Baku Fall Open 2025

A tight multi-stage format culminated in decisive fashion at the Moscow State University MV Lomonosov Baku Branch on October 26, 2025, when Italy's Vincenzo Maria Gammino locked down the 3x3x3 Cube crown with a winning average of 12.35 seconds alongside a tournament-best single of 11.08. That performance capped an action-packed one-day WCA competition in Baku, Azerbaijan, where 50 competitors tackled 5 events across 9 rounds. The cut-down structure of the tournament tested consistency through every turn, rewarding those who maintained control under the ticking timer.

The 3x3 results in the main bracket demonstrated how the three-round schedule separated the pack from the outset. With 48 competitors entering the opening stage of the classic Rubik's Cube, every mistake carried weight against the qualification thresholds. Gammino rose to the top of the podium, while Azerbaijan's Royal Shabanov secured second place with an average of 13.41 seconds and Sabir Mammedzade claimed third with a mark of 13.59. The progression across three rounds placed immense demand on stamina, requiring finalists to deliver three solid runs.

Single-round battles brought their own high-pressure dynamics, where competitors had only one opportunity to make an impression on the leaderboard. In the 4x4x4 Cube, which drew 25 entrants into a direct final, Gammino doubled his gold medal haul by securing the victory with an average of 43.86 seconds and an event-leading single of 39.84. Shabanov earned the runner-up spot with an average of 50.16 seconds, edging out fellow countryman Mirsəlim Şahbazov who finished third with a time of 51.23.

Strategic discipline defined the 3x3x3 Fewest Moves contest, where 12 solvers faced a strict one-round test of efficiency. Italian competitors swept the top ranking as Chiara Marcucci and Vincenzo Maria Gammino shared the victory, each registering a best single solution of 29 moves. Ali Mehdizade rounded out the podium positions for Azerbaijan by recording a single solve of 45 moves, proving that deliberate calculation holds equal weight alongside high-octane turning speed in elite cubing competition fixtures.

The two-round bracket in Pyraminx saw Royal Shabanov emerge triumphant from a field of 35 competitors. Shabanov produced an authoritative winning average of 6.39 seconds and recorded the best single of the event at 3.96. The battle for the remaining podium positions came down to fine margins, as Əli Nəsirli took second place with an average of 7.49 seconds, sharing the exact numeric mark with third-place finisher Ali Aliyev in a fiercely contested final round.

In the 2x2x2 Cube, 39 competitors navigated through the opening stage to set up a sharp two-round conclusion. Khalid Eynullayev captured the title for Azerbaijan with a winning average of 4.20 seconds and a best single of 3.60. Sabir Mammedzade followed closely in second place with a 4.41 average, while Ali Aliyev earned his second bronze of the tournament by averaging 4.53. The event highlighted explosive turning speeds and rapid recognition on the compact puzzle format.

Beyond the championship podiums, the event delivered remarkable personal progress across the wider field. Elcin Abdiyev registered substantial personal bests, cutting his 2x2x2 mark by 75.8 percent down to 3.32 seconds, dropping his Pyraminx time by 45.1 percent to 9.83, and lowering his 3x3x3 time by 23.2 percent to 11.76. Imran Cabarlı took on five events, improving his 4x4x4 best by 50.1 percent to 1:09.65, his 3x3x3 mark by 49.9 percent to 15.37, and his Pyraminx time by 48.4 percent to 9.09. Cavad Cabbarlı also tackled five events, trimming his 4x4x4 best by 39.9 percent to 1:59.79, while Aaditya Mangalath slashed his 2x2x2 best by 65.7 percent down to 8.55 seconds.

First-time attempts and major tournament debuts also shaped the spirit of the weekend in Baku. Tunar Gadimli registered his first ever tournament attempts in 3x3x3 with 22.28 seconds and 2x2x2 with 2.54 seconds, alongside a Pyraminx personal best of 6.58. Said Namazov logged his first attempts in 3x3x3 Fewest Moves with 61 moves, 4x4x4 Cube with 1:41.76, and 2x2x2 Cube with 6.90. In their tournament debuts, Cənər Rüstəmli completed their first official attempts across four events, and Əli Məmmədov posted a best finish of 5th place in 3x3x3 while setting a first official mark of 9.80 seconds.

The overall medal count underscored a strong collective showing for the host nation, with Azerbaijan collecting 11 podium placements alongside 4 secured by Italy. The diverse multi-round schedules showcased both tactical mastery and raw speed cubing prowess across all five disciplines. As Baku Fall Open 2025 concluded in Baku, the balance of rigorous round advancement and breakthrough individual milestones affirmed the vitality of competitive speedcubing in the region.