Kostanay Open 2023

While the quiet, deliberate calculations of Fewest Moves demand pen and paper over raw physical turning, pure fast-paced speedcubing took centre stage as Daniyar Tassenov delivered the most striking result of the weekend by capturing the flagship 3x3x3 Cube title with a winning average of 10.94 seconds. Hosted in Kostanay, Kazakhstan at the Agricultural Institute named after V. Dvurechensky across November 25 and 26, the Kostanay Open 2023 brought eleven competitors together for two days of intense head-to-head racing over twelve rounds of competition.

Tassenov set the pace early in the main event, posting a sharp best single of 9.67 on his way to gold across two rounds of play. Alisher Isagaliev secured second place in the final with a 12.11 average, while Asar Toleu took third with a 12.51 mark. The standard 3x3 results highlighted the depth of local talent in the region, showcasing clean executions and quick transitions that contrasted sharply with the patient, methodical analysis seen in slower-paced puzzle formats.

Isagaliev proved to be one of the most versatile athletes across the entire weekend, capturing three separate titles. In the 2x2x2 Cube, he topped the standings with a winning average of 4.29 seconds after posting a best single of 3.62, edging out Tassenov who finished runner-up at 4.91 and Russia's Danil Zuev who took bronze with 5.48. Isagaliev also claimed top honours in Pyraminx with an 8.36 average, finishing just ahead of Nikita Kerlin at 8.49 and Nikita Khlobystin at 10.34.

The side event program concluded with another triumph for Isagaliev in Skewb, where he recorded an average of 5.31 seconds and a best single of 4.42 to claim his third victory. Asar Toleu took second place on the Skewb podium with a 10.82 average, while Khlobystin collected another bronze medal with an 11.94 mark. Across short-format and unconventional shapes, Isagaliev repeatedly demonstrated rapid pattern recognition and reliable finishing speed under tournament conditions.

Big cubes and complex polyhedra belonged entirely to Daniyal Suleimen, who dominated the 4x4x4 Cube, 5x5x5 Cube, and Megaminx. In the 4x4x4 Cube, Suleimen secured first place with an average of 37.14 seconds, bolstered by a 33.78 single, while Isagaliev and Toleu finished second and third with 40.26 and 40.97 respectively. Suleimen continued his run in 5x5x5 Cube, clocking a 1:17.94 average to lead Toleu at 1:22.81 and Zuev at 1:23.60 on the podium.

Suleimen completed his triple-crown performance in Megaminx, navigating the twelve-sided puzzle with exceptional command to finish with a winning average of 44.98 seconds and a best single of 38.89. The gap back to the rest of the field was substantial, as Toleu took second place with an average of 2:05.03 and Kerlin took third with 3:17.02. Suleimen's speed through extended reduction phases provided some of the most commanding margins seen at the Agricultural Institute.

In 3x3x3 One-Handed, Yerasyl Bolysbek showed remarkable dexterity to capture the title with an average of 19.14 seconds and a best single of 17.12 across two rounds. Tassenov added another podium finish to his tally by taking second place with a 26.52 average, while Toleu rounded out the top three with 29.12. The single-handed event demanded fine fingertip control and table grip, proving to be one of the weekend's most technically demanding challenges.

Away from the top steps of the podium, other competitors produced significant individual milestones that defined their weekend. Amir Dyussinbenov took on eight events in his first WCA competition, recording his first ever attempt at 4x4x4 Cube in 2:22.12, his first ever attempt at 3x3x3 One-Handed in 2:57.61, and a Skewb effort of 11.55, while earning a personal best finish of fourth in Megaminx. Lev Golaev entered five disciplines and delivered a standout 2x2x2 Cube personal best single of 4.67 seconds, improving on his previous mark of 6.08 by 23.2 percent on his way to a fourth-place finish in Pyraminx.

With eight events concluded and twenty-four podium positions awarded, the Kostanay Open 2023 wrapped up an action-packed 2023 meeting in northern Kazakhstan. The speed cubing community saw local athletes earn twenty-two podium spots alongside two for Russia, giving every entrant valuable experience as they look ahead to the next cubing competition on the calendar.