ACA League I - Sumgait 2024

Thirty competitors assembled under one roof as the official tables opened for a high-intensity slate of action. ACA League I - Sumgait 2024 brought together seasoned solvers and rising talents at the Sumgait Youth House on July 6, 2024. Across eight packed rounds and four distinct disciplines, the single-day gathering tested precision and nerve. With established campaigners stepping back into the spotlight across multiple categories, the contest in Sumgait, Azerbaijan proved how quickly battle-tested experience translates into podium finishes.

The premier 3x3x3 Cube event drew a headline field of 29 participants through three rounds of classical Rubik's Cube solving. In the final round, veteran competitor Raul Ismayilli secured the top step of the podium with a winning average of 12.76 seconds. Ismayilli posted the best single of the final at 12.43 seconds to seal victory. Sabir Mammedzade followed closely to claim the silver medal with a 13.55 average, while Mirza Mursalov locked down third place with a 13.93 mark in the official 3x3 results.

Sabir Mammedzade turned his consistent speed into gold in the 2x2x2 Cube competition. Navigating two rounds against 25 competitors, Mammedzade clinched the title with a swift 3.65 average, backed by a best single of 2.96 seconds in the event. Ali Aliyev earned second place on the podium with a 4.21 average, and Raul Ismayilli took third with 4.67. The rapid pace of the two-by-two format showcased sharp turning and decisive execution across both rounds.

The four-layer puzzle demanded methodical control, and Mirza Mursalov delivered exactly that in the 4x4x4 Cube contest. In a direct single round featuring 15 competitors, Mursalov captured the title with a commanding 56.33 average, recording a best single solve of 53.06 seconds. Sabir Mammedzade earned his second silver of the day with an average of 1:13.16, while Mirsəlim Şahbazov rounded out the podium places in third with a time of 1:19.44.

Pyraminx action capped off the event roster with a sharp display of mechanical efficiency. Mehemmed Hasanov took control across two rounds of play against a field of 20 solvers, winning the final with an average of 4.73 seconds and a best single of 3.52. Sabir Mammedzade secured another podium spot by taking second with a 5.96 average, while Ali Aliyev stepped onto the third tier with a 6.19 mark to conclude the podium distribution.

Beyond the medal chase, the floor was filled with breakthrough milestones that highlighted individual growth. Cavad Cabbarlı took on four events and delivered first ever official attempts in three of them, logging 3:19.22 in the 4x4x4 Cube, 10.54 in Pyraminx, and 28.37 in the 3x3x3 Cube alongside a 13th-place finish in the 2x2x2 Cube. Shanawer Yaqoob entered four disciplines, recorded a best finish of 6th in the 4x4x4 Cube with a first attempt of 1:26.89, achieved an 8.31 first attempt in Pyraminx, and dropped their 2x2x2 Cube personal best by 61 percent to 5.04 seconds. Mələk Cəbrayıllı cut their 3x3x3 Cube best by 50.4 percent down to 32.58 seconds and improved their Pyraminx mark by 46.9 percent to 7.23, placing 6th. Huseyn Pirizade notched a 47.1 percent drop in the 3x3x3 Cube with a 15.28 personal best and improved their 2x2x2 Cube mark by 32.1 percent to 2.86 seconds.

That same momentum carried across multiple scorecards throughout the weekend. Qarayev Məhəmməd cut their 3x3x3 Cube personal best by 47.2 percent to 16.75 seconds. Ilkin Karimli took on four events, claimed a 4th-place finish in the 2x2x2 Cube, posted a 3.98 personal best, dropped their 3x3x3 Cube record by 21.4 percent to 11.60, and recorded a 1:37.61 best in the 4x4x4 Cube. Khalid Eynullayev trimmed 56.2 percent off their previous best in the 3x3x3 Cube to hit 16.61 seconds, reduced their 2x2x2 Cube best by 52.6 percent to 4.55, and took 8th in that event. Naim Qoçuyev entered four events, earned 4th place in the 4x4x4 Cube with an improved personal best of 1:20.44, improved by 15.2 percent in the 2x2x2 Cube to 4.24, and sharpened their Pyraminx best by 13.2 percent to 7.83 seconds.

The broader speed cubing lineup in 2024 showed how local tournaments provide a vital stage for technical growth and sharp competition. Every podium spot across all four official disciplines was earned by competitors representing Azerbaijan, tallying twelve top-three awards overall. With established veterans claiming key titles and emerging solvers cutting down personal bests across the board, ACA League I - Sumgait 2024 served as a clear demonstration of regional skill. The day wrapped up as another successful WCA competition chapter, setting a solid foundation as competitors look forward to the next season of speedcubing challenges.