Georgia New Year 2023

Inside the Institute of Cybernetic, the rhythmic clack of turning layers and the steady tap of timing mats set the pulse for a packed day of puzzle solving. Competitors gathered in Tbilisi, Georgia on December 24, 2023, ready to test their preparation across 9 official events. With 17 competitors taking on 15 rounds of competition, the hall buzzed with focused energy as solvers warmed up their fingers, adjusted tensions on their cubes, and prepared for the final test of the year at Georgia New Year 2023.

The rapid growth of the region was clear from the opening rounds, as younger competitors demonstrated how quickly dedicated practice translates into massive personal drops. For many in attendance, this cubing competition served as the ideal proving ground to show off months of development. Solvers traded tips between attempts and pushed each other to new limits, bringing palpable excitement to every heat as times plummeted across both classic and specialty twisty puzzles on the schedule.

In the flagship 3x3x3 Cube event, the battle for the top spot produced exceptional 3x3 results. Giorgi Minasiani delivered a commanding performance to take the victory with a winning average of 7.72 seconds, complemented by a lightning-fast best single of 5.35 seconds. Tamar Dolenjishvili pushed hard all the way to the end, securing second place on the podium with a 7.96 average, while Andro Gvaramadze took third with an average of 9.14 seconds among 16 competitors in the field.

Beyond the Rubik's Cube, the multi-event mastery on display at Georgia New Year 2023 saw Giorgi Minasiani capture five individual titles over the course of the single-day tournament. In the 4x4x4 Cube, Minasiani topped the podium with a 32.38 average, ahead of Tamar Dolenjishvili at 35.02 and Andro Gvaramadze at 39.11. Minasiani also captured the Pyraminx crown with a 3.54 winning average, took first in 3x3x3 One-Handed with 13.96, and conquered the twelve-sided Megaminx with a 1:03.46 average, ahead of Ketevan Feradze and Luka Subari.

The podium places in the remaining events highlighted remarkable depth across the roster. Tamar Dolenjishvili secured gold in the 5x5x5 Cube with an average of 1:04.35, besting Andro Gvaramadze and Giorgi Minasiani. In the 2x2x2 Cube, Vako Marchilashvili took first place with a blistering 1.79 final average, while Giorgi Gegeshidze earned second in 3.04 and Tamar Dolenjishvili claimed third in 3.18. Nikolozi Kobakhidze emerged victorious in Skewb with a 4.29 average, and Giorgi Gegeshidze won Square-1 in 16.71 seconds ahead of Luka Subari and Nikolozi Kobakhidze.

Away from the top of the podium, several dedicated competitors produced incredible individual breakthroughs that showed tremendous progress. Andrea Toliashvili had a standout weekend across 3 events, slashing their 4x4x4 Cube personal best by 34.8 percent to 1:25.54, improving their 3x3x3 Cube personal best by 18.5 percent to 16.98 seconds, and logging a first ever attempt at Pyraminx of 9.69 seconds. Mate Chakhvashvili lowered their 3x3x3 Cube mark by 17 percent to 13.29 seconds in their sole event, while Andrey Yakubovski tackled 6 events, shaving 10.4 percent off their Megaminx best down to 1:59.03 on the way to a 4th-place finish.

The depth of improvement continued across the board as experienced solvers and new arrivals alike made their mark at this WCA competition. Ana Marchilashvili entered 5 events and lowered her 3x3x3 One-Handed personal best by 9.7 percent down to 1:31.74, while Luka Patashuri tackled 3 events and earned a weekend best finish of 6th in 3x3x3 One-Handed. Fresh faces also embraced the competition floor for the very first time: Toma Kvachakhia completed 2 events, recording a first ever 3x3x3 Cube solve of 41.21 and a 2x2x2 Cube solve of 10.79, Ilia Lomaia posted a first attempt of 26.14 in 3x3x3 Cube, and Giorgi Peradze logged a first Pyraminx mark of 12.58 seconds.

The high level of execution made this speed cubing showcase an unforgettable holiday finale for the regional community. With competitors representing Georgia securing all 27 available podium places, the event demonstrated how a collaborative atmosphere and rigorous practice help solvers reach new personal milestones. As the final rounds wrapped up and times were verified, participants celebrated another major step forward for local speedcubing.

Closing out the calendar year on a high note, Georgia New Year 2023 underscored the healthy future of the sport across all disciplines. Solvers left Tbilisi with fresh personal records, invaluable stage experience, and the confidence to push their times even lower in the next season.