International Children's Day Morning Armenia 2024

A blistering 3.73-second winning average from Vahe Oustakarayan on the 2x2x2 Cube set the benchmark at the International Children's Day Morning Armenia 2024, capping off an intense day of high-stakes solving. Held at Loft Yerevan in Yerevan, Armenia on June 1, 2024, the WCA competition gathered 17 competitors across two events and three intense rounds. Every place in the standings was contested down to fractions of a second, demonstrating the sheer concentration of talent packed into the compact single-day schedule.

The 2x2x2 Cube event presented the deepest test of the weekend, requiring two grueling rounds to whittle down the full 17-person lineup. While speedcubing enthusiasts often track classic Rubik's Cube formats, the smaller puzzle demands immediate precision where even a tiny hesitation ruins a podium bid. Oustakarayan navigated the pressure brilliantly, laying down a best single of 2.23 seconds to secure first place with a 3.73 average in the finals. Gevorg Melkumyan pushed the pace to the absolute limit, taking second place with an average of 4.18 seconds, while Hayk Mergeryan completed the podium in third with an average of 5.58.

The competition in the preliminary round of the 2x2x2 Cube had already revealed just how narrow the margins were. Gevorg Melkumyan stood out early with a single solve of 3.07 seconds and a 3.70 average. Mayis Jraghatspanyan recorded a 3.68 single and a 4.39 average, while Arshavir Nazaryan posted a 4.37 single and a 4.82 average. Vahe Oustakarayan turned in a 2.76 single and a 4.93 average, alongside Hayk Mergeryan who hit a 4.82 single and 6.09 average. Lilit Martirosyan notched a 5.84 single and 6.65 average, while Artashes Matevosyan posted a 7.05 single and 8.24 average.

Rounding out the early round, Davit Malkhasyan delivered a 4.98 single and an 11.16 average, Zhora Verdyan logged an 8.75 single and a 12.89 average, and Hrayr Malek Danghians registered an 18.81 single and a 22.07 average. With so many competitors clustered together on the timesheets, advancing to the medal round required mistake-free execution. Armenian competitors claimed all six available podium spots across the entire event roster, reflecting a unified sweep of the major honors at this bustling cubing competition.

The Pyraminx bracket featured 15 competitors battling through a direct single-round shootout. Hayk Mergeryan mastered the tetrahedral puzzle with supreme composure, producing a winning average of 4.57 seconds alongside the event's best single of 2.78 seconds. Gevorg Melkumyan earned his second silver of the day with a solid average of 9.03 seconds, while Arshavir Nazaryan locked down third place with a 9.53 average. The contest demanded flawless focus from the opening solve, leaving no margin for recovery against the top tier.

Beneath the headline podium battles, the International Children's Day Morning Armenia 2024 served as a breakthrough stage for several developing talents. Arman Harutyunyan made substantial headway, securing a best finish of 9th place in Pyraminx with a personal best average of 9.73 seconds, which was 40.6 percent faster than his prior mark of 16.37, alongside his first ever attempt at the 2x2x2 Cube with a time of 23.23 seconds. Zhora Verdyan achieved significant leaps in both disciplines, earning an 8th-place finish in the 2x2x2 Cube with a personal best of 8.75 seconds, an improvement of 35.2 percent, while cutting his Pyraminx personal best down to 9.64 seconds, 25.4 percent faster than his previous best.

The depth of progress extended through the rest of the field as well. Lilit Martirosyan claimed 5th place in the 2x2x2 Cube with a personal best of 5.13 seconds, besting her earlier standard by 28.9 percent. Hrayr Malek Danghians took 9th place in the 2x2x2 Cube with a first attempt time of 12.70 seconds and lowered his Pyraminx personal best to 15.83 seconds, a 26.9 percent drop. Davit Malkhasyan tackled two events, achieving a best finish of 6th place in Pyraminx with a first attempt of 9.30 seconds and logging a first 2x2x2 Cube attempt of 4.98. Artashes Matevosyan reached 4th place in Pyraminx while lowering his 2x2x2 Cube personal best to 5.05 seconds. Debutants also left their mark, as Hayk Avalyants recorded a first attempt of 22.78 seconds in Pyraminx, and Gor Kostanyan delivered a first Pyraminx solve of 20.87 seconds.

As fans and followers look across the wider speed cubing landscape for 3x3 results and regional talent, the energetic gathering at Loft Yerevan proved how much dynamic capability thrives in shorter-format disciplines. The International Children's Day Morning Armenia 2024 highlighted the technical skill required to thrive under pressure in Yerevan, establishing high competitive standards across every stage of the bracket.