Return to Pakistan 2024

72 competitors gathered at the Kiran Hall inside the Hillview Hotel in Markaz F-7 as official speedcubing action took center stage in Islamabad, Pakistan. The single-day WCA competition on May 18, 2024, brought together a massive wave of newcomers who stepped up to the tournament tables for the very first time. Spanning eight rounds across four distinct puzzle categories, the gathering highlighted an energized community eager to test their solving speed against the clock.

Return to Pakistan 2024 served as a major platform for first-timers, with dozens of participants making their debut appearances in the World Cube Association rankings. From early morning heats to evening finals, the atmosphere remained focused and intense as emerging talent took on established local stars. The sheer number of debutants injected fresh momentum into the national scene, making every round a showcase of ambition and rapid progression across classic twisty puzzles.

The premier 3x3x3 Cube event drew a large field of 71 competitors through three challenging rounds. When the 3x3 results were finalized, Muhammad Haris Aamir captured the title with a winning average of 8.46 seconds and a best single time of 8.14 seconds. Kublai Khan Qasimi secured the second step on the podium with a strong average of 8.75 seconds, while Malik Hassan Saqib completed the top three with an average of 9.66 seconds.

Beyond the main event, Muhammad Haris Aamir put together an exceptional multi-event display, topping the podium in three of the four disciplines contested during the weekend. In the 2x2x2 Cube, Haris Aamir took gold with a 3.09 average, holding off Kublai Khan Qasimi who finished runner-up at 4.28 and Muhammad Hasnain Azhar who took third at 5.10. Haris Aamir also led the field in the single-round 4x4x4 Cube contest with an average of 37.49, closely followed by Malik Hassan Saqib at 38.16 and Kublai Khan Qasimi at 42.00.

The triangular Pyraminx puzzle introduced another exciting dynamic to the tournament schedule across two rounds of action. Muhammad Usama delivered the winning performance, securing first place with an average of 5.30 seconds and a sharp single of 3.81 seconds. Muhammad Haris Aamir added another medal to his haul by claiming second place with a 6.68 average, while Yahya Sohail rounded out the podium positions with a mark of 6.86 seconds.

Behind the headline finishes, the real story of the weekend lived within the breakthrough personal milestones achieved across the venue. Ibrahim Fahd entered three events, slicing his 2x2x2 Cube personal best to 4.70 seconds, which was 25 percent faster than before, trimming his 3x3x3 Cube mark by 13.9 percent to 11.43 seconds, and registering a first ever attempt at Pyraminx of 12.08 seconds on the way to a 7th place finish. Fatima Mehdi logged a 22 percent improvement on the 3x3x3 Rubik's Cube with a personal best of 31.92 seconds alongside a first ever attempt at Pyraminx of 8.40 seconds. Safi-ul Hassan excelled across three events, lowering his 3x3x3 Cube best to 9.14 seconds by 15.2 percent and his 4x4x4 Cube mark to 48.90 seconds by 14.2 percent, earning a best finish of 4th place. Rumman Ahmad launched their competitive journey by taking on four events, achieving a 4th place finish in 2x2x2 Cube and recording an initial 3x3x3 Cube attempt of 8.87 seconds.

The newcomer momentum continued with Abdul Haseeb entering four categories and posting a first ever attempt at Pyraminx of 7.81 seconds along with a 4.70 on 2x2x2 Cube. Mohammad Usman Javaid completed a four-event roster that featured an 11th place finish in 4x4x4 Cube, an initial 3x3x3 Cube single of 18.99 seconds, and an 11.95 Pyraminx attempt. Saad Ahmad produced a memorable debut by placing 4th in Pyraminx with an opening mark of 4.95 seconds, alongside a 14.98 initial effort in 3x3x3 Cube. Afnan Naveed also took on the full four-event program, locking in an opening 3x3x3 Cube time of 15.98 seconds and a 15th place finish in 4x4x4 Cube.

Return to Pakistan 2024 proved to be an outstanding showcase of domestic depth, with every single podium spot across all four disciplines earned by competitors representing Pakistan. For both veteran solvers and the substantial contingent of newcomers, this cubing competition in the capital provided an ideal environment to test speed cubing techniques under official tournament regulations. As the event concluded, the impressive times logged throughout the day set a promising benchmark for the growing community heading into the next competitive cycle.