Leetcode #2923: Find Champion I
In this guide, we solve Leetcode #2923 Find Champion I in Python and focus on the core idea that makes the solution efficient.
You will see the intuition, the step-by-step method, and a clean Python implementation you can use in interviews.

Problem Statement
There are n teams numbered from 0 to n - 1 in a tournament. Given a 0-indexed 2D boolean matrix grid of size n * n.
Quick Facts
- Difficulty: Easy
- Premium: No
- Tags: Array, Matrix
Intuition
Grid problems are easiest when you define clear row/column boundaries.
A consistent traversal order prevents off-by-one errors.
Approach
Iterate by rows, columns, or layers depending on the requirement.
Keep bounds updated as the traversal progresses.
Steps:
- Define bounds or directions.
- Visit cells in order.
- Update result and move bounds.
Example
Input: grid = [[0,1],[0,0]]
Output: 0
Explanation: There are two teams in this tournament.
grid[0][1] == 1 means that team 0 is stronger than team 1. So team 0 will be the champion.
Python Solution
class Solution:
def findChampion(self, grid: List[List[int]]) -> int:
for i, row in enumerate(grid):
if all(x == 1 for j, x in enumerate(row) if i != j):
return i
Complexity
The time complexity is , where is the number of teams. The space complexity is .
Edge Cases and Pitfalls
Watch for boundary values, empty inputs, and duplicate values where applicable. If the problem involves ordering or constraints, confirm the invariant is preserved at every step.
Summary
This Python solution focuses on the essential structure of the problem and keeps the implementation interview-friendly while meeting the constraints.