AI golf robot champion crowned at DP World Tour Championship STEAMathalon

DP World Tour Championship STEAMathalon presented by BMW Group Middle East and AGMC

The finals of the UAE’s first DP World Tour Championship STEAMathalon presented by BMW Group Middle East and AGMC took place recently at Jumeirah Golf Estates, in association with Canada’s ed-tech company, Kalebr, European Tour, Re:Set and Dubai Autism Centre.

DP World Tour Championship STEAMathalon presented by BMW Group Middle East and AGMC, the first to be held with a major European Tour tournament, hosted teams of 100 young learners, aged between 10 to 13, competing from around the country against one another with AI-powered golf robots as they traversed a custom three-hole mini-course.

Over the course of the event, students competed alongside golfing professionals at the DP World Tour Championship, including household names such as Rory McIlroy, Tommy Fleetwood and Adri Arnaus, with Arnaus getting a hole in one using the AI GolfBot.

Horizon International School came out on top against their competitors to win the DP World Tour Championship Presented by BMW Group Middle East and AGMC Grand Prize with the students’ AI Powered Golf Robot and their teacher winning a VIP behind the scenes tour followed by front row seats reserved on the 18th Grandstand.

Young learner teams were scored on innovation, creativity, sustainability, positivity and their trained AI model’s ability to finish the mini-course with the least amount of human intervention and lowest strokes.

During the competition, the UAE community supported the initiative with up to 1,000 guests in attendance over the four days to cheer on the students and enjoy the array of activities provided including free rounds at the mini-AI course for a shot at winning the Public Leaderboard for the DP World Tour Championship STEAMathalon presented by BMW Group Middle East and AGMC. Along with the DP Tour Championship STEAMathalon, about a 150 students also participated in an AI Workshop.

Some of the participating schools included the Dubai Autism Centre, The Winchester School, Nord Anglia International School, ASCS Maliha Road, Regent International School, Deira International School, Horizon International School, Dubai British School, Star International School Mirdif, Apple International School, The Oxford School, Dunecrest American School, ISCS Nad Al Sheba, Gems Wellington Academy, Jumeirah English Speaking School Arabian Ranches, Sunmarke School, ASCS Barsha, SAIS UAQ of the ParOne STEAMathalon will start in January 2020 with over 1,000 students participating.

When speaking on DP World Tour Championship STEAMathalon presented by BMW Group Middle East and AGMC, Aaditya Tangri, Co-Founder and CEO of Kalebr Americas and Founder of STEAMathalon commented on the results: “The DP World Tour Championship STEAMathalon has proven yet again how impressive the capabilities of today’s young minds are. As we watched the schools compete, not only did we see incredible teamwork, but the students showed determination, technical capabilities, and a competitive spirit that is sure to translate into rigour when entering the workforce.”

“Using the sport of golf and AI, STEAMathalon provides an exciting platform for students to prepare themselves for the future, and we’re even more excited for the next STEAMathalon competition to watch them flourish and grow.”

Tom Phillips, Head of the European Tour Middle East said: “Everyone at the European Tour is thrilled to have hosted the STEAMathalon presented by BMW Group Middle East and AGMC at the season-ending DP World Tour Championship, the first to be held with an official golf tournament.”

“Innovation is something that the European Tour is really driving right now with the addition of new and fun formats of golf that are accessible to everyone. It was great to see the GolfBots in action and to learn more from the innovative minds behind them.”

List of winners

  • Grand Winner 2019 ParOne STEAMathalon:  Horizon International School
  • 1st Runners Up 2019 ParOne STEAMathalon:  The Oxford School
  • 2nd Runners Up 2019 ParOne STEAMathalon:  International School of Creative Science, Nad Al Sheba
  • Most Innovative: The Apple International School
  • Most Determined:  Dubai British School
  • Most Tolerant:  Dubai Autism Centre