Balkan Open 2023

A blistering 6.94 winning average in the 3x3x3 Cube final by Romania's Ianis Costin Chele set the benchmark for high-velocity solving at Hotel Tamiš. Across two days of non-stop action on October 7 and 8, Balkan Open 2023 delivered intense speedcubing drama as 111 competitors gathered in Pančevo, Serbia. The classic Rubik's Cube drew a massive field of 108 solvers across three rounds, ultimately culminating in Chele securing the premier title ahead of Alexey Tsvetkov and local standout Đorđe Vuković.

The tournament calendar featured 12 distinct events spanning 21 rounds, offering tests of speed, discipline, and stamina. Rapid-fire dexterity defined the 2x2x2 Cube final, where Alexey Tsvetkov claimed top honours with a blazing 1.57 average, edging out Chele and Slovenia's Marcel Ručigaj. Tsvetkov continued his dominant form throughout the weekend, securing first place in Skewb with a 2.74 average and capturing the 3x3x3 One-Handed crown with an impressive 11.32 mark.

Chele maintained an exceptionally packed schedule, showcasing remarkable range across both standard and specialty puzzles. In addition to his primary victory in the 3x3 results, the Romanian talent took gold in Pyraminx with a 2.40 average, won the 4x4x4 Cube in 33.48 seconds, conquered Megaminx with a 46.56 average, and secured the Square-1 title in 10.60. His performances anchored Romania's total of 10 podium positions across the entire competition.

Big cube mastery belonged squarely to Hungary's Bence Barát, who orchestrated a clean sweep of the heavier puzzles. Barát took the 5x5x5 Cube title in 59.97 seconds, finished first in the 6x6x6 Cube with a 1:45.40 average, and clinched the 7x7x7 Cube with a 2:40.74 result. Demonstrating supreme focus and spatial recall, Barát also captured victory in 3x3x3 Blindfolded with a 47.23 average, leaving no doubt about his command across complex solving disciplines.

Beyond the top podium steps, rapid progression among emerging talents formed the heart of this WCA competition. Kosta Mihailović delivered one of the weekend's most striking breakthroughs, improving his 3x3x3 Cube personal best to 9.92 seconds, which was 56.4 percent faster than his previous mark of 22.75, while also tackling his first official attempts at Square-1 in 1:05.65 and 4x4x4 Cube in 1:37.85. Nenad Biščić took on six events, achieving an 8th-place finish in the 2x2x2 Cube while recording his first official attempts in 2x2x2 Cube at 2.62, 3x3x3 One-Handed at 31.99, and 3x3x3 Cube at 14.24. Mihajlo Janičić entered seven disciplines, logging his first Pyraminx attempt in 10.09, one-handed solve in 32.40, and Skewb attempt in 13.18.

The drive to expand repertoires and slice seconds off personal marks continued across the scorecards. Mihajlo Stamenović took on five disciplines, recording first official marks in Pyraminx at 6.99, Skewb at 9.61, and 3x3x3 One-Handed at 39.75. Vuk Rakić competed in six events, notching a 2x2x2 Cube personal best of 6.46 seconds, an improvement of 27.8 percent over his former 8.95 mark, alongside debut attempts in the 4x4x4 Cube and 3x3x3 One-Handed. Vuk Grgurević also cut down his 2x2x2 Cube best by 27.6 percent to 4.12 seconds, while logging first attempts in Skewb at 26.28 and 3x3x3 One-Handed at 52.84.

The broader leaderboard reflected an impressive regional distribution, with Serbia collecting seven podium spots, Russia taking six, Hungary five, Slovenia four, and Bosnia and Herzegovina claiming two. Solid podium finishes from competitors like Matej Marčok, Finn Ickler, Andrej Mikulić, Aleksa Radovanović, and Serban Stelian highlighted the deep talent pool in attendance. This level of balance across nations showcased the growing vitality of speed cubing in the region throughout 2023.

As the final timers stopped at Balkan Open 2023, the event reinforced how quickly ambitious solvers are raising the competitive standard. From blistering sub-seven averages on the main stage to huge personal milestones across the undercard, the gathering at Pančevo highlighted the vibrant energy driving the community forward. The stage is already set for another thrilling chapter as these competitors take their momentum into the next cubing competition season.

The memorable battles in Pančevo, Serbia proved that dedication and consistent practice continue to yield remarkable rewards on the tournament floor. Balkan Open 2023 celebrated every level of achievement, demonstrating that the future of the sport rests in very capable hands.

U prostranoj sali Hotela Tamiš, uz jednolični zvuk stotina brzih rotacija plastičnih slagalica i preciznih udaraca o tajmere, protekao je takmičarski vikend od 7. do 8. oktobra 2023. godine. Pančevo, Serbia bilo je domaćin gde se okupilo 111 takmičara iz više zemalja kako bi odmerili veštine na zvaničnom turniru Balkan Open 2023. Tokom dva dana programa, u okviru 12 različitih disciplina i kroz ukupno 21 rundu, publika je pratila vrhunske nastupe i nadmetanja u rešavanju mehanizama svih formata.

Glavna figura turnira bio je Ianis Costin Chele, koji je demonstrirao vrhunsku formu i poneo čak pet šampionskih titula. U prestižnoj disciplini 3x3x3 Cube, rumunski takmičar je kroz tri runde zadržao vođstvo i u finalu slavio sa pobedničkim prosekom od 6.94 sekundi, uz najbolji pojedinačni pokušaj od 6.12 sekundi. Drugo mesto u konkurenciji 108 takmičara zauzeo je Alexey Tsvetkov sa prosekom 7.12, dok je treće mesto na postolju pripalo domaćem predstavniku Đorđu Vukoviću sa rezultatom 8.60.

Ianis Costin Chele se nije zaustavio na glavnoj kocki, već je dominirao i na ostalim stolovima. U disciplini 4x4x4 Cube trijumfovao je sa prosekom 33.48 sekundi, tesno ispred Tsvetkova koji je zabeležio 33.69, dok je treći bio Finn Ickler sa 36.83. Chele je takođe osvojio zlato u disciplini Pyraminx sa prosekom 2.40, u nadmetanju Megaminx sa rezultatom 46.56, kao i u Square-1 gde je u jednoj rundi zabeležio pobednički prosek od 10.60 sekundi i najbolji singl od 8.70.

Izuzetan doprinos vikendu pružio je i Bence Barát, koji je bio neprikosnoven u rešavanju velikih slagalica i memorijskim izazovima. Mađarski takmičar je pobedio u 5x5x5 Cube sa prosekom 59.97 sekundi ispred Chelea, a bio je najbolji i u 6x6x6 Cube sa vremenom 1:45.40, kao i u 7x7x7 Cube sa prosekom 2:40.74, gde su ga na postolju pratili Andrej Mikulić i Aleksa Radovanović. Barát je potvrdio svestranost trijumfom u disciplini 3x3x3 Blindfolded, gde je sa prosekom 47.23 bio brži od Marcela Ručigaja i Serbana Steliana.

Zapažen učinak ostvario je i Alexey Tsvetkov, koji je osvojio dve pobede na takmičenju. U disciplini 2x2x2 Cube Tsvetkov je uzeo zlato sa prosekom 1.57 sekundi, ispred Chelea koji je imao 2.08 i Ručigaja sa 2.23. Tsvetkov je potom bio najbrži i u disciplini 3x3x3 One-Handed sa pobedničkim prosekom 11.32, pobedivši domaćeg takmičara Mateja Marčoka koji je ostvario prosek 12.34, a osvojio je i prvo mesto u Skewb formatu sa rezultatom 2.74 sekundi.

Pored borbi za medalje, ovo speedcubing nadmetanje obeležili su lični rekordi takmičara koji grade svoje iskustvo. Naum Stojoski je u disciplini 4x4x4 Cube ostvario lični rekord od 1:07.46, što je čak 59.7 procenata brže od njegovog ranijeg rezultata 2:47.51, a zabeležio je i vreme 9.60 na piramidi. Nikita Ivanovic je takođe napravio ogroman skok na 4x4x4 kocki sa vremenom 53.12, popravivši stari rezultat za 54.8 procenata, uz lične rekorde 10.46 na Pyraminxu i 12.66 na 3x3x3 kocki. Nikola Simić je nastupio u 8 disciplina, zauzeo deseto mesto u rešavanju na slepo, postavio lični rekord u Square-1 sa 25.45 koji je 55 procenata brži od ranijeg, zabeležio 2:24.39 na 5x5x5 kocki i prvi put se oprobao u 3x3x3 One-Handed sa 26.00.

Napredak su pokazali i ostali učesnici koji su pomerali sopstvene granice. Aleksa Ružić je upisao prvi zvanični pokušaj u Square-1 sa 21.05 i došao do desetog mesta, a zabeležio je i lične rekorde 5.76 na Pyraminxu i 3.79 na 2x2x2 kocki. Aleksa Vujić je na turniru zabeležio svoje prve nastupe u disciplinama 3x3x3 One-Handed sa 39.59 i Pyraminx sa 9.39, uz lični rekord na standardnoj trojci od 19.38. Oliver Sokolović je uknjižio prve zvanične rezultate u 6x6x6 Cube sa 5:09.36 i 5x5x5 Cube sa 2:33.27, postavivši i novi lični rekord na 4x4x4 kocki sa 1:29.51.

Ova WCA competition manifestacija donela je pregršt uzbuđenja u svim disciplinama, a takmičari iz Rumunije, Srbije, Rusije, Mađarske, Slovenije, Nemačke i Bosne i Hercegovine popunili su mesta na podijumima. Balkan Open 2023 uspešno je zatvorio još jedno poglavlje regionalnih susreta u rešavanju Rubikove kocke, ostavivši iza sebe brojne oborene rekorde, stabilne rezultate na velikim kockama i odličan temelj za naredne sportske izazove.