TopCoder Open 2011

The most prestigious event for individual algorithmic programmers is taking place right now in Hollywood, Florida - it's TopCoder Open 2011 time. I have already been eliminated (twice :)), but that means I will provide live coverage for the finals, where 8 best coders will compete. Here are the participants (in alphabetical order):

	[[iwi]] from Japan, currently ranked 43rd in the world. He's already advanced to the TCO semifinals twice, in 2008 and 2009, but this is the first time he made it to the finals.
	ACRush from China, currently ranked 3rd in the world. He has already been in the TCO finals twice, in 2008 and 2010, but is still to score his first win.
	bmerry from South Africa, currently ranked 4th in the world. He has also been in the TCO finals twice, in 2007 and 2010, but haven't won yet.
	lyrically from Japan, currently ranked 9th in the world. I think it's his first trip to the TCO - and he got through to the finals (the semifinal also happens onsite).
	mikhailOK from Russia, currently ranked 26th in the world. It is also his first trip to the TCO.
	nika from Georgia, currently ranked 7th in the world. He's already been to the TCO semifinals back in 2008, but it's his first time in the finals.
	PaulJefferys from the United Kingdom, currently ranked 19th in the world. He's also been in the TCO finals last year, in 2010.
	rng_58 from Japan, currently ranked 5th in the world, and the current TopCoder Open champion - he won in 2010, and is the only finalist to have won previously. He has never been to the TCO before last year.

Tune in to this blog today at 13:30 TopCoder time (click the link for other timezones) for live coverage, in less than 4 hours!