This is rather concerning for the hobby in general. To summarize 390 contestants from 45 countries.
aqualibs.com

The fate of the IIAC - ISTA International Aquascaping Contest - biggest prize in the world of aquascaping
ISTA International Aquascaping Contest (IIAC) held in Taiwan is renowned for offering the largest prize in the world for aquascaping. However, it is a peculiar phenomenon that despite the substantial rewards, the contest sees a surprisingly low number of participants.
