On the evening of July 23rd, Beijing time, Chinese mathematics reached a historic milestone.
The 2026 International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM) announced its awards, with Deng Yu, a 2007 graduate of Peking University's School of Mathematical Sciences, winning the Fields Medal, often hailed as the "Nobel Prize of Mathematics." This marks the first time a mathematician of Chinese nationality has achieved this international pinnacle of honor.
The President of the organizing body, the International Mathematical Union (IMU), Hiraku Nakajima, stated that Deng Yu was awarded the 2026 Fields Medal in recognition of his research contributions in the field of partial differential equations.
Now 37 years old, Deng Yu is a professor at the University of Chicago. From a Go prodigy who nearly pursued a professional career to winning a gold medal at the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO), from Peking University to MIT and Princeton, and culminating in a century-spanning breakthrough on a specific aspect of "Hilbert's Sixth Problem," his life path is both archetypal and unique.
What does winning the Fields Medal mean to him? How does he view his choice to pursue mathematics? What specific problem was solved by his landmark 200-page paper in 2025?
Recently, Deng Yu sat down for an exclusive interview, sharing insights into his academic breakthroughs, artificial intelligence (AI), the philosophy of Go, and various aspects of his personal life.
2025 Breakthrough on a Century-Old Problem
In 2025, Deng Yu and his collaborators achieved a milestone breakthrough in a core branch related to "Hilbert's Sixth Problem," one of the 23 problems posed by David Hilbert in 1900, using innovative methods. Their entire paper is 200 pages long, and the result builds a robust mathematical bridge between the microscopic world of particles and the macroscopic world of fluids.
Meaning of the Award
Regarding what the Fields Medal means for his future academic career, Deng Yu noted that the award is significant recognition for himself, his collaborators' work, and his research field. He added that it would be excellent to have greater freedom to choose research questions without concerns about the future.
Solving the 'Narrow' Hilbert's Sixth Problem
When asked what scientific puzzle their research solves, Deng Yu explained that macroscopic fluids are composed of microscopic particles like molecules and atoms, whose motions and interactions follow Newton's laws. Since the era of James Clerk Maxwell and Ludwig Boltzmann, mathematicians and physicists have been concerned with how to rigorously derive fluid dynamics equations from these microscopic laws. His main work, under specific assumptions (ideal gas and the Boltzmann-Grad limit), answers this question by completing the logical chain: Newtonian mechanics → Boltzmann equation → fluid equations.
Impact of AI and Supercomputers
Asked if research in partial differential equations (PDEs) and statistical physics is being transformed by technology like AI and supercomputers, Deng Yu stated that, for now, AI plays a less significant role in PDE and statistical physics research compared to other fields like combinatorics and algebraic geometry, though AI is developing rapidly. He noted that computer-assisted proofs have made great progress in recent years, solving several major problems. Ultimately, the application of AI and computers is the future direction, but "intuition, scratch paper, and blackboards" remain essential today.
A Journey from Go Prodigy to Fields Medalist
Born and raised in Shenzhen, Deng Yu showed extraordinary talent from a young age. In his first year of middle school, he came close to becoming a professional Go player, "just one step away from qualification." At 17, he won a gold medal at the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO), securing admission to Peking University. Two years later, he transferred to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and later earned his PhD from Princeton University. Before winning the Fields Medal, he had already collected major honors including the Sloan Research Fellowship and the ICCM Mathematics Gold Medal.
Decision to Pursue Mathematics
Regarding his brilliant academic trajectory, Deng Yu found it hard to pinpoint an exact moment when he decided to make mathematics his lifelong career, but he felt that after the IMO, it was likely the most suitable field for him.
The Rise of Chinese Young Mathematicians
Commenting on the recent emergence of top young Chinese mathematicians like himself and Professor Wang Hong on the international stage, Deng Yu attributed it to years of accumulation. Given the vast amount of excellent work by Chinese mathematicians in previous years, it was only expected that someone would eventually gain global recognition.
Go and Mathematical Thinking
Beyond mathematical research, Deng Yu has wide-ranging interests, including Go, science fiction, anime, and soccer. He sees no conflict between these seemingly unrelated hobbies. He finds a fascinating connection between the "holistic view" in Go and mathematical thinking, stating that Go requires careful observation of the current situation to find the correct breakthrough point and formulate strategies, a logic that applies to mathematics and scientific research in general. He acknowledged the clear differences, such as Go being a two-player game with time limits.
Alternate Career: Sci-Fi Writer
When asked what he might do if not mathematics, Deng Yu mentioned he might write science fiction, though his ideas are still vague without a concrete worldview or setting. His favorite hard sci-fi work is the *Orthogonal* trilogy, and his favorite soft sci-fi is *Otherside Picnic*.
Balancing Interests with Research
Regarding balancing intense research with these interests, Deng Yu admitted it's difficult, as he rarely has time to watch anime or manga recently. He sees the imagination required for science fiction as complementary to the rigorous logic of mathematics, as mathematics itself requires imagination.
A Passion for Soccer
Asked about his love for soccer and if he watched the World Cup, Deng Yu was pleased to see his two supported teams, Spain and Argentina, meet in the final. He recalled a memorable match where Argentina was 0-2 down against Egypt; he went for dinner and returned to see the surprising final score of 3-2, with Argentina mounting a comeback.
Advice for Young Mathematicians
Finally, for young people learning mathematics, Deng Yu advised that the coming years will be full of opportunities, but may also bring anxiety or confusion. Above all, the most important thing is to enjoy mathematics and do what you love.
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