New Year's Eve in Baku 2025

The competition floor inside the Globus Center hummed with steady focus on December 21, 2025, as timers clicked and scorecards moved systematically from station to station. Dedicated local organizers, delegates, and volunteer runners kept every stage of the schedule turning without delay, laying the groundwork for twenty-two competitors to showcase their training across eight rounds of head-to-head solving. Their diligent behind-the-scenes work transformed the bustling hall into a well-calibrated arena, giving participants in Baku, Azerbaijan the ideal setting to close out the 2025 calendar.

The smooth administration by the organizing crew allowed the multi-round events to unfold at a brisk pace throughout the one-day WCA competition. Managing five distinct puzzle disciplines required strict timekeeping and constant coordination among scrambling stations, and the volunteers ensured each cube arrived at the tables in pristine condition. Their efficient handling set the stage for intense contests, where competitors could focus entirely on their inspects, finger tricks, and execution under official tournament regulations.

In the marquee 3x3x3 Cube event, Fazil Quliyev captured the top step of the podium across three complete rounds of classic Rubik's Cube solving. Quliyev secured first place with an imposing winning average of 11.82 seconds, matching it with the day's best single of 8.34 seconds. The final 3x3 results saw Əli Məmmədov earn second place with an average of 13.31, while David Orucov took third place at 13.72 seconds, capping a hard-fought battle across the largest field of the day.

The smaller puzzles witnessed rapid-fire solving and narrow margins on the timers. In the 2x2x2 Cube, Sabir Mammedzade claimed victory with a 3.23 winning average, also recording the category's fastest single solve at 2.21 seconds over two rounds. Khalid Eynullayev followed in second position with a 3.91 average, and Royal Shabanov took third with 4.14 seconds. The efficiency of the venue staff kept the brisk rotations moving smoothly as competitors cycled through rapid solves.

Away from the title fights, New Year's Eve in Baku 2025 served as a proving ground for competitors setting notable benchmarks across multiple events. Imran Cabarlı took on five separate categories, securing fourth place in the 4x4x4 Cube, producing a first attempt at Skewb in 11.85 seconds, dropping their 2x2x2 Cube personal best by 51.8 percent to 2.52 seconds, and cutting their 4x4x4 Cube best by 17.8 percent to 57.28. Cavad Cabbarlı also tackled five events, earning fifth place in the 2x2x2 Cube, logging a first Skewb solve of 13.36, and lowering their 4x4x4 Cube best by 34.3 percent to 1:18.65 alongside a 3x3x3 Cube best of 14.28. Cavid Qəhrəmanov placed ninth in Skewb while making first career attempts in both Skewb at 9.68 and the 2x2x2 Cube at 6.92, trimming their 3x3x3 Cube mark by 9.6 percent to 24.38.

The progress continued across the roster as newer participants embraced official competition. Hüseyn Quluzadə logged first official attempts in the 2x2x2 Cube with a 5.16 single and in Skewb at 13.31, finishing 14th in the latter. Fuad Qarayev registered significant milestones, improving their 2x2x2 Cube mark by 51.8 percent to 4.19 seconds and their 3x3x3 Cube time by 14.3 percent to 21.83. Süleyman Hacıyev earned eighth place in Pyraminx while cutting their 3x3x3 Cube best by 18.2 percent to 34.16 seconds and their 2x2x2 Cube time by 13.7 percent to 12.51. Cavad Mehdiyev took part in their first official tournament, entering four events and finishing 11th in Skewb with a 13.17 mark, while Jahangir Garayev also completed their maiden tournament with initial attempts in the 3x3x3 Cube at 32.32 and 2x2x2 Cube at 13.36.

Longer-form and specialty puzzles highlighted the afternoon schedule. In the 4x4x4 Cube, Mirza Mursalov prevailed with a winning average of 48.86 seconds and a best single of 40.24, leading Royal Shabanov, who placed second with a 52.17 average, and Mirsəlim Şahbazov in third at 54.43. Meanwhile, the Pyraminx saw Royal Shabanov secure top honors with a 6.99 winning average, closely followed by Huseyn Eyvazli at 7.28 and Sabir Mammedzade at 7.60 seconds, displaying sharp speedcubing prowess on the triangular puzzle.

The Skewb bracket wrapped up the day with Huseyn Eyvazli delivering the winning performance, finishing atop the standings with a 5.53 average and a top single of 4.78 seconds. Fazil Quliyev added another podium appearance by taking second place with an 8.94 average, while Mirza Mursalov finished third at 9.00 seconds. Across all disciplines, competitors from Azerbaijan swept all fifteen podium places up for grabs.

The entire gathering demonstrated the impact of seamless event management, as the judging teams and score runners maintained absolute precision throughout the schedule. The successful delivery of New Year's Eve in Baku 2025 reflected the skill of the host organization and the healthy enthusiasm across the local community, closing the speed cubing season on a thoroughly positive note for all involved in this memorable cubing competition.