Andorran Championship 2025

Ianis Costin Chele delivered a breathtaking performance in the 3x3x3 Cube final, locking down a winning average of 5.70 seconds after posting a blistering 4.98 single. That sub-five second burst set the tone for an extraordinary weekend at La Closeta in La Massana, Andorra. Held across October 11 and October 12, the Andorran Championship 2025 brought together 49 competitors across 8 events and 16 rounds of intense Rubik's Cube action. Chele took control of the main stage early and never loosened his grip, establishing a relentless pace that defined the entire gathering.

The lightning pace continued in the 2x2x2 Cube, where Chele again asserted his supremacy over a field of 46 entrants. Blasting through three rounds of competition, he claimed the gold medal with a winning average of 1.63 seconds and a best single of 1.08. Spain's Álvaro Aguilar Salobreña pushed hard to secure second place with a 1.85 average, while Lorenzo Escobar Kraskouskaya rounded out the podium in 2.46 seconds. The rapid-fire turns and tiny margins on the 2x2 layout offered spectators some of the most frantic speedcubing of the entire tournament.

Chele was equally untouchable in the traditional 3x3 results, finishing atop 47 competitors over three full rounds. Behind his 5.70 winning mark, Lorenzo Escobar Kraskouskaya earned the silver medal with a steady 6.92 average, narrowly edging Biel Salmons Gonzalez who took third on 7.02. Chele extended his dominance further into the single-handed variant, taking the 3x3x3 One-Handed title with a 9.98 average and a 9.40 single across a single round of 37 entrants, beating out Salmons Gonzalez at 13.37 and Arnau Tous Mateu at 13.81.

Beyond the core speed events, the Romanian competitor continued his title haul across varied formats. Chele captured the Pyraminx crown with a 2.12 average, finishing ahead of Arnau Tous Mateu at 2.56 and Albert Mandicó Sampol at 2.96. In Skewb, Chele topped the standings with a 3.21 average, followed by Mandicó Sampol at 3.51 and Jordi Lleixà López at 3.89. Chele concluded his gold medal rush in Square-1, registering a 12.52 winning average to hold off Aguilar Salobreña at 13.00 and Tous Mateu at 13.87.

Away from Chele's sweep, two other champions emerged in specialized disciplines at this WCA competition. In Clock, Spain's Arnau Tous Mateu took the top spot with a 6.34 average and a 4.15 single, besting Ivan Ros Godia at 7.49 and Nuria Soria García at 7.71. The 3x3x3 Blindfolded contest tested mental endurance over two rounds, where Iker Carrasco Ruiz secured victory with a remarkable 19.93 single. Jordi Lleixà López placed second in 34.42, while Jesús Lindo García grabbed third in 1:40.80, proving that memory and precision remain essential pillars of high-level speed cubing.

Away from the top steps of the podium, several competitors achieved remarkable milestones that highlighted personal dedication across the tournament. Grau Casamitjana Sanz achieved a major leap on the 2x2x2 Cube, recording a personal best of 1.52 seconds that was 42 percent faster than their previous best mark, alongside a 3.52 Skewb personal best. Albert Valentí Vergara similarly surged forward, dropping their 2x2x2 Cube personal best to 4.37 seconds, an improvement of 39.4 percent, while also shaving 19.4 percent off their 3x3x3 One-Handed best with a 38.45 single. Casey Spencer took on four events, setting a 2x2x2 Cube personal best of 3.20 seconds to improve by 37.6 percent, while Joan Manuel Ciurlizza López-Caparrós trimmed 31.2 percent from their Skewb best with a 3.42 mark.

The depth of progress was evident among many others who tackled new challenges or reached fresh heights. Nur Navarro Figueras contested eight separate events, logging a 3x3x3 Blindfolded personal best of 5:56.99 that was 30.8 percent faster than before, while taking fifth place in Square-1. Ivet Soler Espinalt also tackled eight events, setting a Pyraminx personal best of 5.71 seconds, 26 percent faster than their previous mark, and completing their first ever Clock attempt in 17.17. Rafael Esparza Torrejon logged their first ever official attempts in both Skewb at 21.38 and 3x3x3 Cube at 45.48. Meanwhile, Gerard Marti Garcia attended their first WCA competition, making their official debut in the 3x3x3 Cube with a time of 49.78 seconds.

The Andorran Championship 2025 concluded as an undeniable showcase of Iberian and European talent, with Spain accumulating 18 podium finishes and Romania capturing six. From the lightning turns of the 2x2 to the concentration demanded by blindfolded solving, the cubing competition in La Massana brought out peak performances across the board. As the 2025 season progresses, the standards set in this arena will serve as a high benchmark for everyone preparing for their next test on the competitive stage.