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Hello World! Poland Wins First Computer Coding Championship

The challenge in the Hello World Open tournament was to create and drive virtual Formula-1 racing cars on a track projected onto a large screen.
Image: Wojciech Jaskowski, Tomasz Zurkowski and Piotr Zurkowski from the Polish Team Need for C, pose with the trophy after winning the coding world finals
Wojciech Jaskowski, Tomasz Zurkowski and Piotr Zurkowski from the Polish Team Need for C, pose with the trophy after winning the coding world finals on Tuesday in Helsinki.Seppo Samuli / AP
/ Source: The Associated Press

HELSINKI -- Polish team Need for C has won the world's first computer coding championship held in the Finnish capital, Helsinki.

The challenge in the Hello World Open tournament was to create and drive virtual Formula-1 racing cars on a track projected onto a large screen in a converted cable factory. Poland's team edged Brazil's Itarama for the title of best coders and a cash prize of 5,000 euros ($6,770).

Image: Wojciech Jaskowski, Tomasz Zurkowski and Piotr Zurkowski from the Polish Team Need for C, pose with the trophy after winning the coding world finals
Wojciech Jaskowski, Tomasz Zurkowski and Piotr Zurkowski from the Polish Team Need for C, pose with the trophy after winning the coding world finals on Tuesday in Helsinki.Seppo Samuli / AP

Finland's Resocar came in third in the field of eight finalists. The top three were also presented with medals that were produced by 3-Dprinters.

More than 4,000 computer coders from over 90 countries took part in the online qualifying rounds that began in March.

The event was sponsored by Finnish game developer Supercell, creator of "Clash of Clans" and "Hay Day," and technology company Reaktor.

— The Associated Press and NBC News staff