A 9-year-old pupil from the 'Anghel Saligny' Secondary School in Focsani has won the title of world champion in mental arithmetic at the World Association of Mental Arithmetic Schools (WAMAS) 2026 competition held in Istanbul, a performance also noted by local authorities.

According to Focsani mayor Cristi Valentin Misaila, Daniel Sava took first place in a competition that brought together over 400 children from 16 countries, after solving 100 mental calculations in just three minutes, without a single mistake.

'From Focsani, from the heart of Vrancea County, a child has managed to conquer the world through intelligence, perseverance and discipline. At just 9 years old, Sava Daniel, a pupil of the 'Anghel Saligny' Secondary School, became World Champion in Mental Arithmetic at the WAMAS 2026 competition in Istanbul, where over 400 children from 16 countries demonstrated their knowledge and skills. In just 3 minutes, Daniel completed 100 mental calculations, without a single mistake. An extraordinary performance that speaks for itself about a brilliant mind and about hundreds of hours of training, discipline and patience. Daniel is national blitz chess champion, a member of the national chess team, holder of a world record in mental arithmetic and laureate of numerous international competitions. His story shows that great achievements do not depend on age or on the place you start from, but on the courage to dream, the desire to work and the people who believe in you,' the mayor wrote on his Facebook page.

Daniel Sava is a multiple national champion at the SmartyKids National Mental Arithmetic Olympiad, the largest competition of its kind in Romania, and in recent years has earned multiple distinctions at international contests.

Mental arithmetic is a calculation method that helps develop memory, attention, concentration and logical thinking by performing rapid mathematical operations without using a calculator or other tools.

The abilities developed through this technique also reflect in Daniel's chess results, as he is national blitz chess champion, a member of the national team and among Romania's most valuable young chess players at this year's National Individual Chess Championship for children and juniors. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Dana Lepadatu; EN - writing by: Simona Klodnischi)