Battle Of Prodigies Set To Showcase NZ’s Brightest Young Math Minds

Auckland will play host to a fierce display of speed, skill and mental agility this weekend as more than 250 of the sharpest young minds from New Zealand and Australia go head-to-head in this year’s Battle of Prodigies, a trans-Tasman mental math showdown designed to push the boundaries of brainpower.

Taking place this Saturday, the competition will challenge students to solve complex arithmetic problems in under three seconds - all without the help of calculators, paper, or pens.

Now in its fifth year, the event is the pinnacle of achievement for students enrolled in SIP Abacus, a unique programme that trains children to visualise and mentally manipulate numbers using the traditional abacus method.

“What starts as hands-on learning evolves into jaw-dropping speed and accuracy, with competitors tackling problems like 9321 - 1847 + 9463 - 1291 + 9129 - 1802 entirely in their minds in just a matter of seconds” says SIP Abacus Country Head Harpreet Singh.

“But the Battle of Prodigies isn’t just a competition, it’s a celebration of how far these children have come in building their confidence and ability with numbers, especially at a time when numeracy levels are a concern in our education system.”

The event is expected to draw a crowd of more than 700 people, including participants’ families, educators, and members of the wider community.

Deputy Prime Minister Hon. David Seymour is also due to attend the event, and will present awards to the winners at the closing ceremony from 2:45pm.

Media are invited to attend the competition with opportunities for interviews with finalists, winners tutors, parents, and organisers.

Event Details:

• Saturday 2 August 2025
• 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM (Awards at 2:45 PM)
• Westlake Girls High School, 2 Wairau Road, Takapuna, Auckland

To see students in action using the SIP Abacus program visit:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aePaJKkbvIo

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