Gigiri Cubing Open PM 2025

Derick Bundi produced the defining standard of the afternoon in Nairobi, Kenya, capturing the premier 3x3x3 Cube crown with a sparkling 12.15 winning average and a best single of 11.67. The performance headlined the action at Gigiri Cubing Open PM 2025, a compact yet fierce gathering held on March 1, 2025 at The Gigiri Court Yard. Across five total rounds, 27 competitors assembled to test their agility across four distinct disciplines, balancing high-tempo turn speed with precise spatial calculation. Bundi paced the flagship contest from start to finish, setting the pace in a competitive 2025 battle that drew entrants across multiple international delegations.

While speedcubing is celebrated for furious fingertricks, the strategic discipline of puzzle efficiency demands a measured mental balance. Solvers who thrive across rotating events must switch instantly between the geometric demands of varied mechanisms and pure execution speed. At this WCA competition, that versatile mindset was evident right from the opening round of the traditional Rubik's Cube. Bundi navigated the 27-person field across two rounds of play, staying cool under the timing lights to separate himself from a determined chasing pack in the afternoon finals.

The 3x3 results confirmed Kenya at the top of the podium, but international talent made its mark on the final standings. Yukinobu Tsukioka of Japan took second place overall with a steady 15.13 average, holding off Kenya's Leon Michuki, who secured third on the podium with a 15.76 mark. That trio represented the sharpest edge of the main bracket, showcasing the depth of local speed cubing talent while defending home turf against strong visiting contenders.

Prince Emmanuel authored the most prolific run of the tournament, capturing top honours in multiple short-format events. In the 2x2x2 Cube, Emmanuel led an 11-competitor field by logging an untouchable 4.90 winning average, backed by the day's best single of 4.36. Fellow Kenyan Imani Ritho took second place with a 6.48 average, while Giancarlo Roberto Muniz Biafore of Switzerland earned third place with a 7.31 average. Emmanuel carried that exact momentum directly into Pyraminx, taking first place among seven solvers with an 8.49 average and a 7.90 single.

Muniz Biafore secured his own silverware atop the Skewb standings, mastering the corner-turning puzzle to finish in first place with a 7.07 average and a 6.15 single. Emmanuel added to his personal haul by claiming second place on Skewb with an 11.90 average, while Rayan Parmar collected third place with a 21.53 average. In the Pyraminx competition, Ritho took the second step on the podium with an 11.10 average, and Muniz Biafore picked up another top-three finish with a 12.82 mark, concluding a busy schedule for the multi-event leaders.

Away from the top steps of the podium, the tournament served as an ideal platform for competitors finding significant time drops. Dhruv Babulal Pankhania entered two events and achieved massive breakthroughs, dropping his 3x3x3 Cube personal best to 1:00.58, which was 55.2 percent faster than his previous mark, while lowering his 2x2x2 Cube best to 13.37, an improvement of 42.5 percent. Imani Nguma entered three events and finished fourth in Pyraminx with a personal best of 6.49, cutting 52.8 percent off their previous best alongside an 18.76 mark in 3x3x3 Cube. Lisa Wambui tackled four events, taking fourth in Skewb during a first official attempt of 27.85 and lowering their Pyraminx best by 26 percent to 9.70. Prahlad Varsani competed in two events, taking seventh in 2x2x2 Cube with a 5.64 personal best that was 33 percent faster.

For several participants, this cubing competition provided an impressive entry point onto the circuit. Louis Ayub Nade took on their first WCA competition across two events, recording a first attempt of 23.79 to finish tenth in 2x2x2 Cube while posting 1:21.47 on the 3x3x3 Cube. Leonardo Tilli Blomhammar also made their official debut in two events, earning eighth in 2x2x2 Cube with an initial 10.24 mark alongside a 32.37 on 3x3x3 Cube. Angela Njoki contested two events in their debut appearance, securing a best finish of sixth in Pyraminx with a first effort of 6.63 and adding a 27.78 in 3x3x3 Cube. Divisha Parmar also showed strong progress across two events, lowering their 3x3x3 Cube best to 56.95, an improvement of 26.6 percent.

Across the overall medal table, Kenyan athletes captured eight total podium spots, Switzerland claimed three, and Japan earned one. The smooth running of Gigiri Cubing Open PM 2025 at The Gigiri Court Yard highlighted the continued vibrancy of the region's puzzle scene. As solvers concluded their attempts and packed away their gear, the blend of personal bests, maiden official appearances, and clinical final rounds ensured the competition delivered a memorable chapter for all involved.