An 18-year-old from Warsaw has been recognised as the most promising young mathematician in Europe. Antoni Łuczak, a recent graduate of the city’s prestigious Staszic Secondary School, secured first place in the European Union Contest for Young Scientists (EUCYS) with his research on Apollonius curves.

Łuczak, who is about to begin his first year at the University of Warsaw, has already delved into areas that blend algebra, geometry and higher mathematics. His fascination with Apollonius curves sets of points from which two given line segments are visible at the same angle has led him to discover previously unknown properties of these structures. His winning paper not only explored their theoretical depth but also revealed surprising links between seemingly distant fields of mathematics.

The EUCYS jury awarded Łuczak the top prize, along with a €7,000 grant. This latest distinction adds to an already impressive list of achievements. While still at school, he was a multiple laureate of the Polish Mathematical Olympiad, earning a gold medal in the Junior edition in 2021. He also triumphed in the national qualifiers for EUCYS 2025 and claimed gold at the 46th Paweł Domański Student Research Competition in 2024.

Łuczak’s academic interests are not confined to personal research. He co-founded the Mathematical Internet Olympiad Circle (MIKO), a thriving online community with around 1,500 members. For over two years, he has also volunteered as a mentor and organiser of study groups, preparing secondary school pupils for international competitions.

His most notable publication to date, On Apollonius Curves in a Triangle, was written while he was still at secondary school. The paper, alongside other works such as Orders, Generators and Beyond, Inequalities in Number Theory, The Incircle and Arc Midpoints and The Chinese Remainder Theorem, is freely available on his personal website in PDF format.

Łuczak’s early success offers him a clear path into academia. Yet, rather than seeking opportunities abroad, he has chosen to pursue his studies in Poland, a decision that suggests Warsaw may soon be home to one of Europe’s brightest mathematical talents.

Photo: X/@kawecki_maciej

Tomasz Modrzejewski