The 9th World Abacus and Mental Arithmetic Competition, hosted by the World Association of Abacus and Mental Arithmetic (WAAMA), was held in Beijing in late July 2026. This year's event was the largest in the competition's history: 28 teams and 254 competitors from 11 countries and regions — including Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Russia, South Korea, Tonga, the United States, Uzbekistan, China, Hong Kong (China) and Taiwan (China) — gathered to compete across five divisions.

We are incredibly proud to announce that the Australian team, led by Vsuccess Education, delivered our strongest-ever performance. Our ten young competitors brought home 19 individual awards and 2 team awards — including two Individual All-Round First Prizes, an Individual Event Grand Prize, and First Prizes in the newly introduced Speedrun Calculation and Marathon Calculation events.

Individual Results

🏆Emilie Peixin Wu: Individual All-Round – First Prize; Speedrun Calculation – First Prize; Marathon Calculation – First Prize

🏆Jessica Xinyan Wang: Individual All-Round – First Prize; Marathon Calculation – Second Prize

🏆Ethan Cui Ji: Individual All-Round – Second Prize; Marathon Calculation – Second Prize; Speedrun Calculation – Third Prize

🏆Ryan Zirun Guan: Individual Event – Grand Prize; Marathon Calculation – Second Prize

🏆Morina Yuhong Ren: Individual Event – Second Prize

🏆Valerie Haitang Guo: Individual All-Round – Third Prize

🏆Aaron Qianhe Liu: Individual Event – Third Prize; Speedrun Calculation – Third Prize

🏆Luke Anhao Wu: Individual Event – Third Prize

🏆Kira Cui Ji: Individual Event – Third Prize

🏆Amelia Shaolin Chen: Participation Award

Team Results

Beyond the individual events, our students also excelled together as a team:

Group C Team Event – Second Prize

Group D Team Event – Second Prize

Standout Performances

A special congratulations goes to Emilie Peixin Wu, who achieved a remarkable triple: First Prize in the Individual All-Round, First Prize in Lightning Calculation, and First Prize in Marathon Calculation — an extraordinary display of speed, accuracy and sustained concentration on the world stage. Ryan Zirun Guan claimed the Grand Prize in the Individual Event — the highest individual honour in his category — while Jessica Xinyan Wang earned First Prize in the Individual All-Round, placing our students among the very best young mental arithmetic athletes in the world.

New Events, New Challenges

This year's competition introduced two exciting new formats. Lightning Calculation tests raw speed under intense time pressure, while Marathon Calculation challenges competitors to maintain accuracy and focus over an extended period. That our students earned First, Second and Third Prizes across both new events shows the depth and versatility of their training. The event also embraced the digital era: competitors took part in a live 'human vs. robot' calculation showcase, placing this ancient calculating art in direct dialogue with modern artificial intelligence — a powerful reminder that the true value of abacus mental arithmetic lies not in the answer itself, but in the focus, memory, visualisation and number sense it builds in young minds.

More Than a Competition

Alongside the competition, students took part in a rich programme of cultural exchange, including an abacus intangible cultural heritage exhibition and performances by young teams from around the world. Our students returned home not only with medals, but with friendships, memories and a broader view of the world.

Congratulations to Our Champions

Every one of our ten competitors — Jessica, Emilie, Ethan, Ryan, Morina, Valerie, Aaron, Luke, Kira and Amelia — trained with dedication for months to represent Australia at this level. We congratulate each of them, and we thank their families for the support that made this journey possible.

Since 2004, the World Abacus and Mental Arithmetic Competition has welcomed more than 2,000 competitors worldwide, and WAAMA now counts 62 member organisations across 22 countries and regions. As Australia's representative in this global community, Vsuccess Education is proud to bring world-class abacus and mental arithmetic training to students in Melbourne — and to see our students stand shoulder to shoulder with the best in the world. Interested in starting your child's abacus mental arithmetic journey? Contact us at info@vsuccess.com.au or visit us at 318 Stephensons Rd, Mount Waverley.