Tournament of the Towns Math Competition

Tournament of the Towns is an international mathematics competition that emphasizes creative problem solving over routine techniques. Founded in 1980 in the former Soviet Union, it is now written in dozens of cities (“towns”) around the world. Each participating town administers the same contest papers locally, and rankings are based on how well a town’s students perform relative to their own population rather than against a single global list. The contest is usually offered in two levels (Junior and Senior), and is most suitable for mathematically advanced high school students, though strong younger students may also participate depending on local organizers. Problems focus on deep reasoning and ingenuity rather than heavy computation, making it excellent preparation for other math olympiads. Participation is generally free and arranged through schools, math circles, or local coordinators, giving students the chance to experience high-level contest mathematics in a collaborative, town-based setting.