Georgia October Open 2023

Inside the halls of the Institute of Cybernetic (კიბერნეტიკის ინსტიტუტი) in Tbilisi, Georgia, the atmosphere was defined by steady concentration and the rhythmic click of rotating puzzle layers. Competitors gathered on October 14, 2023, stepping up to the solving stations to test months of practice against the digital timers. With 13 participants tackling a packed schedule of 10 events across 14 rounds, the single-day gathering provided an intense showcase of ergonomic control and problem-solving skill.

The 3x3x3 One-Handed event stood out as a premier display of technical dexterity, requiring solvers to manage ergonomics, lookahead, and fluid fingertricks using only a single hand. Giorgi Minasiani delivered a standout performance to claim victory in the event, logging a winning average of 16.32 seconds along with a sharp best single of 13.95 seconds. The discipline demands exceptional grip control and efficient algorithm execution, separating those who can adapt standard two-handed methods to the physical constraints of isolated wrist and finger movements.

Minasiani extended that dominance across several other categories throughout the cubing competition. In Pyraminx, he secured first place with an average of 3.30 seconds, leading Andro Gvaramadze who finished second with a 4.55 average and Giorgi Gegeshidze in third at 6.32. Minasiani also captured top honors in 4x4x4 Cube with an average of 38.70 seconds, where Gvaramadze placed second at 40.43 and Vako Marchilashvili took third at 43.31. In Megaminx, Minasiani won with a 1:07.72 average, outpacing Turkey's Timur Tülümen who averaged 2:06.00 and Belarus's Andrey Yakubovski at 2:41.75.

The traditional Rubik's Cube drew 13 competitors over two rounds, culminating in an impressive victory for Tamar Dolenjishvili. Dolenjishvili recorded a 7.24 winning average and the best single of the weekend at 6.56 seconds to lead the 3x3 results. Giorgi Minasiani followed closely on the podium in second place with an average of 7.77, while Andro Gvaramadze earned third with a 9.27 average. Dolenjishvili also excelled in the larger puzzles, capturing the 5x5x5 Cube title with an average of 1:04.33, the 6x6x6 Cube in 2:20.11, and the 7x7x7 Cube in 3:48.13.

Sprint events brought intense speed to the tables, highlighted by Vako Marchilashvili in the 2x2x2 Cube. Marchilashvili claimed the title with an average of 1.27 seconds and a best single of 1.01 seconds, finishing ahead of Giorgi Gegeshidze who recorded a 3.28 average and Minasiani at 3.46. In Skewb, Nikolozi Kobakhidze took first place with a 4.12 average, finishing ahead of Minasiani at 4.68 and Gegeshidze at 4.92 to round out a competitive podium in the quick-turn discipline.

Away from the top steps of the podium, several competitors achieved remarkable milestones across their individual scorecards. Luka Gogichaishvili entered 3 events, taking on his first ever attempt at 2x2x2 Cube with a 3.11 single, while recording major breakthroughs on the 3x3x3 Cube with a 14.85 personal best that was 33.5% faster than his previous mark, and a 3x3x3 One-Handed personal best of 34.28 that dropped his previous record by 32%. Mikheil Kapanadze contested 5 events, notching a career-best 4th place finish in Megaminx behind a first ever attempt of 2:46.40, alongside a 3x3x3 One-Handed personal best of 42.30 that improved by 12.4%.

Expanding the scope of competition across the board, Ketevan Feradze entered 7 events, completing a first ever attempt at 4x4x4 Cube in 1:24.50 and setting a Megaminx personal best of 2:45.22, an improvement of 16.1%. Tinatin Tsimakuridze participated in 3 events, logging a personal best of 11.37 in 2x2x2 Cube and recording a first ever attempt in 3x3x3 One-Handed at 2:12.45. Meanwhile, Ana Marchilashvili tackled 5 events across the day, highlighted by a 10th-place finish in 3x3x3 One-Handed among a highly dedicated field.

By the close of Georgia October Open 2023, the event demonstrated the wide variety of challenges present in modern speedcubing. Host nation competitors earned 26 podium positions, with Turkey earning 2 and Belarus taking 1 across the 10 scheduled disciplines. Whether balancing speed in sprint puzzles or managing complexity on the largest layers, the speed cubing action in Tbilisi highlighted the dedication required to perform at every stage of a sanctioned WCA competition as solvers look forward to another competitive season.

The Georgia October Open 2023 concluded as a comprehensive test of solving efficiency, from single-handed turning techniques to the endurance demanded by the larger cubes. With personal records tumbling and multiple titles decided across 14 competitive rounds, the gathering at the Institute of Cybernetic reflected the depth and drive of the region's cubing community.