale featuring live tasks, networking and rewards.
3. Challenge Structure and Schedule
Phase I: Registration
- Period: 25 May–27 June 2026
- Participants must register via the official Challenge website (www.wincentdragonbyte.com). Registration will officially open on 25 May 2026.
Phase II: Qualification Round
- Dates: 26–27 June 2026
- Format: A 48-hour window to reach a point threshold or to place among top 1,000 participants to advance.
- Purpose: To evaluate applicants and select participants who advance to the Main Online Challenge.
Phase III: Main Online Challenge (“Online Round”)
- Date: 17 July 2026 starting at 16:00 CEST
- Duration: 3 hours
- Format: A simultaneous online algorithmic challenge for the qualifiers.
- Outcome: Determines the top 20 finalists who will be invited to Bratislava for the final round.
- Monitoring & Fair Play: Participants aiming to advance to the final round must record their solving process during this phase.
- More detailed instructions will be provided before the round.
- Recordings must be retained for at least 30 days.
- Organiser may request the footage for verification purposes.
- Failure to provide the recording upon request may result in disqualification.
Phase IV: Final On-Site Challenge (“Onsite Finals”)
- Dates: 18–20 September 2026
- Location: The Spot, Bottova 2/A, Bratislava, Slovakia
- Participants: Top 20 eligible finalists
- Three-day itinerary (to be announced)
- Note: All aspects of the on-site schedule, agenda, and venue are subject to change at the discretion of the Organiser. Finalists will be informed of any updates on a best efforts basis.
4. Eligibility
4.1. Global Participation Online
The Registration, Qualification Round, and Online Round are open to participants globally. There are no restrictions based on nationality or residence for these rounds.
4.2. On-Site Finals, Prizes, Gifts, and Reimbursement
Eligibility to be invited to the On-Site Finals in Bratislava, to receive travel/accommodation reimbursements, and to win cash prizes is strictly limited to individuals who meet all of the criteria listed below.
Eligible participants must:
- Be citizens or permanent residents of one of the countries specified below.
- Be at least 18 years old or the age of majority in their country of residence, whichever is higher.
- Not be subject to asset freezes or other restrictive measures under applicable sanctions laws and regulations of the European Union, the United Nations, the United Kingdom, or the United States.
- Not be listed on any applicable sanctions or restricted party list, including (but not limited to) the EU Consolidated Financial Sanctions List, the UK Sanctions List, the OFAC SDN List, and the UN Consolidated List.
- Not participate on behalf of, or for the benefit of, any person or entity subject to such sanctions or listed on such lists.
- Not be an employee of the Organiser or a family member of anyone directly involved in organising or administering the Challenge.
Eligible countries
Eligible participants must meet one or more of the following criteria:
- EU Citizens: Citizens of any European Union member state, regardless of their current country of residence.
- EU Permanent Residents: Individuals holding valid permanent residency in an EU member state. Note: Temporary residence, student visas, or short-term work permits are not sufficient for eligibility.
- Citizens or permanent residents of specific additional countries: Individuals that are citizens and/or permanent residents of the following countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Kosovo, Liechtenstein, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom.
In the event that a participant holds a dual citizenship (e.g., EU and non-EU), they can choose which of the two countries they represent. In order to be an eligible participant, they have to choose a country that meets the criteria listed in Section 4.2. If they advance to the On-site Finals, they will have to present a valid ID or passport issued by that country.
4.3. Global Leaderboard
The performance of all participants in the Main Online Challenge will be officially recorded in the round's leaderboard. The invitation to the on-site finals in Bratislava will be extended to the 20 highest-ranking participants who meet the eligibility criteria defined in Section 4.2. The Organiser reserves the right to choose substitutes from among the other eligibile participants in the Main Online Challenge if some of the invited participants are unable to attend the finals.
4.4. Other
The Competition is void in Quebec and everywhere where prohibited by law.
5. Registration and Participation
All registrations must be submitted via the official Challenge website. Incomplete or inaccurate registrations may result in disqualification. The Organiser reserves the right to accept or decline any application at its sole discretion. Registration requires a valid email address as well as the personal details required on the website.
6. Code of Conduct
Participants must:
- Compete fairly and independently.
- Avoid plagiarism, collusion, and unethical behaviour.
- Respect all participants and event staff.
- Follow the competition rules and all other competition instructions.
7. Travel, Accommodation, and Prizes
7.1. Travel and Accommodation Reimbursement (Finalists)
The Organiser will provide a travel stipend of up to €400 for economy-class flights, reasonable accommodation expenses, and incidental travel for the twenty (20) finalists invited to the on-site event in Bratislava.
- If a finalist's travel and accommodation expenses exceed €400, the excess amount will be the responsibility of the finalist.
- Reimbursement is strictly conditional on physical attendance at the on-site event.
- Finalists will receive a curated list of recommended hotels in Bratislava and travel guidance for those transiting via Vienna International Airport.
- Participants must obtain adequate travel and medical insurance prior to attending the on-site event.
All reimbursement claims must be supported by valid receipts and submitted in accordance with the instructions provided by the organiser.
7.2. Prizes
Monetary prizes will be awarded to the top three performers in the Final On-site Challenge:
- 1st Place: €10,000
- 2nd Place: €5,000
- 3rd Place: €2,500
All prize amounts are stated gross. In accordance with applicable Slovak law the Organiser will withhold and remit any required taxes before transferring funds to recipients. Final prize payments will therefore be made net of taxes.
Prizes will be disbursed via bank transfer within 15 business days following the conclusion of the Challenge. To facilitate payment, winners must provide:
- Full legal name
- IBAN (International Bank Account Number)
- SWIFT/BIC code
Each winner will also receive a statement detailing the gross prize amount, tax withheld, and net amount paid. Participants are individually responsible for any additional tax reporting or compliance obligations in their country of residence.
8. Participant Gifts
The Organiser will provide commemorative items to recognise participant achievement:
- The 20 finalists will receive an exclusive merchandise package.
- Participants may be required to provide valid shipping addresses to enable delivery.
Gifts are provided free of charge, carry no monetary value, and are non-transferable and non-exchangeable. The Organiser reserves the right to modify or substitute items if necessary.
9. Intellectual Property
Unless otherwise stated, all submissions remain the property of the participant. By submitting code or content during the Challenge, participants grant the Organiser a non-exclusive, royalty-free licence to use their submissions for promotional and educational purposes, with proper attribution.
10. Data Protection and GDPR Compliance
The Organiser handles all personal data in accordance with the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
We collect:
- Contact details, demographic data, challenge submissions, recordings of the solving process (for verification), and logistical information.
- Registration, competition management, performance evaluation, travel coordination, and communication.
- You have the right to access, rectify, delete, or restrict processing of your data.
- To exercise these rights, contact our Data Protection Officer at gdpr@wincent.co
- For full details, please refer to our Privacy Policy at Vincentius privacy policy.
11. Liability
The Organiser shall not be held liable for:
- Technical or software issues during the challenge phases;
- Travel disruptions, visa refusals, or health incidents;
- Indirect or incidental losses related to participation in the Challenge.
Participants in the Final On-Site Challenge must obtain adequate travel and medical insurance prior to attending the on-site event.
12. Modifications and Cancellation
The Organiser reserves the right to:
- Modify the structure, schedule, or terms of the Challenge;
- Cancel any phase of the Challenge due to unforeseen circumstances;
- Disqualify participants for misconduct or non-compliance.
Any updates or changes will be communicated via email or the Challenge website.
13. Governing Law
These Terms shall be governed by and construed under the laws of the Slovak Republic. All legal matters, contractual and non-contractual, shall fall under the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the Slovak republic.