Malta Open 2024

Eleven rounds of intense puzzle action across eight events brought twenty-nine competitors together at The University of Malta in Msida, Malta on November 9, 2024. Running a full slate of eight events in a single day required seamless coordination from the local organizers, delegates, and dedicated volunteers. Their behind-the-scenes work kept the schedule punctual, giving competitors the ideal stage to chase personal bests and national accolades.

The smoothly run tournament floor provided the backdrop for a classic classic Rubik's Cube showdown in Msida. Across three rounds of traditional speedcubing, Italy's Samuele Cancemi secured the top spot in the 3x3x3 Cube event, posting a decisive winning average of 11.07 seconds alongside a best single of 10.53. Matteo Provasi claimed second with an 11.39 average, while Gabriele Cappelletti completed an all-Italian podium in third at 11.70.

A major highlight of this WCA competition came in the 2x2x2 Cube, where local standout Bianca Spiteri electrified the room by establishing a new Maltese national record single of 1.98 seconds. In the final round, Benjamin Chetcuti Cauchi of Malta claimed the event victory with a sub-three winning average of 2.99, holding off Provasi's 3.77 and Michael Schembri's 4.30. Spiteri also delivered exceptional winning runs in both Pyraminx with a 5.59 average and Skewb with a 7.82 average, netting two gold trophies for the host nation.

The big cubes were utterly dominated by Italy's Vincenzo Maria Gammino, whose consistent pace and technique earned him a triple crown. Gammino collected first place in the 4x4x4 Cube with a winning average of 41.45, took the 5x5x5 Cube title in 1:14.81, and closed out the 6x6x6 Cube with a top average of 2:06.46. Germany's Konstantin Jaehne pushed Gammino hard in the 4x4x4 Cube, taking second with a 41.67 average.

Jaehne earned his own moment at the top of the podium during the 3x3x3 Blindfolded event, which requires precise spatial memorisation and total focus. The German solver posted the only sub-minute single of the event, winning with a swift 42.24 seconds. Provasi added another silver to his tally with a 2:06.47 blindfolded solve, while Jordan Crippa secured third place in 2:36.24.

Beneath the top podium spots, several competitors delivered massive leaps in personal performance. Salvatore Giuffrida entered four events, posting a personal best of 2.46 in the 2x2x2 Cube that was fifty-two percent faster than his previous mark, alongside an eight-second Skewb debut. Carl Galea took fourth in 3x3x3 Blindfolded on his first official attempt in 3:18.90 while dropping his 3x3x3 Cube best to 10.31, an improvement of over thirty percent. Giorgio Grigolo cut his 3x3x3 Cube best by 47.4 percent down to 16.58, while Tokyo Attard sliced his 2x2x2 Cube best by 36.2 percent to 5.38.

The welcoming environment created by the event crew also encouraged five newcomers to make their official speed cubing debuts. Artem Tabaliuk took on six events in his first tournament, logging an 8.73 Pyraminx and 5.08 in 2x2x2. Valeria Barbara contested four events, earning a 31.10 single in 3x3x3, while Alexander Iliev achieved a 5.26 single on 2x2. Marco Bettoni opened his competition career with a 5.71 on 2x2, and James Lee posted a 13.27 Pyraminx mark in his debut rounds.

Malta Open 2024 concluded as a resounding success, distributing twenty-four podium positions among competitors from Italy, Malta, and Germany. The final 3x3 results capped a day defined by the efficiency of the staging team, the enthusiasm of the volunteers, and the strong community spirit inside the hall. As the 2024 season progresses, this memorable cubing competition stands as a testament to the growth and hospitality of the Maltese community.