Cubing Mada 2024

A razor-thin margin in the 2x2x2 Cube final set the tone for an intense weekend of speedcubing at Skate Park Antanimena. Ranarison Fiderana Lioka held off a fierce challenge from Finland's Niko Ronkainen to claim the title with a winning average of 2.75 seconds against Ronkainen's 2.95. That two-tenths of a second gap capped a rapid-fire sequence of solves where every turn of the puzzle mattered. The thrilling contest served as an electric highlight for the gathered field in Antananarivo, Madagascar, launching two days of high-stakes competition across nine distinct disciplines.

Held across May 4 and May 5, Cubing Mada 2024 brought together 41 competitors battling through 18 rounds of official action. The gathering served as a premier WCA competition for the region in 2024, drawing talent eager to test their speed on everything from handheld twisty puzzles to massive big cubes. Across the board, podium spots were fiercely contested between local standouts and visiting international talent, delivering high drama from the opening heats right down to the final solves.

The 3x3x3 Cube contest, traditionally the centerpiece of any speed cubing schedule, featured 40 competitors across three rounds of intense play. Rodrigue Hermanne Rafanambinantsoa proved unmatched in the final, securing the victory with an 8.65 average and putting up the fastest single solve of the event at 7.35 seconds. Kantosoa Volaniaina Nomenatiana secured second place with a 9.42 mark, while Ranarison Fiderana Lioka rounded out the podium with a 10.42 average. The decisive 3x3 results cemented Rafanambinantsoa's status at the top of the standings.

Rafanambinantsoa's excellence extended well beyond the classic Rubik's Cube. In the 3x3x3 One-Handed event, he locked down another title with a 14.80 winning average and a 13.53 single, finishing ahead of Anjatiana Ramarajaona who averaged 15.77 and Valisoa Tiavina Léonard Razafindrainibe at 16.72. The multi-event master continued his winning run on the larger stages, taking the 4x4x4 Cube crown in 30.65 over Miarotiana Henintsoa Rabemanantany's 39.05, and capturing the 5x5x5 Cube final with a 1:05.83 average ahead of Tolotsoa Joanah Lalarijaona's 1:07.58.

Beyond the top steps of the podium, several competitors delivered massive personal breakthroughs that the overall scoreboards often obscure. Lovaniaina Franck Randrianarivelo entered two events and sliced his 3x3x3 Cube personal best down to 9.05 seconds, an improvement of forty-nine percent, while logging a first attempt in 3x3x3 One-Handed at 16.16 seconds. Tolotra Ny Avo Andriamamonjisoa took on four events, setting a national record average of 3.46 in 2x2x2 Cube, chopping his single personal best by sixty-six point four percent to 1.80, and clocking a first attempt at 4x4x4 Cube in 41.24. Fitiavana Sylvestre Rabevohitra took on five events, improving his 3x3x3 One-Handed best by thirty-three point three percent to 15.85 and posting his first 5x5x5 Cube solve at 1:57.75. Arilova Niela Ratsima cut thirty point eight percent off his 3x3x3 Cube best with an 8.23 single.

First-time competitors also made an immediate impression throughout the tournament schedule. Taher Akbaraly competed in his first WCA competition across five events, reaching sixth place in Pyraminx and posting first-time marks including a 24.92 single in 3x3x3 Cube. Damonantenaina Serano Praxis Lanana tackled four events at his first tournament, claiming seventh in 3x3x3 One-Handed with an opening mark of 15.82 seconds. Tokinirina Rakotondrambola took on five events in his debut appearance, recording a 3.53 in 2x2x2 Cube and a 1:51.97 in 5x5x5 Cube. Meanwhile, Miantsasoa Malala Andrianina contested four events in his first outing, finishing ninth in 2x2x2 Cube with a 4.37 solve.

The remaining events on the schedule highlighted the diverse challenges of the weekend. Niko Ronkainen found success across multiple disciplines, claiming victory in the Pyraminx with a 6.61 average over Manoa Ramanahadray's 7.91, and winning the 6x6x6 Cube in 2:13.09 just ahead of Tolotsoa Joanah Lalarijaona's 2:14.12. In the twelve-sided Megaminx, Randy Mandimbisoa earned first place with a 1:10.53 average, holding off Ronkainen who finished at 1:12.70. The 7x7x7 Cube title went to Tolotsoa Joanah Lalarijaona with a commanding 3:18.94 average.

The 2x2x2 Cube event saw significant movement across the record books, with Manoa Ramanahadray capturing a national record single of 2.14 seconds during the rounds. In total, Malagasy competitors collected 21 podium positions over the course of the meet, backed by five podium finishes for Finland. The spirited competition, filled with breakout milestones and down-to-the-wire finishes, closed out Cubing Mada 2024 as a landmark display of dexterity and speed for the regional community.