INPT Olympiads 2025

Inside the Institut National des Postes et Télécommunications in Rabat, Morocco, the competition hall buzzed on February 22, 2025, with the rhythmic clatter of plastic mechanisms aligning at lightning speed. Timers glowed on tables as competitors studied scrambles under strict inspection clocks. The intense atmosphere showed how critical precision becomes when the format leaves no safety net, where one slight hesitation or lockup can completely unravel a round. The single-day WCA competition brought together 26 competitors across 9 rounds of action, demanding absolute concentration from the very first solve.

Across five varied events, the margin between triumph and heartbreak remained razor thin. In three-attempt rounds and five-solve formats alike, any error carries severe weight against a disciplined field. Linus Kunath from Germany delivered a dominant showing, capturing titles in three disciplines. Kunath secured the 4x4x4 Cube victory with a winning average of 36.04 and a best single of 33.67, edging past China's Zhedong Wang, who took second place at 36.47, while Wilhelm Kilders earned third with 39.52. In a format where big cube slip-ups are unforgiving, smooth consistency was essential.

Kunath continued his commanding run in 3x3x3 One-Handed, another event where handling mistakes instantly derail a run. He took the title with an average of 17.31 and a best single of 16.86. Zhedong Wang challenged closely to finish second on a 17.54 average, while Ricardo Olea Catalán grabbed the third podium spot at 18.10. Kunath's control over the puzzle while managing finger dexterity with a single hand proved decisive during the single round of eleven competitors.

The premier 3x3x3 Cube event drew 26 entrants through three full rounds of classic Rubik's Cube solving. The 3x3 results culminated in another victory for Linus Kunath, who logged a decisive winning average of 9.61 along with the competition's best single of 8.49. Wilhelm Kilders secured the runner-up spot with an average of 10.08, while Zhedong Wang took third place at 10.38. Germany and China dominated the podium distribution throughout the day, claiming nine and five podium finishes respectively.

The shorter formats brought explosive speed to INPT Olympiads 2025. In the 2x2x2 Cube, Ricardo Olea Catalán claimed top honors with an average of 3.45 and a best single of 2.56 over two rounds. Wilhelm Kilders followed in second with 4.06, and Zhedong Wang took third with 4.12. In Pyraminx, Zhedong Wang seized the gold with an average of 5.58 and a single of 4.33, ahead of Wilhelm Kilders at 6.22 and Moroccan competitor Lilya Lagzouli, who claimed third place with a 7.35 average.

Beyond the podium battles, significant milestones unfolded across the tables. Saâd Rissaoui achieved a major breakthrough in Pyraminx, setting a personal best of 14.90 that improved on his previous mark by 50.7 percent, alongside taking 24.7 percent off his 2x2x2 Cube mark at 7.66 and posting a 21.59 personal best in 3x3x3 Cube. Omar Lyoubi took on five events, earning a 6th place finish in 2x2x2 Cube, completing his first ever attempt at 4x4x4 Cube in 1:32.13 and his first 3x3x3 One-Handed attempt in 46.50, while chopping his 3x3x3 Cube personal best to 16.69 by 45.4 percent. Alaaeddine Ratbi dropped his 3x3x3 Cube best by 40.7 percent down to 33.99 and lowered his 2x2x2 Cube mark by 35.7 percent to 9.29. Youssef Taleb Benjelloun tackled four events, taking 7th in 3x3x3 Cube with a personal best of 13.92, logging a 9.90 best in Pyraminx, and registering his first ever attempt in 3x3x3 One-Handed at 54.27.

The progress continued with Fariss Safouan Essalmi, who contested four events, earning 10th in 3x3x3 One-Handed with a personal best of 57.36, while dropping his 2x2x2 Cube mark by 39.2 percent to 4.57 and his 3x3x3 Cube time by 35 percent to 17.00. Enzo Monlin entered five events, achieving a best finish of 5th in 2x2x2 Cube and recording a 4x4x4 Cube personal best of 1:15.79. Ayoub El Atouany reached 6th place in the 3x3x3 Cube with a personal best single of 9.74, while also improving his 2x2x2 Cube mark to 5.16. First-time participant Taoufiq Jmari entered four events, posting his first ever attempts of 37.11 in 3x3x3 Cube, 17.20 in Pyraminx, and 3:01.04 in 4x4x4 Cube to finish 9th.

This speedcubing gathering highlighted the remarkable depth within the Moroccan cubing community. From experienced international competitors to those making their first appearances on the competition floor, INPT Olympiads 2025 provided an electric showcase of speed cubing excellence in Rabat. As the timers were packed away and the final scores verified, the day proved how much resolve and precision are required to navigate the pressures of modern puzzle solving.