Q8speedcubing in K.S.E 2023

Ahmad Alolaimi took command of the 3x3x3 Cube at Q8speedcubing in K.S.E 2023, delivering a championship-winning 9.59 average across three rounds to secure the flagship title. Rather than relying on a single explosive solve, Alolaimi relied on steady execution across the board, pairing his gold-medal average with a best single of 8.20. His calculated pacing proved decisive in the 63-competitor field, demonstrating the classic speedcubing principle that reliable turns beat out unstable speed under championship pressure.

Held on March 10 and 11 at the Kuwait Society of Engineers in Bneid Al-Gar, Kuwait, the cubing competition brought together 66 competitors for 16 rounds across 13 events. The 2023 gathering displayed the full breadth of the modern speed cubing discipline, ranging from standard twiddle-heavy sprints to deep-concentration blindfolded fixtures. Across all categories, competitors from Kuwait captured 19 podium spots, while Jordan followed with 13, Finland and Egypt earned 3 each, and India claimed 1.

Alolaimi added further hardware to his weekend tally by claiming victory in the 2x2x2 Cube with a 3.60 average, nudging past Ghanim Abdulaziz Almutawa who took silver at 3.63, while Zakarya Otair finished third at 4.12. Alolaimi also showed remarkable patience in 3x3x3 Fewest Moves, winning the event with a 39.33 average, just ahead of Otair's best single result of 34 and Saoud Abdulaziz Almutawa's 43. These varied wins proved Alolaimi's broad tactical range throughout the meet.

Jordanian competitor Zakarya Otair became the weekend's most prolific champion, racking up an extraordinary seven event victories. Otair captured first place in Pyraminx with a 4.80 average, 3x3x3 One-Handed with 17.72, and the 4x4x4 Cube with 38.70. His consistency extended into the larger and more complex puzzles as well, as he topped the podium in Megaminx at 1:16.61, the 5x5x5 Cube at 1:18.61, Square-1 at 21.68, and took 3x3x3 Blindfolded with a 26.39 single.

Otair pushed his endurance further in the 3x3x3 Multi-Blind event, completing 27 of 49 puzzles within the one-hour limit. In other specialist disciplines at Q8speedcubing in K.S.E 2023, Ghanim Abdulaziz Almutawa claimed the Skewb gold with a sharp 4.77 average, finishing ahead of Otair's 9.56 and Saoud Abdulaziz Almutawa's 10.02. Meanwhile, Niko Ronkainen of Finland secured victory in Clock with a 6.29 average, edging out the 15-person field with a best single of 6.11.

Beyond the title fights, numerous competitors used this WCA competition to test themselves across new puzzles and cut significant time from their best marks. Mohammad Meshal Almutawa entered five events and trimmed his 3x3x3 One-Handed personal best to 43.57, an improvement of 46.1 percent, alongside maiden attempts in Pyraminx and Skewb. Aden Karaa took on five events, logging a 47.7 percent improvement in Pyraminx down to 6.96 to earn 7th place, and made first-ever attempts in Skewb and One-Handed. Hassan Saheb completed seven events, slashing his 2x2x2 Cube mark by 39.4 percent to 3.37 and his 5x5x5 Cube best by 38.9 percent to 2:52.72.

Sayed Haidar Almousawi had a standout campaign across six disciplines, improving his Skewb personal best by 39.4 percent to 13.52, slicing his 3x3x3 Cube time by 32.9 percent to 11.97, and earning 4th in 2x2x2 Cube. Ali Hasan Ashknani tackled six events, achieving 4th in Multi-Blind, reducing his One-Handed personal best by 39.4 percent to 27.81, and attempting Fewest Moves for the first time. Abdulrazzaq Alshayji entered eight events, taking 5th in Square-1 alongside maiden marks in Clock, Megaminx, and 4x4x4 Cube. Fredrick Farouk made their career debut across eight events to finish 5th in Megaminx, while Hamad AL Failakawi made their first appearance across seven events, finishing 4th in Square-1.

The 2x2x2 Cube preliminary rounds produced a massive flurry of individual milestones for regional solvers. Abdulwahab Alqenaei posted a 9.58 single and a 10.20 average, Ali Albaseer finished with a 4.60 single and 6.49 average, and Muhammad Hanif registered 4.76 and 5.11. Further down the list, Faisal Alloghani, Duaij Mubarak AlSabah, Ayan Karaa, Omar Abdullah Alawadhi, Haidar Hassan, Abdullah Salem Alhaddad, and Malek Sabra each registered both single and average benchmark results under tournament conditions.

As the final rounds wrapped up at Q8speedcubing in K.S.E 2023, the event underscored how measured pace and solid fundamentals define elite puzzle solving. From the tense 3x3 results on the main stage to the first-time attempts scattered across the side tables, competitors handled the pressure of the Rubik's Cube format with composure. The two days in Bneid Al-Gar set an impressive standard of consistency as the regional circuit looks ahead toward the next season.

With 16 rounds concluded and 66 solvers testing their mettle across 13 diverse events, Q8speedcubing in K.S.E 2023 delivered a thorough showcase of precision and skill. Whether mastering multi-cube memorization or executing rapid rotations in the sprint rounds, the gathering celebrated steady progress and composure. The athletes leave the venue with new benchmarks established and a clear roadmap for their upcoming competitive outings.