Astana Open 2025

Timofei Tarasenko delivered an emphatic display of rapid-fire solving at Astana Open 2025, capturing the 3x3x3 Cube crown with a blistering 5.33 average after putting up a best single of 4.61. The headline Rubik's Cube category served as the showcase of the weekend, drawing thirty entrants across three rigorous rounds. Tarasenko set a torrid standard from start to finish, separating himself from a packed field in a competition that celebrated high-velocity execution across both short-format and extended disciplines.

The 2x2x2 Cube event unfolded at a similarly breathtaking pace, where Tarasenko completed a sweep of the sprint puzzles by averaging 1.66 and securing a round single of 1.10. Behind him in the 2x2x2 final, Renat Nurgaleev posted a 3.01 average for second place, while Asset Agabekov rounded out the podium at 3.26. In the marquee 3x3 results, Tarasenko was joined on the podium by Alisher Kurmash, who logged an 8.64 average for silver, and Damir Zhanataev, who claimed third with 8.66 in an exceptionally tight battle for the top ranks.

Staged at Astana IT University in Astana, Kazakhstan, on November 29 and 30, 2025, the tournament brought together 30 competitors contesting 13 events across 23 rounds. This vibrant WCA competition highlighted a broad geographic and technical spread, with host-nation speedcubers earning 24 podium finishes while visiting Russian solvers captured 15. The two-day gathering functioned as a prime showcase for speedcubing excellence in the region, testing participants on everything from handheld rotational sprints to complex multi-layered puzzles.

Tarasenko continued his remarkable march across the heavier cubes, picking up victories in 4x4x4 Cube with a 22.03 average and 5x5x5 Cube in 36.80. He also captured the big-cube formats, topping 6x6x6 Cube in 1:15.76 and 7x7x7 Cube in 1:57.12. In side events, Tarasenko added wins in Pyraminx with a 3.43 average, 3x3x3 One-Handed at 11.97, and Megaminx in 26.97. Despite Tarasenko taking nine titles, the remaining schedule saw strong variety, including Esen Shaimardan winning Clock with a 5.02 average and Damir Issakov claiming Square-1 with an average of 14.44.

Asset Agabekov assembled an outstanding individual campaign at Astana Open 2025, capturing first place in Skewb with a 4.75 average and conquering the 3x3x3 Blindfolded division with a winning single of 1:02.34. Agabekov added further hardware with second place in 4x4x4 Cube and third-place finishes in 2x2x2 Cube and 7x7x7 Cube. Danil Zuev earned silver honors in both the 6x6x6 and 7x7x7 cubes, while Damir Zhanataev proved remarkably consistent across the program, taking third-place podium spots in 3x3x3 Cube, 3x3x3 Blindfolded, 3x3x3 One-Handed, 5x5x5 Cube, and 6x6x6 Cube.

Away from the top of the standings, several competitors notched significant personal progress across varied formats. Aisultan Turganbay delivered massive breakthroughs, cutting his 4x4x4 Cube personal best by 58.8 percent down to 55.22 and dropping his Pyraminx mark by 53.8 percent to 7.43, in addition to making a first career attempt in 3x3x3 One-Handed with 22.37. Amir Nurgazin slashed his Clock personal best by 51.9 percent to 7.84 and improved his 4x4x4 Cube mark by 32.1 percent to 1:43.00. Nayl Maksut took on eleven events, trimming his Square-1 best by 34.5 percent to 27.52 and his one-handed mark by 28.9 percent to 35.13. Abzal Amirgali shaved 33.9 percent off his 5x5x5 Cube personal best with a 1:31.38 while recording a first 6x6x6 Cube attempt of 5:01.98.

The weekend also provided key milestones for competitors expanding their repertoires and newcomers making their official debuts. Aidyn Boranbay tackled eleven events, lowering his Megaminx best by 20 percent to 3:22.22 and making his first Square-1 attempt in 1:15.57. Amirkhan Akhmadiyev logged an 8.99 Skewb personal best, an improvement of 24.3 percent, while completing maiden attempts in Clock and Square-1. First-time speed cubing tournament entrants made immediate impressions, as Alimzhan Ibragim contested eight events including a first 2x2x2 single of 2.50 and a sixth-place finish in 3x3x3 Blindfolded, and Timur Beksultan took on seven disciplines, posting initial official marks of 8.34 in Pyraminx and 1:36.08 in 4x4x4 Cube.

Across two intense days of solving, Astana Open 2025 captured the full breadth of the modern cubing competition scene, blending top-tier winning times with determined milestones throughout the heat sheets. From Tarasenko sweeping the short-format events with blistering marks to debutants stepping up to solve multi-layered puzzles against the clock, the tournament provided a comprehensive assessment of speed, technique, and stamina in the heart of Kazakhstan.