Andorran Championship 2024

Inside La Closeta in La Massana, Andorra, the tables filled with timers, mats, and an array of twisting puzzles as competitors gathered on October 12 and 13. Across two full days, the venue hummed with the rhythmic click of turning layers and the steady cadence of stopwatches stopping on flat surfaces. The Andorran Championship 2024 brought together a total of 73 competitors to contest 10 separate disciplines over 16 distinct rounds, turning the mountain parish into a focal point for the regional speedcubing community throughout the 2024 autumn calendar.

Larger puzzles place an intense demand on physical endurance and tactical concentration, requiring solvers to manage dozens of piece interactions across multi-stage reduction techniques. In the 4x4x4 Cube event, Daniel Gracia Ortiz of Spain took control of the single-round contest, delivering a winning average of 35.06 seconds alongside the round best single of 33.20 seconds. Simone Cantarelli of Italy secured second place on the podium with a 36.84 average, while Arnau Tous Mateu followed closely in third position at 37.99 seconds after a demanding contest of sustained focus.

The broader multi-layered challenges continued on the twelve-sided Megaminx, another test of sustained solving volume that demands high spatial awareness. Arnau Tous Mateu claimed top honors on the platform with a winning average of 49.96 seconds, backed by a best single of 48.88 seconds. Spanish compatriot Laura Tarrés Gimeno took the second step on the podium with an average of 53.05 seconds, while Pau Vela García rounded out the medal positions in third place with an average of 1:02.19, reflecting the stamina required across prolonged solving rounds.

Tous Mateu proved to be the standout performer throughout the Andorran Championship 2024, collecting five separate titles across the weekend schedule. In the premier 3x3x3 Cube event, which drew 68 competitors through three elimination rounds, he topped the 3x3 results with an average of 8.17 seconds and a fast single of 7.78 seconds. Daniel Gracia Ortiz finished as runner-up with an average of 9.44 seconds, and Daniel Ortega Pastor placed third in 9.76 seconds as Spanish competitors swept the main Rubik's Cube podium.

Beyond the classic puzzle, Tous Mateu demonstrated remarkable dexterity in the specialized formats. He won the 3x3x3 One-Handed event with an average of 15.52 seconds ahead of Gracia Ortiz at 18.04 seconds and Finland's Niko Ronkainen at 18.36 seconds. Tous Mateu also captured the Pyraminx crown with a 2.64 average, took top honors in Skewb with a 3.76 average, and finished second in Clock behind winner Manu Dutheil of France, who recorded an average of 4.34 seconds. In Square-1, Artur Miralles Hernàndez took first place with an 8.84 average.

Away from the top steps of the podium, several participants marked major personal milestones across the weekend. Montserrat Sampol Quintana took on three events and achieved an outstanding 75 percent drop on her Pyraminx personal best to post 26.18 seconds, while also trimming her Clock time to 39.68 seconds. Leo Boyko tackled seven events and cut his Square-1 mark by 45.4 percent down to 29.55 seconds, paired with a 2:05.16 Megaminx result that improved his previous best by 44.9 percent. Pol Jiménez Asunción improved his 4x4x4 Cube personal best by 43.6 percent to 2:01.71, and Daniel Richard Stasyuk cut his Pyraminx best by 40.8 percent to 8.82 seconds while completing his first ever attempt at 4x4x4 Cube in 2:02.58.

The floor also provided a welcoming platform for athletes trying new disciplines and attending their initial WCA competition. Kai Nieto Okura completed their first ever attempt at Pyraminx in 12.44 seconds and first attempt at 3x3x3 One-Handed in 33.35 seconds, while also cutting their 2x2x2 Cube mark by 45.9 percent to 4.47 seconds. Manel Prestieri entered nine events, lowering their Megaminx mark by 44.2 percent to 3:24.78. Marcos Azón Martín stepped up to his first tournament, logging five events including a first 4x4x4 Cube attempt of 1:31.44 and placing 42nd. Fellow debutant Fernando Alexis Eleccion Liwan represented the host nation across four events, finishing 31st in 3x3x3 One-Handed with an initial attempt of 1:11.77.

The 2x2x2 Cube event generated notable records and an international podium battle across two rounds. Niko Ronkainen of Finland captured the gold with an average of 2.44 seconds, holding off local favorite Albert Mandicó Sampol of Andorra, who earned second place with a 2.56 average. Mandicó Sampol set a National record average in 2x2x2 Cube of 1.74 seconds earlier in the event to delight the home supporters. Spain's Àlex Domingo Risco took third on the podium with a 2.82 average in the fast-paced category.

Blindfolded solving concluded the weekend slate, testing pure memory and execution under strict conditions. Jonathan Dammann of France captured the 3x3x3 Blindfolded title by logging a single solve of 30.49 seconds, leading fellow countryman Manu Dutheil, who secured second place in 38.11 seconds, and Spain's Ot Caminals Aleu in third with 42.32 seconds. The final medal tally reflected a widespread international presence, with Spain securing 22 podium spots, France earning 3, Finland taking 2, Andorra claiming 2, and Italy capturing 1.

As the timers reset and the tables cleared at La Closeta, the Andorran Championship 2024 concluded having demonstrated the full depth of modern speed cubing. From the high-stamina requirements of the larger puzzles to the lightning-quick rotations of the side disciplines, the gathering served as an impressive showcase for both veteran competitors and ambitious newcomers alike. With national marks established and dozens of personal bests recorded, this cubing competition added another vibrant chapter to the European tournament calendar.