This October, Warsaw will become the beating heart of European cybersecurity. From October 6–9, COS Torwar Arena will host the grand finale of the European Cybersecurity Challenge 2025 – the continent’s biggest and most prestigious Capture The Flag (CTF) competition for young tech talent.

Now in its 10th edition and held under the patronage of ENISA, the ECSC final is coming to Poland for the very first time. Over four intense days, national teams from more than 30 countries will battle it out in challenges ranging from reverse engineering and cryptography to forensics and web/mobile security. But this is more than just a contest – it’s a high-stakes tech showdown where precision, teamwork, and mental grit make all the difference. Every point counts. Only one team will walk away with the title of European Champion.

Team Poland: Eyes on the Podium

Poland’s national team is no stranger to success. Silver in 2021, a strong finish in 2022, and a bronze medal last year with an impressive 4554 points – we’ve proven we belong among Europe’s elite. This year, we’re not just competing. We’re playing on home turf.

“What makes the European Cybersecurity Challenge so unique? It brings together the best talents from all across Europe. It is a chance to compete at the highest level even if someone doesn't have any prior affiliation with the CTF community,” says one of the members of the Polish team.

Selected during national qualifiers organized by CERT Polska in July, the team has since undergone rigorous training: joint sessions, team-building, deep dives into past ECSC challenges, and simulated finals. According to their coaches, they’ve built a squad that knows how to collaborate, trust each other, and stay cool under pressure.

“These young people already think like seasoned pros,” says Iwona Prószyńska from CERT Polska, who oversees the team’s preparation. “We’re seeing not just technical growth, but personal transformation. They’re gaining confidence, learning to communicate their work, and becoming role models for others”.

Real Challenges. Real Skills. Real Opportunities.

The ECSC is as real as it gets. Teams sit down at their computers and dive into days of intense problem-solving. The tasks demand not just knowledge, but creativity, speed, and nerves of steel.

Each team faces the same set of challenges – reverse engineering, cryptography, web security, malware analysis. It’s about reading between the bytes, uncovering hidden layers of code, breaking it down, and taking control. And doing it faster and smarter than the rest.

This is teamwork at its finest. One teammate analyzes code, another hunts for vulnerabilities, another crafts the exploit. Every move matters. Every minute counts. Success depends on synergy.

“ECSC is truly an amazing experience. You get to meet a ton of new people with similar interests and experience in cybersecurity, and you can really learn a lot from them,” adds another participant.

But the ECSC is more than a competition – it’s a launchpad. Europe’s cybersecurity sector watches closely. Many ECSC alumni now work as analysts, engineers, and incident response specialists at top tech companies across the continent.

Watch It Live

The European Cybersecurity Challenge takes place October 6–9 in Warsaw. Follow the action live at ecsc.eu and on the organizers’ social media channels. Expect livestreams, behind-the-scenes content, and interviews with the participants.

It’s a historic moment – Poland hosting the ECSC final for the first time. Don’t miss it.

Cheer on Team Poland and be part of the excitement!

Media representatives interested in covering the event can apply for accreditation at: media@nask@pl