China's Zhang Yumeng (left) and Japan's Rinne Tsujikubo draw 1-1 at the mental arithmetic TV competition on Friday. Photo: Courtesy of Super Brain

It was a game full of challenges as China's 9-year-old Zhang Yumeng stood out and faced the competition from Japanese mental arithmetic prodigy Rinne Tsujikubo. The two continued to challenge their limits in a thrilling confrontation and finally reached a close tie at 1-1 on the stage of Super Brain, a Chinese show aimed at finding people with exceptional brainpower.

China and Japan have always been the world's top powers in the field of mental mathematical calculation. Over the years, the two countries have often competed on various stages, leading to the emergence of competitive experts. 

On the stage of Super Brain, China and Japan have conducted many mental math duels. Each high-quality match has not only been an amazing showcase of mental math from competitors from the two countries, but also shown their strong fighting spirit, friendship and exchanges amid tense and difficult competition. 

In 2015, then 10-year-old Rinne Tsujikubo stunned the world with a score of 12 points at a speed "five times faster than the other three Chinese and Japanese players" to help Japan win the final. The young girl was praised by Chinese netizens as being "godlike."

One year later, in 2016, Chinese player Chen Ranran, nicknamed "The Goddess of Mental Arithmetic," returned to compete against the Japanese team to defend the honor for Team China. She tried to save the team several times and managed to salvage a 2-2 draw before forcing an extra time. However, the Japanese players also performed well, leading the math to end in a 3-3 draw. 

In 2023, the two teams also came to a draw on Super Brain, which made all the competitors even hungrier for a win in the future.  

Although young Zhang Yumeng also had a draw with a Japanese player in the first episode that aired on Friday, the fierce competition and fighting spirit from both China and Japan allowed us to see the surprising potential of the young generation.

Besides the excitement, young people from China and Japan who competed in mental math and knowledge competitions showcased a positive, sunny and hard-working spirit and deliver positive values of daring to take on challenges and perseverance. Hopefully these kids will continue to improve themselves through competitions, challenges and exchanges. 

The author is a reporter with the Global Times. life@globaltimes.com.cn