The UCMAS International Competition and World Cup is part of a global educational tradition spanning more than 25 years, bringing together young talents from across continents through a shared commitment to cognitive development and academic excellence. Held annually in a different host country, the competition strengthens international educational ties and cultural exchange. The 2024 edition took place in India, 2025 was proudly hosted by Georgia, and the 2026 competition is scheduled to take place in Sri Lanka, underscoring the truly global nature of the UCMAS community.
For participating countries, the event offers not only a competitive platform, but also international recognition, benchmarking of educational standards, and a shared vision for nurturing future-ready minds.
On December 6–7, 2025, Georgia proudly hosted the UCMAS International Competition and World Cup 2025 at SEU – Georgian National University, marking one of the largest and most prestigious educational events ever held in the Caucasus region.
The international mental arithmetic competition brought together 1,500 students from 84 countries, and welcomed more than 4,000 guests, including educators, academic leaders, franchise representatives, and education officials from around the world. For two days, Georgia became a global center of cognitive excellence, innovation, and youth achievement.
Among the highlights of the competition was the outstanding performance of Georgian students. Lasha-Giorgi Bregvadze earned the Champion title, while Sharbel Maroun Nehme, Ani Avetisova, Zura Palkhosadze, and Rati Samadashvili secured 1st Runner-Up positions.
Additional Georgian students from both Tbilisi and regional cities achieved 2nd and 3rd Runner-Up rankings, further underscoring the country’s growing strength in advanced mental arithmetic education.
More than a competition, the UCMAS International Competition and World Cup 2025 served as a celebration of intellectual potential, international unity, and the power of structured cognitive development.
The event was organized by UCMAS Georgia under the leadership of Mrs. Sahar Harb, Franchise Owner of UCMAS in Georgia. The successful hosting of this global event once again highlighted Georgia’s rising role within the international education ecosystem.
Competition Format and Methodology
At the heart of the competition was the Visual Mental Arithmetic Challenge, where students were required to solve 200 arithmetic problems in just 8 minutes. These complex multi-digit tasks demanded exceptional levels of concentration, accuracy, speed, and mental endurance.
The competition included several categories:
Flash Cards Category – Arithmetic problems appeared on screen at extremely high speed, testing participants’ instant processing ability, reflexive memory, and visual agility.
World Cup Category – A specialized, high-level abacus round designed exclusively for top international performers, representing the pinnacle of UCMAS training.
Together, these categories assessed not only mathematical proficiency but also the broader neurocognitive framework of UCMAS, which emphasizes visualization, memory, multitasking, focus, and rapid decision-making.
Levels, Age Groups, and Global Representation
The competition featured 11 UCMAS levels, ensuring fair and accurate evaluation based on skill progression rather than age alone. Participants ranged from 5 to 20 years old, competing according to their certified UCMAS level.
Students and guests traveled from Asia, the Middle East, Europe, Africa, and the Americas, transforming Georgia into a truly global meeting point for young intellectual talent and reinforcing the international reach of the UCMAS program.
By hosting the UCMAS International Competition and World Cup 2025, Georgia demonstrated its capacity to organize world-class educational events and reaffirmed its position as an emerging hub for academic excellence, innovation, and youth development.
