Almaty Cubers Open 2024

Forty-four competitors assembled at School 116 on January 27 and 28 for Almaty Cubers Open 2024, bringing together seasoned title contenders and ambitious first-timers across eighteen rounds of action. For several local entrants, the gathering served as an introduction to high-level speedcubing in Almaty, Kazakhstan. The energy of stepping up to an official timing station for the first time set an enthusiastic tone that carried through twelve distinct puzzles on the schedule. From the opening scrambles to the final brackets, every heat delivered memorable moments for the local cubing community.

The main attraction of any WCA competition is the standard 3x3x3 Rubik's Cube, and the final round did not disappoint. Damir Zhanataev claimed first place with a standout winning average of 8.82 seconds, highlighted by a best single of 7.43 seconds. Close behind on the podium were Asset Agabekov with an average of 9.09 seconds and Alen Alimzhanov who secured third with 9.48 seconds. The 3x3 results topped a packed 42-person field that spanned three hard-fought rounds, showcasing the immense depth of local talent in the 2024 season.

Damir Zhanataev enjoyed a remarkably prolific weekend across multiple disciplines at Almaty Cubers Open 2024. In the 2x2x2 Cube, Zhanataev topped the field with a 3.51 winning average, finishing ahead of China's Chenge Liu at 3.93 and Abdurakhman Aktay at 4.43. Zhanataev also secured victory in Pyraminx with an average of 5.77 seconds and in 3x3x3 One-Handed with an average of 14.36 seconds, proving his versatility across short solves and specialized formats alike against strong international and domestic competitors.

Asset Agabekov mounted a formidable performance across the complex big cube and specialty events. Agabekov took the gold in 4x4x4 Cube with a 34.61 average, besting Zhanataev's 36.54 and Assylkhan Meirkhanov's 38.06. In the 5x5x5 Cube, Agabekov posted a 1:07.21 average to finish ahead of Zhanataev and Chenge Liu. His mastery extended into Megaminx where he took top honors with a 52.44 average, 3x3x3 Fewest Moves with a leading 31 moves, and the demanding 3x3x3 Blindfolded event where he captured the win with a single of 1:20.44.

Specialty puzzles provided further excitement throughout the weekend schedule. Duman Talgatuly earned top honors in Skewb with a winning average of 4.11 seconds, while Ilia Provorniy claimed victory in Square-1 by recording a 15.16 average and an exceptional 8.61 single. In Clock, Artur Yuldashov stood atop the podium with a winning average of 9.10 seconds, edging out Assylkhan Meirkhanov and Asset Agabekov. Across all disciplines, Kazakhstan representatives secured thirty-one podium finishes, while competitors representing China and Russia claimed three and two podium spots respectively.

Away from the top of the podium, the heart of the speed cubing weekend was defined by major breakthroughs and personal milestones. Amir Karimov entered three events and delivered massive leaps forward, lowering his 2x2x2 Cube personal best by 57 percent to 5.46 seconds, cutting his 3x3x3 Cube time by 37.9 percent to 22.70 seconds, and taking his first ever attempt at 4x4x4 Cube with a time of 1:49.30. Roman Chen took on five events and posted a 1:05.73 in 4x4x4 Cube, which was 65 percent faster than his prior mark, alongside a 24.9 percent improvement in Skewb at 6.40 seconds and a tenth-place Pyraminx finish. Andrey Klimov took on ten events and slashed 52.8 percent off his Clock personal best down to 18.53 seconds, while Ismail Assat logged his first ever attempt at 4x4x4 Cube in 1:13.55 and improved his 5x5x5 Cube mark by 34.5 percent to 1:49.93.

The wave of progress continued through every round as competitors pushed into new territory at Almaty Cubers Open 2024. Rustem Sali tackled Pyraminx for the first time with a mark of 7.47 seconds and improved his 3x3x3 One-Handed time by 22.9 percent to 25.16 seconds. Sergey Zabroda made substantial gains with a 19.44 personal best in Skewb, improving by 37.7 percent, while also securing seventh place in 3x3x3 Fewest Moves. Several debutants made their initial mark on the official circuit, including Amir Kabdolmazhit who entered five events with first-ever marks in Pyraminx, Skewb, Megaminx, and 3x3x3 Cube. Adilkhan Moldabek completed his first official solves across three disciplines, posting a 38.82 in 3x3x3 Cube, a 14.64 in 2x2x2 Cube, and a 14.40 in Pyraminx.

The atmosphere throughout the venue proved how meaningful an official cubing competition can be for both seasoned veterans and those starting their journey. Over two busy days in late January, Almaty Cubers Open 2024 demonstrated that every personal best and newly attempted puzzle carries weight in the standings. As the equipment was packed away at School 116, the weekend left the regional speedcubing scene with renewed enthusiasm and a wider group of dedicated competitors ready for future challenges.