Phuket nine-year-old wins two global coding titles in Rome

Pavin “Pace” Pattanavekin, a nine-year-old Grade 3 student at True Coding School Phuket, has won two Global Champion titles at the International STEM Olympiad & Coding Olympiad grand finals in Rome.

The finals were held from July 2 to 8, government spokeswoman Rachada Dhanadirek said on Friday, July 17. Organisers said the competition attracted entries from more than 38,000 students from over 150 countries, with more than 700 finalists progressing to the grand final.

Pace competed in a category open to students from Grades 3 to 11 and secured two Global Champion titles, along with a world No. 1 ranking in coding. His latest results follow three gold medals at last year’s Coding Olympiad Grand Final in New York, including a first-place finish.

True Coding School said Pace’s international record now includes two Global Champion titles with world No. 1 rankings in coding competitions, two Global Top 3 Gold Awards and a gold medal in international contests. He also received a Global Top 3 Gold Award at the Mathematics Olympiad Grand Final for Grades 3-5 and a gold medal at the Science Olympiad Grand Final in the same age group.

The school attributed his success to computational thinking, advanced coding, logical reasoning, problem-solving, determination and his willingness to compete against older students.

Prime Minister Anutin congratulated Pace, his family, teachers and supporters, saying the achievement showed that Thai children can compete with the world’s best when they receive appropriate opportunities and support. He encouraged Thai children and young people to believe in themselves, be creative and continue learning, saying talent and perseverance can lead to success regardless of where they are born or raised.

The prime minister made the remarks before departing for the World AI Conference 2026 in Shanghai, where he was seeking opportunities for international cooperation in artificial intelligence and advanced technology for Thailand.