Dubai American Academy Open 2025

Fifty-eight competitors gathered on September 13, 2025, for a high-intensity day of solving across eight rounds of play. Staged at GEMS Dubai American Academy in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, the Dubai American Academy Open 2025 brought together speedcubing talent from across the region. Across five diverse disciplines, the pressure of limited attempts left zero room for error, rewarding those who maintained absolute focus under the timer.

In formats with limited tries, every single mistake carries a heavy cost, and competitors had to navigate those tight margins from the very first solve. Unlike larger marathon schedules, this cubing competition packed its full program into a focused schedule where an off turn or hesitation could dismantle an entire round. The balance between aggressive speed and steady consistency became the central challenge of the entire meet.

The premier 3x3x3 Cube event drew 57 competitors across two rounds of intense speed cubing, demanding sharp execution from start to finish. Jeriel James Thomas from Canada claimed victory in the event, posting a decisive winning average of 7.16 alongside the day's best single of 5.40. Gabriel Tan of Singapore secured second place with an average of 7.91, while Taehoon Yoo of Korea rounded out the podium in third with 9.14 in the final 3x3 results.

Jeriel James Thomas continued his impressive run in the 3x3x3 One-Handed event, taking top honors among 39 participants with an average of 11.30 and a best single of 10.29. Jordan's Abdallah Belal Omar locked down second place with a 17.01 average, while Rannanjay Singh Kotwal of India took third with 18.64. Balancing turning control and puzzle orientation using only one hand tested the field thoroughly across the single-round battle.

Beyond the top steps of the podium, the Dubai American Academy Open 2025 showcased substantial growth and ambitious breakthroughs across the ranks. Ghanem Hamed Zarook took on five events and made huge strides, dropping his Pyraminx personal best to 4.04, which was 53 percent faster than before, while adding a 2x2x2 Cube best of 2.48 and a first ever attempt at 3x3x3 One-Handed of 28.69. Gabrielle Timothy Dimaculangan Javier cut her Pyraminx personal best to 6.54 for a 44.2 percent improvement and logged a first ever attempt at 4x4x4 Cube of 1:03.21. Ayaan Aneesh Pushpan improved his 3x3x3 One-Handed mark to 31.82, a 41 percent reduction, while Mohammad Uzair Tabrez notched a Pyraminx personal best of 5.95, 39 percent faster than his prior standard.

The depth of progress continued with Aldrich Ethan Reyes Reyes, who entered five events, recording a first ever attempt at Pyraminx of 6.05 alongside a 4x4x4 Cube personal best of 54.24, which was 26.1 percent faster. Suhaan Sharma tackled five disciplines and lowered his 2x2x2 Cube personal best to 4.76, a 31.6 percent drop. Gaon Choi registered a first ever attempt at 3x3x3 One-Handed of 29.46 and posted a 3x3x3 Cube personal best of 11.73. First-timer Debansh Pattnaik completed his first WCA competition by taking on five events, producing a first ever attempt at Pyraminx of 5.73 and finishing 25th in 4x4x4 Cube.

The 4x4x4 Cube event demanded exceptional precision as 42 competitors navigated the complexities of center pieces and edge pairing. Abdallah Belal Omar of Jordan delivered a commanding performance to win with a 33.78 average and the fastest single of 30.62. Gabriel Tan of Singapore earned his second runner-up finish with an average of 34.78, followed closely by Canada's Abishua James Thomas in third place at 35.16.

Abdallah Belal Omar returned to the spotlight in the 2x2x2 Cube event, capturing his second title of the Dubai American Academy Open 2025 with an average of 2.21 and a 1.29 single across two rounds. John Hermiel Catacutan of the Philippines secured second with 2.55, and Advik Bansal of India took third at 2.79. The fast-paced format rewarded instant recognition and seamless execution across every solve.

In the Pyraminx competition, Rannanjay Singh Kotwal of India clinched first place with a winning average of 4.56 and a top single of 3.79 through two rounds. Omar Khaled Alblooshi from the United Arab Emirates finished narrowly behind in second at 4.59, while Abdallah Belal Omar completed his remarkable multi-event campaign with third place at 4.92.

As the Dubai American Academy Open 2025 concluded, Jordan topped the medal count with four podium placements, followed by Canada and India with three each, Singapore with two, and the Philippines and the United Arab Emirates with one each. The day demonstrated how mastering the classic Rubik's Cube and varied side events requires composure on every single turn, leaving competitors ready for the challenges of the next season.