Palestine Alrowwad 2023

A blistering 10.68 single solve by Amir Mohammad Abdalhalim in the 3x3x3 Cube set the benchmark at Palestine Alrowwad 2023, setting the tone for an action-packed single day of speedcubing. The gathering brought 37 competitors to the Alrowwad Vocational Centre in Bethlehem, Palestine on October 6, 2023. Across six distinct puzzle categories, participants navigated a demanding nine-round structure where cut lines and progressing formats rewarded consistency under severe time pressure.

The flagship Rubik's Cube category featured three separate stages of competition, demanding stamina from the 37 starters. Abdalhalim claimed the top step of the podium with a decisive 12.06 final average to cap off his run. He held off Mohammad Ahmad Abu Hussein, who secured second place with a mark of 13.43, while Mustafa Jweiles earned third on an average of 16.32. The deep multi-round structure tested every competitor, ensuring the official 3x3 results reflected endurance as much as raw turning speed.

Abdalhalim doubled his title tally in the 2x2x2 Cube, which was the only other event on the schedule granted a two-round advancement setup. After 27 competitors battled through the opening phase, Abdalhalim delivered a 5.22 average and an event-best single of 2.76 in the final. Mohamd Omar Jabr took second place with a 6.00 average, narrowly edging out Zaid Abdeen, who took third on a 6.06 average after logging a brilliant 2.78 single during the competition.

While the shorter puzzles allowed room for tactical adjustments across rounds, the longer disciplines operated under strict single-round finals where every solve counted immediately. Mohammad Ahmad Abu Hussein thrived in these sudden-death scenarios, sweeping three separate titles. In the 4x4x4 Cube, Abu Hussein produced a 37.97 winning average, backed by a 35.10 single, outperforming Ron van Bruchem who finished second with a 53.94 average, and Abdeen who took third with a time of 1:18.37.

Abu Hussein showed equal mastery in the one-handed division, securing first place with an average of 20.29 and a sharp 14.02 single solve in the 3x3x3 One-Handed final. Maroun Azam took the runner-up position on 27.97, while Abdalhalim completed the podium on 29.35. The Pyraminx final was even tighter, with Abu Hussein capturing his third gold of the day on a 6.47 average, just surpassing Khaled Mohammad Shanty at 6.58 and Azam at 6.96.

Beyond the championship podiums, the heart of this WCA competition belonged to personal breakthroughs and ambitious debuts. Abd Al-Rhman Abu Snineh took on five separate events, improving his 2x2x2 Cube personal best to 6.62 by an astonishing 56.2 percent, cutting his Pyraminx mark by 35.9 percent down to 14.95, and recording a first ever attempt at 3x3x3 One-Handed with a 35.62 solve to finish seventh. Sadeen Faqeeh delivered massive leaps across both of her events, chopping 42.6 percent off her 2x2x2 Cube best to hit 7.94 and slicing 26.5 percent from her 3x3x3 Cube time to reach 30.49. Jameela Abu Hussein dropped her Pyraminx personal record by 31.6 percent to 12.14, while Joury Tiro improved her Rubik's Cube best by 29.1 percent to 37.02.

Fresh faces and first-time events shaped the lower brackets just as strongly. Malik Sub Labn achieved a personal best of 16.84 in the main event, placed sixth in the 2x2x2 Cube, and registered a first ever attempt at Pyraminx with a 10.77 solve. Maen Shhadeh stepped up to three events, recording a first ever attempt at Pyraminx of 11.11 to earn a tenth-place finish, alongside a new 3x3x3 Cube best of 44.67. Marking their first WCA competition appearances, Omar Shaheen posted debut marks across three puzzles including an 18.02 on 2x2x2 Cube and 16.28 on Pyraminx, while Mohammad Alkurd opened his official career with an 8.48 on 2x2x2 Cube and a 20.68 on 3x3x3 Cube.

The single-round Skewb event brought a standout performance from Aziza Sbeih, who captured the championship with an impressive 5.76 average and a single solve of 4.87. Sbeih led a competitive ten-person field, holding clear daylight over Azam, who claimed second place with a 7.47 average, and Abu Hussein, who added a bronze to his heavy medal haul with a 7.68 mark.

By the conclusion of Palestine Alrowwad 2023, Palestinian solvers had secured 13 of the 18 available podium positions, with visiting competitors claiming the remaining five places. The high-stakes round designs and demanding cutoffs brought out peak performances from both veteran contenders and ambitious newcomers. The single-day speed cubing showcase highlighted the remarkable depth of the local community as solvers look ahead to the next competitive calendar.