Shymkent Open 2026

Damir Zhanataev delivered an overwhelming performance at the Pro_coworking venue, capturing victory across six different events in a single day of high-stakes speedcubing. His dominant run reached its peak in the main 3x3x3 Cube event, where he posted a winning average of 8.87 seconds alongside the day's fastest single solve of 7.97 seconds. The one-day tournament gathered four dedicated competitors in Shymkent, Kazakhstan on May 10, 2026, creating an unusually concentrated environment where every entrant was in direct contention for the podium from the very first solve.

The official WCA competition featured eight distinct events, leaving zero margin for error across the compact lineup. In such a focused field, every competitor had to manage the intense pressure of direct finals across all formats. Zhanataev set the tone early in the traditional Rubik's Cube division, establishing a significant gap over the rest of the field. Alan Suslov claimed the runner-up position with an average of 11.40 seconds, while Azamat Seitbekov completed the podium in third place with a mark of 12.23 seconds.

Beyond the classic puzzle, Zhanataev proved equally formidable across varied twisty challenges. In the 4x4x4 Cube, he registered a winning average of 32.81 seconds, backed by a top single solve of 30.64 seconds to comfortably outpace the competition. Seitbekov secured the silver medal in the event with an average of 44.14 seconds, and Suslov followed in third place with an average of 51.13 seconds. The demanding event tested technical precision and endurance across larger layers in rapid succession.

Zhanataev continued his sweep into the single-handed discipline, taking first place in 3x3x3 One-Handed with an average of 14.96 seconds and an outstanding single of 11.28 seconds. The contest for the remaining podium spots was decided by razor-thin margins, as Suslov edged out Seitbekov for second place with an average of 19.29 seconds to 19.62 seconds. The technical depth on display highlighted the rigorous preparation of the competitors representing Kazakhstan throughout the day.

The mental challenge reached a high point in the 3x3x3 Blindfolded division, which requires complete memorisation of the puzzle prior to execution without sight. Only two solvers took on the complex event, and Zhanataev emerged victorious by recording a successful average of 1:07.07, highlighted by a rapid single solve of 50.68 seconds. Seitbekov also delivered a completed attempt to take second place on the podium with an average of 3:20.13, ensuring that both entrants earned silverware.

Zhanataev added two more gold medals in the short-format events, displaying blistering turning speed. In the 2x2x2 Cube, he clinched the title with an average of 3.65 seconds, narrowly fending off Suslov who took second place at 3.81 seconds, while Seitbekov took third at 4.89 seconds. Zhanataev also conquered the Pyraminx bracket, winning with a 4.94 average over Suslov's 7.20 and Seitbekov's 7.22, bringing his total gold medal count to an impressive six.

The sweep was interrupted in the remaining events as Alan Suslov and Azamat Seitbekov each stepped onto the top step of the podium. Suslov delivered a standout performance in Clock, capturing first place with an average of 8.17 seconds and the fastest single solve of 4.47 seconds. Zhanataev finished second in Clock with an average of 10.03 seconds, while Lev Golaev earned third place with a 10.55 average. In Skewb, Seitbekov claimed gold with a winning average of 5.44 seconds, holding off Zhanataev's 6.32 and Suslov's 8.78.

With twenty-three total podium positions claimed across eight rounds, Shymkent Open 2026 concluded as a rigorous test of speed cubing versatility in the South Kazakhstan Region. The intense single-round format meant that every solve counted immediately toward the final 3x3 results and overall standings. As the 2026 speedcubing season advances, the tight-knit competition proved that high-level precision and versatile mastery remain alive and well across the national circuit.