Georgia August Open 2023

A blistering 1.90-second final average on the 2x2x2 Cube by Vako Marchilashvili set a fierce tempo in Tbilisi, Georgia, providing the standout moment of a high-energy day of speedcubing. The performance underscored a tournament defined by rapid personal development and fierce matchups across six disciplines. Hosted at the Institute of Cybernetic, the Georgia August Open 2023 gathered eleven competitors on August 19, 2023, turning a compact one-day schedule of ten rounds into a showcase of how quickly emerging speed cubing talent can rise to the challenge.

The 3x3x3 Cube contest delivered the central drama of the weekend, as Marchilashvili secured the top step of the podium with a 7.99 winning average and a best single time of 6.21 seconds over two rounds of play. Close behind was Andro Gvaramadze, who locked down second place with a solid 9.10 average. Alexey Mikhailov took third place with an average of 11.85 seconds. The 3x3 results demonstrated sharp technical execution across all eleven participants, highlighting the steady standard of traditional Rubik's Cube solving in the region.

Marchilashvili and Gvaramadze continued their duel in the 2x2x2 Cube final, where Marchilashvili prevailed with his sub-two-second average. Gvaramadze earned second place with a 3.71 mark, while Nikolozi Kobakhidze grabbed third on a 4.50 average. The opening round had already signaled a rapid pace, with Marchilashvili posting a 1.36 single and a 1.71 average, alongside notable efforts from Giorgi Gegeshidze who logged a 2.46 single and a 3.67 average, and Kobakhidze who turned in a 2.35 single.

Gvaramadze established himself as a dominant presence throughout the remainder of the schedule, capturing three separate titles. In the 4x4x4 Cube, Gvaramadze earned the victory with a 40.33 winning average and a best single of 37.15 seconds, outpacing Marchilashvili who posted a 46.06 average, and Dachi Tevdorashvili who finished third with a 48.37 mark. Gvaramadze followed that triumph with another first-place finish in 3x3x3 One-Handed, recording an 18.00 winning average and a single of 13.90 to top Marchilashvili and Mikhailov.

The rotational puzzles offered further variety and speed, with Gvaramadze securing his third gold of the meet in the Pyraminx event. His winning average of 4.83 seconds and 4.03 single led the eight-competitor field, where Tevdorashvili took second place with a 6.48 average and Marchilashvili took third at 7.25. In the Skewb event, Kobakhidze stepped to the forefront, capturing the title with a 4.54 winning average, holding off Gvaramadze who finished second at 5.17 and Gegeshidze who rounded out the podium at 6.01.

Behind the podium battles, several competitors reached significant personal milestones away from the spotlight. Ketevan Feradze tackled five events and delivered a standout performance in 3x3x3 One-Handed, setting a personal best of 43.58 seconds that improved on a previous best of 47.18 by 7.6 percent while securing a sixth-place finish. Ana Marchilashvili completed a busy four-event campaign and logged a first ever attempt at Skewb, recording a mark of 1:38.27 in the tournament atmosphere.

Newcomers also made their presence felt by stepping onto the stage for their very first WCA competition. Timour Foucault entered four different disciplines, taking seventh place in 3x3x3 One-Handed while logging a first ever attempt of 37.31 in the 3x3x3 Cube, 11.50 in the 2x2x2 Cube, and 9.37 in Pyraminx. Ilia Dzidzishvili took on two events, posting a first attempt of 40.73 on the 3x3x3 Cube and 12.93 on the 2x2x2 Cube, while Anna Zamtaradze marked a first official competition appearance with an opening 3x3x3 attempt of 33.53 seconds.

Across the entire day, host nation entrants secured 16 podium positions, with Russian competitors claiming two top-three spots. From the intricate handling of one-handed solving to the explosive bursts of the 2x2x2 Cube, the cubing competition served as a test of rapid adaptation under the timer. The Georgia August Open 2023 ended as a vivid snapshot of regional talent, where every completed round provided valuable experience for the next wave of challengers preparing for the upcoming season.