A 9-year-old student from Focșani has won the world champion title in mental arithmetic in Istanbul.

Daniel Sava, a 9-year-old student from 'Anghel Saligny' Gymnasium in Focșani, has won the title of world champion in mental arithmetic at the World Association of Mental Arithmetic Schools (WAMAS) 2026 competition, held in Istanbul.

Over 400 children from 16 countries participated in the competition, and Daniel managed to solve 100 mental calculations in just three minutes, without any mistakes. The mayor of Focșani, Cristi Valentin Misăilă, highlighted Daniel's achievements, emphasizing his intelligence, perseverance, and discipline. Daniel is also a national champion in blitz chess, part of the national team, and has received numerous awards at international competitions. Mental arithmetic, the method in which Daniel excels, contributes to the development of memory and logical thinking, skills that have also reflected in his chess performance.

This story demonstrates that great achievements do not depend on age or origin, but on hard work and the support of those around.