PM hails Phuket boy’s world coding triumph

Grade 3 student wins two titles and top world ranking at competition in Rome

PUBLISHED : 17 Jul 2026 at 18:37

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has hailed a nine-year-old Phuket student after he claimed two world coding titles and was ranked No.1 globally at an international competition in Italy.

Pavin “Pace” Pattanavekin, a grade 3 student at True Coding School Phuket, achieved the distinctions in the grand finals of the International STEM Olympiad & Coding Olympiad, held in Rome from July 2-8, government spokeswoman Rachada Dhanadirek said on Friday.

Pace emerged as a global champion in two coding categories, outperforming competitors from around the world.

Organisers said the competition attracted entries from more than 38,000 students from over 150 countries, with more than 700 finalists advancing to the grand final in Rome.

Despite being only nine years old, Pace competed in a category that included students from Grades 3 to 11 and secured two Global Champion titles and a world No.1 ranking in coding.

The achievement builds on an impressive string of international successes. Last year, Pace won three gold medals at the Coding Olympiad Grand Final in New York, including a first-place finish that helped propel him to this year’s global titles. (Story continues below)

Rising coding star

According to True Coding School, Pace has now amassed a remarkable record of international accolades. His achievements include 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.

Beyond coding, he also earned a Global Top 3 Gold Award in the Mathematics Olympiad Grand Final for Grades 3-5 and a gold medal in the Science Olympiad Grand Final in the same age group.

The school said Pace’s success reflected exceptional skills in computational thinking, advanced coding, logical reasoning and problem-solving, as well as determination and a willingness to take on challenges against older competitors.

Mr Anutin said Pace’s achievement demonstrated that Thai children are capable of competing with the best in the world when given proper opportunities and support.

He also extended congratulations to the boy’s family, teachers and supporters, saying their encouragement had played an important role in helping him succeed on the international stage.

The prime minister urged Thai children and young people to believe in themselves, embrace creativity and continue learning, saying talent and perseverance can lead to success regardless of where they are born or raised.

His remarks came ahead of his departure for the World AI Conference 2026 in Shanghai, where he is seeking new opportunities for international cooperation in artificial intelligence and advanced technology for Thailand.