On Saturday, May 31, we hosted the grand final of the 2025 Karel Challenge at the Barcelona School of Informatics (FIB—UPC). Divided into two age-based categories, nearly a hundred young programmers took part in the final stage of this unique programming competition organized annually by Codelearn. This eSport tests speed, strategy, and precision in programming—and this year, the fastest and most skilled were Roger Torres, winner of the Junior category, and Luca Bouman, champion of the Senior division.
The day kicked off at 10:00 AM as the Junior finalists arrived at the Agora Room, checked in, and geared up for a high-stakes morning. Thirty minutes later, the first rounds began. As is tradition in the Karel Challenge, each match featured four players competing simultaneously—each controlling a Karel robot in a different color, all with the same objective: collect every beeper on the map, overcome obstacles, and reach the exit before their opponents.
By midday, the pressure was on. After an intense round of 16 and a thrilling Final 4, the Junior finalists were Éric Pérez (Mataró), Roger Torres (Andorra), Marc Ródenas (Igualada), and Elies Aynès (Manresa). Ultimately, it was Roger Torres who came out on top, claiming the Junior Champion title, a trophy, a Nintendo Switch OLED, and bonus points to spend in the Codelearn reward store. The other finalists also received points and a Nintendo Switch Lite as a well-deserved reward for their hard work throughout the year—and especially during the competition.
After lunch, it was time for the Senior finalists to take the stage. The level of competition keeps rising each year, and so does the complexity of the maps designed for the older participants. Following seven intense qualification rounds and a tough round of 16, the climactic Final 4 of the 2025 Karel Challenge took place in the late afternoon. The finalists—Éric Cuadrado (Sabadell), Jordi Bartís (Banyoles), Roger Soler (Berga), and Luca Bouman (Castelldefels)—delivered an edge-of-your-seat match that featured no fewer than four resets. In the end, Luca Bouman emerged victorious, taking home the Senior Champion trophy, a gaming laptop, and additional reward points on the platform.
All finalists in both categories went home with a medal in recognition of their achievement. During the awards ceremony, additional prizes—including board games, laptops, consoles, gaming keyboards, and mice—were raffled among the participants. Once again, we thoroughly enjoyed this in-person event, and all the participants showed great attitude, sportsmanship, and enthusiasm. We’d like to thank every finalist, their families for their support, and the UPC School of Informatics for partnering with us to make the final possible.