PETALING JAYA, Malaysia: James Chia, 62, believes the mind does not dull with age and he is determined to prove that he is still sharp with his mental arithmetic skills.

Taking part in the 4th Malaysian Memory Championship for the third time, Chia wanted to test his mental arithmetic skill against three-time competition judge and "memory master" Anant Kasihhatla.

"I like to look at numbers differently. Remembering numbers is my interest. That's why I'm here today to use my own method of arithmetic calculation to challenge Anant's," said the animated self-dubbed arithmetic specialist during the competition yesterday.

He was one of 250 participants at the competition jointly organised by the Malaysian Mental Literacy Movement (MMLM) and Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (Utar).

The self-employed mental arithmetic tutor, who teaches four to 12-year-olds, said he wanted to show people that by activating the brain they could prolong their youthfulness and become more alert as well.

"I'm constantly thinking about how to solve number problems using various methods," he said.

Chia was the second-oldest participant at the competition after Ng Kim Seng, 63, from Kehidupan Baru Care Centre in Kajang.

Ng, a retired odd-job worker, said he wanted to try his hand in the Dates and Events segment of the competition.

"I think I'm good with current affairs and dates but this competition was made with fictional dates and events so I think I didn't do too well. But I still have a chance," he said wistfully.

The youngest competitor was six-year-old Linus Dengah from SRK Yuk Chai, Taman Mayang, who came with his mother Lai Yin "just to observe".

The yearly competition was endorsed by world memory guru Tony Buzan, the World Memory Sports Council and World Memory Championships.

Prizes for the winners will be handed out on July 4 by Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin at Utar. -The Star/ANN