Georgia April Open 2026

Twenty-one competitors gathered in Tbilisi, Georgia on April 18, 2026, creating an intense single-day atmosphere across 11 different events. Staged at the Caucasus Culture Exchange, the Georgia April Open 2026 offered a full spectrum of puzzle formats, packing 13 rounds of action into a single Saturday. For many in attendance, the gathering represented an essential gateway into sanctioned speedcubing, balancing top-tier veteran matchups with the nervous energy of athletes taking their very first official solves.

Stepping up to the solving station for the first time brings an unmistakable shift in perspective. Solvers who spent months practicing Rubik's Cube variants at home suddenly found themselves under the regulation timers of an official WCA competition. The technical demands of speed cubing, from inspection time management to handling match pressure, were on display right alongside the mutual encouragement shared across the staging tables.

Among those making their career debuts in Tbilisi, Omar Shubitidze logged an initial official milestone with a first ever attempt at 3x3x3 Cube of 28.92 seconds. Fellow newcomer Nikoloz Grdzelishvili also completed his first WCA competition appearance, posting a sharp first ever attempt at 3x3x3 Cube of 21.96 seconds. Expanding his event repertoire, Andria Gogiashvili took on 5 events, notching a first ever attempt at 2x2x2 Cube of 7.55, a first ever attempt at Pyraminx of 10.76, and a first ever attempt at 4x4x4 Cube of 1:23.70, while achieving a best finish of 13th in 3x3x3 One-Handed. Lasha Getiashvili also explored new territory with a first ever attempt at 4x4x4 Cube of 1:08.09, delivered a 3x3x3 Cube personal best of 9.03 that was 8.9 percent faster than before, and secured a 4th place finish in 2x2x2 Cube.

Significant personal drops continued to fuel the day as Tinatin Tsimakuridze achieved a massive 2x2x2 Cube personal best of 3.01 seconds, cutting 41.3 percent off previous marks, alongside a 3x3x3 One-Handed personal best of 33.18 that was 10.3 percent faster. Nicholas Limaye entered 7 events, setting a Square-1 personal best of 31.75 seconds to register a 25.1 percent improvement and claiming a 6th place finish in the event. Mikheil Kapanadze tackled 6 events, securing a 3x3x3 Cube personal best of 12.74 that was 12.3 percent faster and a 3x3x3 One-Handed personal best of 33.99, which improved by 11.4 percent on the way to a 5th place result in Megaminx. Giorgi Leshkasheli rounded out the breakthroughs with a 4th place finish in Pyraminx, while clocking a 4x4x4 Cube personal best of 1:06.09, an improvement of 9 percent.

At the front of the pack, the premier three-by-three division delivered world-class speed in the final round. Giorgi Minasiani captured the crown with a blistering winning average of 7.63 seconds and a best single of 6.59. Andro Gvaramadze pushed him closely all the way to second place with a 7.97 average, while Vako Marchilashvili completed an all-Georgian podium in third with an 8.48 mark. These decisive 3x3 results capped two competitive rounds of classic puzzle play.

Minasiani was relentless throughout the Georgia April Open 2026, picking up first-place honors across multiple disciplines. He demonstrated exceptional dexterity to claim 3x3x3 One-Handed with an average of 14.91 seconds, bested the Pyraminx bracket with a winning average of 3.63, topped the Skewb field in 4.29 seconds, and conquered the 12-sided Megaminx with a 59.68 average. His broad technical mastery kept him at the center of the podium throughout the afternoon.

The larger puzzles belonged entirely to Mikhail Nikitin, who swept the big-cube categories with clinical precision. Nikitin clinched the 4x4x4 Cube with a 33.96 average, outperforming Minasiani and Gvaramadze. He then paced the 5x5x5 Cube in 1:03.67, conquered the 6x6x6 Cube in 1:59.95, and locked up the 7x7x7 Cube with a winning average of 3:01.11, finishing ahead of Italy's Vincenzo Maria Gammino in all three extended formats.

Short-format sprinting and specialty puzzles offered further drama to round out the schedule. Vako Marchilashvili claimed the 2x2x2 Cube title with an electric 2.29 average, holding off Nikitin and Minasiani. In the Square-1 final, Giorgi Gegeshidze proved untouchable, taking the win with a 14.27 average ahead of Nikitin and China's Ming Zheng.

By the end of the Georgia April Open 2026, the international medal tally saw Georgian solvers claim 17 podium places, alongside 9 for Russia, 4 for Italy, and 3 for China. From first-time entrants discovering the rhythm of the competition floor to seasoned champions executing sub-eight-second averages, the cubing competition in Tbilisi delivered a memorable showcase of dedication and skill as the 2026 season marches forward.