Algeria Summer Open 2023

The tables were set and the timers glowed inside the National School Des Sports Olympiques in Setif, Algeria, as solvers assembled for an intense day of Rubik's Cube action on July 8, 2023. Across 6 rounds of competition, a gathering of 65 competitors brought speedcubing into sharp focus. The atmosphere hummed with clicking plastic and swift finger movements across five official categories, setting the stage for some of the most tightly contested podium races of the season.

The 3x3x3 Cube final provided the narrowest margins of the entire gathering. Across two rounds among 61 competitors, the battle for the top spot turned into a tense showdown decided by mere fractions of a second. Abdeldjalil Merzougui of Algeria seized first place with a winning average of 15.26 seconds, recording a best single solve of 13.80. Right behind him, Namiri Wael claimed second place with an average of 16.49, holding off Youcef Kouadria who took third on an average of 16.62. Just thirteen hundredths of a second separated the silver and bronze steps.

The official 3x3 results crowned Merzougui as the premier standard solver of the Algeria Summer Open 2023, but he was far from the only multiple-podium finisher. In the 2x2x2 Cube event, which featured 47 competitors in a single fast-paced round, Idris Berghout of France surged to the top step. Berghout posted a winning average of 4.25 seconds, backed by a blistering best single of 2.76 seconds. Merzougui secured the second-place spot with an average of 5.50 seconds and a single of 4.36, while Mohamed Islam Lakhdari followed close behind in third with a 5.97 average and a 5.35 single.

Berghout continued his commanding form across the multi-layered and side events. In the 4x4x4 Cube contest, where 17 competitors took their places, Berghout topped the field by finishing with a 54.91 average and a best single of 52.27. Youcef Kouadria earned second place with an average of 1:46.75, and Hichem Abdallah Abbas took third place in 1:51.94. Berghout then added a third victory in Pyraminx, leading 32 competitors with a winning average of 5.18 and a 4.05 single, finishing ahead of Merzougui at 7.72 and Nemiri Wail at 9.58.

The single-handed discipline brought its own drama during the speed cubing program. In 3x3x3 One-Handed, Iskander Ouari led a field of 30 competitors to victory, locking in first place with an average of 35.38 seconds and a best single solve of 32.85. Berghout took second place with a 39.94 average, and El Aghbari Ali took third place with a 43.75 average. Overall, Algerian competitors secured 11 podium places while French representation accounted for 4 podium finishes throughout the day.

Away from the top of the standings, the cubing competition served as a launchpad for remarkable personal breakthroughs. Mohamed Khalil Moussaoui delivered the weekend's most massive leap, dropping his 3x3x3 Cube personal best to 20.11 seconds, which was 71.4 percent faster than his previous mark of 1:10.35, while also logging his first ever attempt at Pyraminx in 39.43. Khalil Djoudi took on five events, registering a fourth-place finish in 4x4x4 Cube with a first attempt of 1:35.68 alongside a 41.6 percent improvement in 2x2x2 Cube down to 6.57. Abderahman Lemmou cut his 3x3x3 Cube time by 51.6 percent to 47.56 and made a first 2x2x2 Cube attempt of 13.29. Nada Bouteraa also debuted on 4x4x4 Cube with 3:18.99 and sharpened her Pyraminx personal best to 13.85, an improvement of 17.6 percent.

Other dedicated competitors made significant strides across multiple disciplines. Abderrahmane Hamoudi tackled five events, achieving an 11th place finish in 2x2x2 Cube and cutting his 3x3x3 Cube personal best by 33.9 percent to 16.25 seconds. Dacine Grazza took on five categories, reaching 5th place in Pyraminx and lowering his 3x3x3 Cube mark by 27 percent to 21.07. First-time WCA competition entrant Otman Manel reached 10th place in Pyraminx with an initial mark of 11.27 while competing in five events, and newcomer Meddour Imene completed five events with a best result of 12th place in 4x4x4 Cube and an initial 3x3x3 Cube single of 26.99.

The single-day schedule at Algeria Summer Open 2023 offered a complete showcase of precision, adaptability, and athletic focus across five core categories. From the razor-thin margins on the main podium to the substantial personal drops recorded throughout the field, the gathering highlighted the vibrant depth of the sport in Setif. As equipment was packed away at the National School Des Sports Olympiques, the results stood as a strong baseline for the next competitive stretch.