Marawila Cubing Challenge 2024

Sujan Irosha Kumarapperuma delivered an extraordinary display at Sisila Reception Hall, securing six individual victories across the weekend. The standout performance was anchored by his gold medal in the classic 3x3x3 Cube, where he posted a winning average of 8.71 seconds to lead a massive field of 87 competitors. Beyond that centerpiece win, Kumarapperuma swept four additional twisty puzzles, taking top honors in 4x4x4 Cube, 5x5x5 Cube, 6x6x6 Cube, and 7x7x7 Cube, as well as finishing first in Pyraminx. His commanding results set the standard for an intense two days of speedcubing action in Marawila, Sri Lanka.

The smooth progression of the Marawila Cubing Challenge 2024 was made possible by the dedicated organizers, delegates, and community volunteers who managed the event. Staged on March 9 and 10, 2024, the busy schedule encompassed 12 distinct events and 17 rounds of competition. Running a full slate of big cubes, side events, and timed rounds for 88 competitors requires meticulous coordination behind the scenes, from scrambling stations to official judging desks. The local staff ensured each flight ran on time, providing a welcoming, structured environment where both seasoned veterans and rising talents could perform at their very best throughout the entire weekend.

The premier 3x3 results formed the focal point of the final day. Following Kumarapperuma in the 3x3x3 Cube final, Samath Keppitiyagama took second place with a 10.51 average, while Benul Uthsala Subasinghe captured third place with an average of 10.72. Subasinghe had his own golden moment in the 2x2x2 Cube, topping a 73-competitor field with a 2.49 winning average in the finals, alongside an earlier 1.20 single and 2.34 average during the competition. Manija Kalansooriya earned the 2x2x2 silver medal at 3.43, and Kumarapperuma rounded out the podium in third at 3.71.

Big cubes saw Kumarapperuma control every final with precision. In the 4x4x4 Cube, he won with a 34.38 average, followed by Keppitiyagama in second at 41.45 and Santhiviraj Harikesh in third at 49.31. The 5x5x5 Cube ended with Kumarapperuma capturing gold in 59.68, while Keppitiyagama and Jeyanthan Nathushaan took second and third with times of 1:18.32 and 1:28.71. Kumarapperuma then closed out the larger puzzles by winning the 6x6x6 Cube in 2:04.83, ahead of Keppitiyagama and Sirima Witharanage Sathmika Navoda, and securing the 7x7x7 Cube title in 3:21.74 with a best single of 3:04.39.

Behind the headline podiums, the cubing competition saw outstanding breakthroughs from competitors across the standings. Pujan Maneth Rathnayake logged massive personal milestones, cutting his 2x2x2 Cube personal best to 7.88 seconds, which was 66.2 percent faster than his previous mark, and lowering his 3x3x3 Cube personal best to 19.64 seconds, a 55.3 percent improvement, while also making a first career attempt at Pyraminx in 14.97 seconds. Evin Insitha Gunawardhana tackled 10 events, cutting his 7x7x7 Cube personal best to 7:53.12, an improvement of 43.8 percent, and dropping his Pyraminx mark by 43 percent to 6.18 seconds, in addition to attempting Clock for the first time with a 28.13. Sandil Hennayaka achieved a 5x5x5 Cube personal best of 1:38.31, which was 39.3 percent faster than before, placed fifth in 7x7x7 Cube with a first attempt time of 6:13.41, and tried 6x6x6 Cube for the first time in 3:40.33.

Other competitors took on ambitious new territory across the weekend tables. Dehan Fernando entered seven events, earning a fourth-place finish in 2x2x2 Cube and recording first official attempts in 3x3x3 One-Handed at 28.90, 4x4x4 Cube at 40.39, and Skewb at 11.64. Jayathu Visula Rathnayake placed 16th in Pyraminx while logging first attempts in Pyraminx at 8.28, 3x3x3 One-Handed at 39.47, and 4x4x4 Cube at 1:31.63. In their first WCA competition, Jayodhya Induwara tackled seven events and secured 14th place in 3x3x3 Fewest Moves, Chanuka Alok Yuneetha Pieris contested five events with a 20th-place finish in 3x3x3 One-Handed, and Thineth Rashmina Silva finished 32nd in 4x4x4 Cube with a first attempt time of 1:32.91.

Specialist and side disciplines highlighted the technical depth of the gathering. Keppitiyagama took victory in 3x3x3 One-Handed with a winning average of 15.62 seconds, finishing ahead of Kumarapperuma at 18.93 and Harikesh at 21.29. Harikesh struck gold in 3x3x3 Fewest Moves, taking first place by solving the Rubik's Cube in 37 moves to edge out Kumarapperuma at 39 and India competitor Vikram Mada at 40. In Skewb, Sirima Witharanage Sathmika Navoda claimed first place with a 5.41 average, while Duneth Nisala Praveen Ranaweera won Clock with an 8.79 average.

The intense mental challenge of 3x3x3 Blindfolded demanded complete memorization before execution, and Hirosh Nividu proved up to the task by taking gold with a winning single solve of 1:36.71. Menuli Vidhanya Ranwala secured second place in 2:48.44, closely followed by Vikram Mada in third at 2:49.70. Across all twelve disciplines, Sri Lankan competitors captured 34 total podium spots, with Indian solvers collecting two, highlighting regional talent across the board.

As the Marawila Cubing Challenge 2024 came to an end, the smooth execution across all 17 rounds reflected the vital contributions of the local organizers and volunteer team. Their careful oversight kept every station operating efficiently through two days of high-energy speed cubing. With major titles settled, impressive time drops recorded, and many solvers taking their very first official attempts, the weekend in Marawila demonstrated the growing vitality of the Sri Lankan cubing scene as competitors look forward to the next season.