07/23/2026
Jacob Tsimerman has won the Fields Medal in part for his work proving the André-Oort conjecture. He’s wary of his impulse to win. “I made it an explicit goal for myself not to focus on winning it,” he said. “I was like, ‘Jacob, you can’t become obsessed with it.’”
The mind trick worked, for a time. For nearly two decades, Tsimerman, 38, kept his drive trained on the math itself and became known as one of the most talented problem solvers of his generation.
But as he approached the last cycle in which he’d be eligible for the Fields, he relented and gave himself over to the pursuit.
“Two years ago, I knew I was close, and I did let myself become obsessed,” he said.
🏅Read about Jacob Tsimerman’s journey to the most prestigious prize in mathematics, and where he thinks the field is heading next: https://www.quantamagazine.org/jacob-tsimerman-wins-2026-fields-medal-for-andre-oort-conjecture-proof-20260723/