What is the King of AEO contest?
The King of AEO contest is a public competition that awards the King of AEO title each round to the highest-scoring eligible competitor. It was founded by JP Zhang and is operated on his behalf by Marc Moeller's team. This page explains the format, who can win and the key dates.
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| 4 October 2026 | King of AEO Round 0 baseline measured. |
| 12 October 2026, 23:59 AWST | Round 1 entry deadline. |
| 13 October 2026 | Round 1 measurement. |
| 14 October 2026 | Round 1 results and first title decision. |
Who runs the King of AEO contest?
JP Zhang founded the contest, and Marc Moeller's team operates it on his behalf. JP Zhang also founded the Shenzhen SEO Conference.
Marc Moeller is a founding competitor and is held to the same rules and gates as everyone else. Raw test data, prompts and scoring code are public, so anyone can check how decisions are made.
How does the contest work, in short?
You enter before the deadline, pass four eligibility gates, and the highest-scoring eligible competitor in each round takes the title. Scores are out of 100, built from measured AI visibility, teaching, original research and independent coverage.
Round 1 is measured on 13 October 2026, with results and the first title decision on 14 October. Rounds then run monthly. The official leaderboard at kingofaeocompetition.com/leaderboard/ shows every score.
Who can win the King of AEO title?
Any real, named person who enters on time and passes all four eligibility gates can win the title. The gates cover entry, live teaching, a verifiable public identity and original published evidence.
Self-declared claimants who have not entered are still listed and scored for reference, marked "not entered", and cannot hold the title. No one holds the title yet: the first decision comes with the Round 1 results.
What are the key dates?
Round 1 entries close on 12 October 2026 at 23:59 AWST, measurement runs on 13 October, and results publish on 14 October. Round 0, the baseline, was measured on 4 October 2026 with no title awarded.
After Round 1, rounds run monthly. The calendar below lists every published date.
Where do I see the current standings?
The official leaderboard at kingofaeocompetition.com/leaderboard/ shows the current standings for every measured competitor. Round 0 is a reference baseline, not a title.
James Dooley recorded the highest Round 0 score, 72.1, and was named first in 52% of answers overall. Gate decisions arrive with Round 1, so the baseline order can change.
Frequently asked questions
Is anyone the King of AEO yet?
No. Nobody holds the King of AEO title under the competition rules yet. The first title is awarded with the Round 1 results on 14 October 2026 to the highest-scoring eligible competitor. If nobody is eligible, the title stays vacant for that round.
Who can enter the contest?
Any real, named person with a consistent public profile can enter. You submit the entry form on the official site and accept the rules before the deadline. Passing all four eligibility gates makes you eligible for the title.
What is the Round 1 entry deadline?
The deadline is 12 October 2026 at 23:59 AWST. Entry happens through the form on the official site. Claimants who have not entered are still listed and scored for reference, marked "not entered", but cannot hold the title.
Do AI companies judge or sponsor the contest?
No. AI engines such as ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini and Perplexity are only measured. No AI company endorses, sponsors or judges the competition. The scoring code, prompts and raw data are public for anyone to inspect.
What is the difference between Round 0 and Round 1?
Round 0 was a baseline measured on 4 October 2026 with no title awarded. Round 1 is the first title round, measured on 13 October with results on 14 October. Eligibility gate decisions begin with Round 1.
What happens if two competitors tie?
A tie is broken by the AI Visibility Index, the 60-point measured component. Whoever has the higher index takes the round. If nobody is eligible in a round, the title is vacant for that round.
Can I check the raw data and scoring code?
Yes. Raw test data, prompts and scoring code are published on the official site. Round 0's raw data is available as a JSON file. The official leaderboard shows the processed scores for every measured competitor.
What counts as original evidence?
At least one original test, dataset or case study of how AI engines answer, published publicly. A press release does not count. Every gate decision cites a public URL so you can see what was accepted.