FMC Astana Summer 2026

A blistering 24-move single by Damir Zhanataev set a new national record for Kazakhstan, lighting up the leaderboards at FMC Astana Summer 2026. The focused gathering took place on July 14, 2026, bringing competitors together at the GMCA venue in Astana, Kazakhstan. In an environment built around precision and patience, seven dedicated participants sat down for an intensive day of 3x3x3 Fewest Moves solving. China's Ge Shi (石歌) rose to the top step with a winning average of 30.00 moves and a best single of 27, capturing the outright victory in the tournament.

Beyond the hunt for podium places, the cubing competition carried a welcoming, community-first energy that defines this branch of the sport. Fewest Moves represents a distinct corner of speedcubing where the clock runs for an entire hour per attempt, leaving plenty of room between writing solutions for competitors to trade notations and share insights. In Astana, Kazakhstan, the intimate setup at GMCA meant solvers spent the single-round schedule comparing linear insertions, blockbuilding strategies, and alternate endings over their notation sheets in a calm and friendly environment.

While the standard Rubik's Cube format emphasizes rapid turns per second, FMC shifts the focus to deep algorithmic efficiency. The competition drew seven entrants who fully leaned into the mental challenge, creating a shared sense of purpose across the tables. Solvers cheered each other on through the grueling process of finding optimal paths, turning an otherwise quiet room into a hub of mutual encouragement as the final sheets were submitted.

The overall podium highlighted consistent solving across the round, led by Ge Shi (石歌) whose 30.00 mark stood as the benchmark for the day. Local talent made a strong showing directly behind the champion, with Kazakhstan's Abzal Amirgali securing the runner-up spot on a 39.33 average. Yerkin Assylbek completed the podium for the host nation by posting a 40.33 average to claim third place, ensuring Kazakhstan took two of the three podium positions at this WCA competition.

Tucked behind the podium standings were remarkable individual breakthroughs that tell the deeper story of the day. Damir Zhanataev authored the most significant leap, lowering his personal best from 31 moves to 24, an improvement of 22.6 percent that earned him a fourth-place finish alongside the national record. In his 110th career tournament, that single solve was the definitive technical highlight of the afternoon. Meanwhile, Dias Toregeldin took on 3x3x3 Fewest Moves for the first time in his career, recording a 60 in his debut attempt and finishing in sixth place overall.

Other dedicated solvers also left their mark on the scoresheet through steady perseverance. Diasbek Zhuraev, entering his 43rd career tournament, delivered a composed performance across the event to lock in a fifth-place finish. Rounding out the field, Maksat Amantaev (Максат Амантаев) made the most of his single-event appearance, securing seventh place in the overall standings. These efforts reflect the supportive spirit of speed cubing, where personal growth and first-time attempts matter just as much as medals.

The 3x3 results from the tables underscored how much variety exists in the modern puzzle landscape. Without the rush of traditional timed rounds, competitors had space to analyze their moves move by move, discussing the geometry of their solutions as the official times were validated. The single-event format condensed the drama, leaving every participant invested in the outcome of each individual attempt across the hour-long sessions.

As FMC Astana Summer 2026 drew to a close, the participants left GMCA with new milestones, fresh technical knowledge, and shared memories from a focused day of competition. With national records rewritten and several solvers expanding their event resumes, the gathering demonstrated the depth of the local community. The year 2026 continues to deliver memorable moments on the puzzle table, setting a positive tone for everyone involved as they prepare for the next season.

The blend of international victory and homegrown record-breaking made the one-day gathering in Astana a model of what small-scale events can achieve. By giving solvers the space to collaborate, learn, and push their boundaries, the tournament reinforced the lasting bonds of the puzzle community across borders.