A sixth grade Lebanese boy came in first place in an international junior mental calculation competition in Germany, beating dozens of participants from more than 40 countries.
Eleven-year-old Mohammad al-Mir received a record score of 1400 over 1500 in the two-hour final test, outpacing by 300 points the second place competitor.
“I was able to answer all the questions and resolve all the quizzes. It is such a good feeling to get excellent marks,” Mir told The Daily Star.
Family and friends of the boy celebrated with fireworks and sung chants in his poor neighborhood of Abi Samra in Tripoli, north Lebanon, upon his return Tuesday from the three-day contest in which he earned the title “World (junior) Genius.”
It was not the first time that Mir participated in a brainteaser challenge. His first competition was in 2012 in Lebanon in which he figured among the 20 finalists for first place. He also won a trip to Japan in 2013 to take part in a training camp on mental calculation.
Despite volatile security and recurring violence in Tripoli which often prevents students from attending school, Mir prepared thoroughly for the competition with the support of his parents and tutors.
“I want to thank my parents, my school, the Al-Azm Educational Academy, and my teachers for their support and encouragement which helped me achieve victory,” Mir said.
“I also want to tell the children of Tripoli that they should not think about war, but focus on science and (acquiring) knowledge.”
The boy's proud father, Nazih, said although the competition was tough, “Mohammad succeeded in ranking first within his age category over outstanding strong competitors, especially from India, who have previously scored world records.”
“Nothing is impossible as long as there is a strong will,” the father said, calling on parents to support their children in achieving success.
