ADA Fall 2023

Inside the halls of ADA Universiteti on September 9, 2023, the rhythmic clicking of plastic mechanisms set an intense tempo. Thirty competitors gathered in Baku, Azerbaijan, focusing their attention on timing mats and inspection routines as judges stood ready with stopwatches. Before the first official time was locked in, the hall was filled with the quiet concentration unique to a compact, high-stakes cubing competition.

While standard cubes often draw the biggest crowds, ADA Fall 2023 put side events into the spotlight across five dynamic rounds. The Pyraminx contest showcased exceptional puzzle handling, demanding lightning-fast corner alignment and precise fingertricks. Mehemmed Hasanov took command of the triangular puzzle across two rounds, delivering a sharp 3.90 best single and sealing the overall victory with a decisive winning average of 4.38 for Azerbaijan.

The fight for the remaining Pyraminx podium spots tested every competitor on stage. Royal Shabanov secured second place with an average of 6.32, maintaining clean execution throughout the final round. Yashar Asker followed close behind, locking down the third step on the podium with a 9.85 average, completing an all-Azerbaijan sweep in the event and confirming the depth of local puzzle specialists.

The 2x2x2 Cube event unfolded at a breathless pace in a single, unforgiving round featuring 24 contenders. Onyu Cho from Korea captured the title with a tournament-best average of 4.17 and a winning single of 4.00. Royal Shabanov claimed silver with an average of 4.86, while Raul Ismayilli took bronze with a 4.92 average, keeping the pressure high at the front of the pack in this fast-moving speed cubing discipline.

Beneath the top podium positions, several competitors delivered massive leaps forward that transformed their personal standings. Amin Aliyev entered three events and registered a stunning 2x2x2 Cube personal best of 1.88, cutting 83.8 percent off his previous best, alongside a 20.99 personal best in the 3x3x3 Cube and a first ever Pyraminx attempt of 9.98. Eyyub Kərimov produced an impressive 3.33 personal best in 2x2x2 Cube to drop 70 percent from his prior mark, added a 19.66 personal best in 3x3x3 Cube, and achieved a 6th place finish in Pyraminx. Isaac Newhof tackled three events, posting an 8.00 personal best on the 2x2x2 Cube and recording his first ever Pyraminx attempt at 13.14. Ali Aliyev focused on a single event and delivered a 25.07 personal best on the 3x3x3 Cube, improving by 48.7 percent.

Fresh debuts and steady progression continued to enrich the tournament narrative. Davud Qurbanov attended his first WCA competition, recording an 11.82 attempt in the 3x3x3 Cube and finishing 6th in the 2x2x2 Cube with a 3.92 mark. Ali Abbasov also took on his first official competition across three events, logging a 7.34 in 2x2x2 Cube, 53.74 in 3x3x3 Cube, and 18.57 in Pyraminx. Vüsal Farajov marked his official debut across three events by posting 7.83 in 2x2x2 Cube, 25.37 in 3x3x3 Cube, and 12.24 in Pyraminx. Meanwhile, Sabir Mammedzade entered three events, took 7th place in Pyraminx with a personal best of 7.90, and set a 20.11 personal best in the classic cube.

The classic Rubik's Cube brought two competitive rounds to determine the official 3x3 results. Fazil Quliyev rose to the top of the 30-player field, recording the competition's fastest single solve at 9.46 on his way to securing first place with a 10.86 average. Korea's Hwamok Cho took second place with an average of 11.99, while Raul Ismayilli earned his second podium finish of the day by claiming third place with a 13.27 average.

Across three events, the podium ledger closed with seven medals for Azerbaijan and two for Korea, highlighting the international talent present at the tables. The single-day speedcubing gathering in Baku delivered memorable moments across all categories, proving that specialized puzzles and personal breakthroughs define the true spirit of the sport.