Fires de Girona 2024

Inside the bustling halls of the Fira de Girona, the gentle hum of plastic against plastic and the sudden click of timers set the rhythm for three days of intense focus. Across the venue, 115 competitors stepped forward onto the competition floor in Girona, Spain, from November 1 to November 3, 2024. For those taking on their very first official attempts, stepping up to the judging table brought the unique thrill of presenting a solved puzzle under the glare of official scrutiny, surrounded by seasoned veterans and dedicated puzzle enthusiasts alike.

This edition of Fires de Girona 2024 brought a massive schedule of 17 events spanning 23 rounds of action. The multi-day cubing competition served as a proving ground where newcomers navigated the rigorous procedures of an official WCA competition while sharing tables with some of the fastest hands on the continent. The atmosphere inside the hall reflected the broad community spirit of modern speedcubing, where personal breakthroughs receive the exact same attention as podium finishes.

The spotlight shone brightly on several competitors who took on expansive schedules and achieved significant personal milestones. Evan Casado entered seven events and delivered remarkable time drops across the board, setting a 5x5x5 Cube personal best of 1:18.10 which was 39.4 percent faster than his previous mark, a 3x3x3 One-Handed personal best of 17.13 that was 33.4 percent faster, and recording a first ever attempt in the 7x7x7 Cube at 4:04.88 to finish 11th. Daniel Richard Stasyuk tackled nine events, posting a 4x4x4 Cube personal best of 1:30.31 to go 26.3 percent faster than before, alongside his first official attempts in the 5x5x5 Cube at 4:23.29 and the 6x6x6 Cube at 9:15.97. Nur Navarro Figueras contested 11 events throughout the weekend, securing an 18th-place finish in 3x3x3 Blindfolded while logging first attempts in Pyraminx at 11.06, Megaminx at 3:03.03, and 5x5x5 Cube at 3:17.35.

The ambition continued as Gel Hernández Blanco took on eight events in only the second tournament of a budding career, recording an official 20.85 on a first attempt at Square-1 for a 13th-place finish, alongside debut marks of 5.98 in Skewb and 1:10.74 in the 4x4x4 Cube. Víctor Coris took part in 10 separate events, securing 16th place in the 6x6x6 Cube with a first-time mark of 2:59.84, while also logging initial competition marks of 1:07.98 in Square-1 and 4:37.94 in the 7x7x7 Cube. Roc Lamana Guinart entered four events and put together debut performances across the board, registering 4.79 in the 2x2x2 Cube, 34.73 in 3x3x3 One-Handed for a 53rd-place result, and 1:12.03 in the 4x4x4 Cube.

In the premier Rubik's Cube category, 110 competitors battled through four intense stages to determine the ultimate 3x3 results. Lorenzo Escobar Kraskouskaya captured the title with a winning average of 7.27 seconds, highlighted by a tournament-best single solve of 5.36 seconds in the final round. Arnau Tous Mateu secured the runner-up spot on the podium with a solid average of 7.51 seconds, while Nicolas Gertner Kilian rounded out the top three by finishing with an average of 7.88 seconds.

The shorter formats featured rapid-fire speed cubing battles that came down to narrow margins. In the 2x2x2 Cube, Albert Mandicó Sampol captured victory with a decisive winning average of 1.93 seconds and a best single of 1.50 seconds, leading a podium that included Nicolas Gertner Kilian and Ot Caminals Aleu, who each logged matching averages of 2.63 seconds. Albert Mandicó Sampol also excelled in Pyraminx, taking top honors with a winning average of 2.18 seconds ahead of Arnau Tous Mateu at 2.39 seconds and Pavlo Bondar at 2.58 seconds. Arnau Tous Mateu claimed twin victories elsewhere, winning Skewb with a 3.38 average and Clock with a mark of 4.65 seconds.

The larger puzzles demanded deep endurance and precise execution throughout the tournament. Daniel Cofreces Jaureguizar edged out a tight field in the 4x4x4 Cube with a winning average of 33.79 seconds, narrowly ahead of Nicolas Gertner Kilian at 33.84 seconds and Biel Salmons Gonzalez at 33.99 seconds. Biel Salmons Gonzalez went on to win the 5x5x5 Cube with an average of 1:01.90, edging Mauro Moisés Ortega López at 1:02.69 and Pavlo Bondar at 1:05.46. In the ultimate big cubes, Zhedong Wang swept both events, capturing the 6x6x6 Cube with an average of 1:55.97 and the 7x7x7 Cube with a mark of 3:05.99.

Complex disciplines tested different mental capabilities, from one-handed dexterity to pure memory work. Pavlo Bondar won both the 3x3x3 One-Handed event with an average of 13.47 seconds and the Megaminx with an average of 48.63 seconds, while Artur Miralles Hernàndez took the Square-1 title in 9.11 seconds. Mauro Moisés Ortega López demonstrated mastery in the 3x3x3 Fewest Moves discipline by solving the cube with a winning average of 21.33 moves. In the memory events, Manu Dutheil earned the 3x3x3 Blindfolded win with a 28.47 single, Jonathan Dammann conquered the 5x5x5 Blindfolded with a single solve of 10:18.00, and Jordi Lleixà López achieved a double blindfolded victory by winning the 4x4x4 Blindfolded in 2:33.42 and securing 22 out of 27 cubes in 57:17 during 3x3x3 Multi-Blind.

The full scope of Fires de Girona 2024 demonstrated how an ambitious event program brings together every dimension of the sport under one roof. Competitors from Spain captured 24 podium placements over the course of the weekend, joined on the podiums by representatives from France, Ukraine, China, and Andorra. From opening rounds filled with new personal milestones to the final stages of the championship events, the three days in Girona offered an expansive showcase of puzzle solving at every stage of progression.

115 competidores se congregaron en el recinto de Fira de Girona del 1 al 3 de noviembre de 2024 para dar vida a un fin de semana repleto de intensidad. La magnitud de la convocatoria en Girona, Spain, elevó la exigencia en cada una de las 23 rondas disputadas. En una cita oficial regulada por la World Cube Association, abrirse paso entre cuadros tan nutridos demandó una regularidad implacable desde las primeras fases clasificatorias.

El evento principal de cubo de Rubik reunió a 110 participantes y requirió cuatro exigentes rondas para definir al campeón. Lorenzo Escobar Kraskouskaya se alzó con la victoria en el 3x3x3 Cube tras registrar un promedio ganador de 7.27 segundos y una mejor resolución de 5.36. La presión en la mesa final fue absoluta, superando a Arnau Tous Mateu, quien fue segundo con 7.51, y al francés Nicolas Gertner Kilian, tercero con 7.88.

La velocidad pura también brilló en los eventos más cortos del speedcubing internacional. En el 2x2x2 Cube, disputado entre 95 especialistas a lo largo de dos rondas, Albert Mandicó Sampol se coronó campeón con una media de 1.93 segundos y un registro individual de 1.50. Nicolas Gertner Kilian y Ot Caminals Aleu completaron el podio con idéntico promedio de 2.63. Mandicó Sampol sumó un segundo triunfo en Pyraminx con 2.18, superando a Arnau Tous Mateu con 2.39 y a Pavlo Bondar con 2.58.

Por su parte, Arnau Tous Mateu demostró una notable versatilidad técnica al conquistar dos títulos durante el fin de semana. En Skewb se impuso con un promedio de 3.38 segundos tras superar dos rondas entre 63 aspirantes, mientras que en Clock dominó a 55 participantes con una media ganadora de 4.65. En Square-1, Artur Miralles Hernàndez selló la primera posición con una marca de 9.11 segundos, dejando una mejor resolución individual de 8.05.

Las categorías de cubos de grandes dimensiones exigieron una resistencia técnica formidable en esta competición de cubos. Daniel Cofreces Jaureguizar ganó en 4x4x4 Cube con una media de 33.79 segundos en una definición ajustadísima ante Nicolas Gertner Kilian con 33.84 y Biel Salmons Gonzalez con 33.99. Salmons Gonzalez se desquitó en el 5x5x5 Cube logrando el triunfo con 1:01.90. En las modalidades superiores, Zhedong Wang se llevó el doblete al vencer en 6x6x6 Cube con 1:55.97 y en 7x7x7 Cube con 3:05.99.

Las historias de progreso personal marcaron el pulso profundo del certamen más allá de las primeras posiciones. Arcadi Morales Donato completó dos pruebas logrando una mejora del 55.5% en 2x2x2 Cube con 10.82 frente a su previo 24.32, además de rebajar un 42.6% en 3x3x3 Cube hasta 31.47. Orson Kovalev afrontó 9 eventos, pulverizando su registro en Square-1 con 18.71 para una mejora del 42%, junto a un 5.28 en Pyraminx y 1:29.63 en 4x4x4 Cube. Gil Mateu Casadesús compitió en 7 modalidades, marcando su primer intento oficial en 5x5x5 Cube con 4:22.62, un 15.78 en Clock y un 1:33.10 en 4x4x4 Cube, rebajando su registro anterior un 25.8%.

El compromiso con la máxima exigencia continuó con Guillem Serrallonga Rosell, quien completó un maratón de 17 eventos, logrando el cuarto puesto en 5x5x5 a ciegas, su primer registro en 6x6x6 Cube con 9:30.71 y marcas personales de 3:45.16 en 5x5x5 Cube y 2:04.65 en Square-1. Arnau Morales Donato encaró 8 pruebas, estrenándose en 6x6x6 Cube con 4:18.10 y en 7x7x7 Cube con 6:46.82, además de firmar 19.99 en a una mano con una mejora del 22.2%. Gerard Corral López sumó 5 eventos con marcas personales de 8.17 en 3x3x3 Cube, primer intento en 4x4x4 Cube con 1:21.82 y en Skewb con 7.99.

En las disciplinas de resolución a ciegas, la concentración mental fue determinante en el recinto catalán. Jordi Lleixà López dominó ampliamente al vencer en 4x4x4 Blindfolded con una media de 2:33.42 y conquistar el 3x3x3 Multi-Blind tras resolver 22 de 27 cubos en 57:17. Por su parte, Manu Dutheil se llevó el 3x3x3 Blindfolded con un mejor tiempo de 28.47 segundos y Jonathan Dammann ganó en 5x5x5 Blindfolded con 10:18.00.

El programa se completó con la victoria de Mauro Moisés Ortega López en 3x3x3 Fewest Moves, donde firmó un promedio de 21.33 movimientos y una mejor solución de 21. Pavlo Bondar brilló al vencer en 3x3x3 One-Handed con 13.47 de media y en Megaminx con 48.63. Con 17 modalidades disputadas al más alto nivel, Fires de Girona 2024 cerró un fin de semana memorable que consolidó el extraordinario nivel del speedcubing regional.