INA–Turkey
Iraq has once again claimed the title of World Champion at the World Mental Calculation Competition (WAMAS 2026), held in the Republic of Türkiye, with the participation of more than 25 leading countries in the field.
A correspondent for the Iraqi News Agency (INA) reported that “Iraq’s achievement came after fierce competition involving more than 40 leading international institutions and over 500 of the world’s most gifted and accomplished mental calculation students, who participated both in person and online.”
“For the first time, the competition witnessed an exceptional sporting and humanitarian achievement for Iraq, as champion student Musa Abdul Rahman claimed first place. He became the first Iraqi with autism spectrum disorder to overcome the challenges and secure a well-deserved international victory over some of the world’s top competitors,” he added.
The President of the World Abacus and Mental Calculation Competition (WAMAS), Gulzhan Berdibekova, told the Iraqi News Agency (INA): “Every year, Iraq surprises us with the brilliance of its younger generations and their exceptional talents. In this edition, the Iraqi team demonstrated remarkable unity and team spirit.”
“We are always proud of the participation of the sons of Mesopotamia. Iraq has a rich civilizational legacy in science and intellectual excellence. Reaching the top positions in this competition is extremely difficult, yet the Iraqi contestants made it look easy and fully deserved the title of world champions,” she added.
She also praised the distinguished and highly professional management of the Iraqi delegation and its extensive international experience, which is a source of pride for the competition.
The competition brought together countries with a long-standing record in mental calculation, including Russia, the United Kingdom, China, India, Japan, Iran, Bulgaria, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Romania, in addition to Arab countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, and Lebanon, alongside the host nation, Türkiye.
For her part, the head of the Iraqi delegation and international coach, Shahd Al-Rubaie, told the Iraqi News Agency (INA): “The joy of this global achievement is immense, and our pride in seeing these talented young Iraqis crowned with international titles and world championship trophies is beyond words.”
“The Iraqi delegation competed with determination and confidence, outperforming competitors in all age categories despite the challenges associated with visa procedures and travel arrangements,” she stated.