diff --git a/.github/pull_request_template.md b/.github/pull_request_template.md
index 2035158..ed77944 100644
--- a/.github/pull_request_template.md
+++ b/.github/pull_request_template.md
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-**NOTE:** This challenge closes for submissions on Jan 31 23:59:59 UTC. No new pull requests for adding submissions will be accepted after that time.
+**NOTE:** The challenge has been closed for new submissions. No new pull requests for adding submissions are accepted at this time.
 Any pending pull requests will be reviewed over the next few days, as described [here](https://github.com/gunnarmorling/1brc/discussions/687).
 The final leader board will be published by Feb 5.
 
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index afd721e..de48e73 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,10 +1,13 @@
 # 1️⃣🐝🏎️ The One Billion Row Challenge
 
-_Status Jan 31: The challenge will close today at midnight UTC. No new pull requests will be accepted after that time. Pending PRs will be evaluated over the next few days. Please don't push any changes to pending PRs after today, unless being asked to do so.
+_Status Feb 1: The challenge has been closed for new submissions. No new pull requests for adding submissions are accepted at this time.
+Pending PRs will be evaluated over the next few days. Please don't push any changes to pending PRs after today, unless being asked to do so.
 This will be the case if I spot an issue during evaluation (failing tests, etc.). In this case, I will comment on the PR, and you are allowed to push one update.
 I will re-evaluate the entry, and if there are still remaining issues, you'll get one more and last opportunity to update the PR.
 If it still is not valid at this point, it will be closed.
-The final leader board will be published on Monday Feb 5._
+The final leader board will be published by Monday Feb 5._
+
+_Status Jan 31: The challenge will close today at midnight UTC._
 
 _Status Jan 12: As there has been such a large number of entries to this challenge so far (100+), and this is becoming hard to manage, please only create new submissions if you expect them to run in 10 seconds or less on the evaluation machine._