Back to Mombasa 2025

A winning average of 28.81 seconds in 3x3x3 One-Handed set the tone for an intense day of solving in Mombasa, Kenya on December 7, 2025. Solving a Rubik's Cube with a single hand demands exceptional fingertip dexterity, precise table grip, and distinct ergonomic turning techniques. At the Oshwal Centre, the discipline took center stage as competitors navigated the mechanics of single-handed execution, balancing turning cadence with careful lookahead.

The 3x3x3 One-Handed final saw Sur Shah capture the victory with a 28.81 second average, backed by a best single of 24.62 seconds. Jason Kipkurui applied pressure throughout the single-round contest, securing second place with an average of 32.77 seconds. Rita Wakio completed the podium in third place with an average of 1:22.47, capping a compelling display of single-handed speedcubing technique across seven entrants.

The main three-by-three event delivered the closest battle of the entire WCA competition. Sur Shah claimed top honours in the two-round contest with a final average of 12.37 seconds and a best single of 11.13 seconds. Jason Kipkurui finished a mere five hundredths of a second behind, posting a 12.42 average for runner-up honours, while Kelvin Githiari Waturi secured third place on the podium with a 19.68 average to round out the 3x3 results.

Sur Shah expanded his haul across the schedule at Back to Mombasa 2025, taking first place in the 2x2x2 Cube with a winning average of 4.34 seconds and a single of 3.11 seconds. Jason Kipkurui finished second with an average of 5.60 seconds, while Kelvin Githiari Waturi took third with a 7.15 average. Shah also triumphed in the 4x4x4 Cube, posting a winning average of 50.64 seconds ahead of Waturi in second at 1:16.36 and Denis Ndemwa in third at 3:03.23.

Kelvin Githiari Waturi interrupted Shah's title run by delivering a top-tier performance in Pyraminx. In the single-round event featuring six competitors, Waturi earned victory with a decisive average of 10.85 seconds and a best single solve of 8.95 seconds. Sur Shah followed in second place with an average of 15.35 seconds, while Denis Ndemwa earned third with an average of 20.16 seconds.

Beyond the trophies, the cubing competition served as an entry point and breakthrough stage for several emerging participants. Rehan Osman made substantial strides, taking on four events and achieving a personal best single of 10.16 seconds in 2x2x2 Cube, which improved on his previous mark by 14.6 percent. Osman also recorded his first ever official attempts in Pyraminx with a 20.73 single, placing fifth overall, and in 3x3x3 One-Handed with a 1:15.89 single. Ismaeel Aweys completed his first official tournament, entering four events and finishing fourth in 3x3x3 One-Handed with an initial attempt of 1:29.57, alongside debut singles of 20.41 in 3x3x3 Cube and 27.79 in Pyraminx.

Debut appearances continued across the field, highlighting the expansion of speed cubing in the region. Michael Mordecai took on four disciplines in his first appearance, placing fourth in Pyraminx with a 20.60 single while logging debut solves of 10.64 in 2x2x2 Cube and 24.95 in 3x3x3 Cube. Keyan Shah entered two events, finishing fifth in 2x2x2 Cube with an opening mark of 5.67 seconds and scoring 31.13 in 3x3x3 Cube. Saaz Shah made his debut across two events with singles of 15.14 in 2x2x2 Cube and 55.26 in 3x3x3 Cube, while Maya Shah tackled the 3x3x3 Cube for the first time, posting an official single of 2:00.46.

By the end of Back to Mombasa 2025, the gathering at Oshwal Centre had staged five events across seven rounds, drawing 11 competitors to the tables. Sur Shah finished the day with four event victories, while Kenyan solvers collected all 15 available podium positions across the tournament. Back to Mombasa 2025 provided an engaging showcase of competitive Rubik's Cube solving, setting a competitive baseline for the region heading into the next season.