Daniil’s math journey began at age four with simple puzzles and “logical tricks” to solve them. Drawn early to combinatorics for its accessibility, he continues to favor the subject even after gaining broader theoretical knowledge. At university, Daniil plans to explore combinatorics further, while also keeping up with table tennis. He explains his favorite combinatorial game, tells of a bittersweet competition victory, and gives excellent advice on writing clearer solutions.

We caught up before he started university (interview edited for length and clarity):