Sumgait Spring Open 2026

A winning mark of 3.41 seconds on the 2x2x2 Cube set the tone for an explosive day of fast-paced solving at the Sumgait Youth House. Across three fast-moving disciplines and five total rounds, the Sumgait Spring Open 2026 gathered 18 competitors in Sumgait, Azerbaijan on March 19, 2026. Speed was the headline story from the first rotation to the final solves, as the regional speedcubing community delivered rapid averages and sharp singles on the smaller puzzles, turning a compact one-day schedule into an intense showcase of dexterity.

The 2x2x2 Cube tournament offered the most relentless pace of the gathering, requiring lightning-fast inspection and seamless execution across two competitive rounds. Sabir Mammedzade of Azerbaijan captured top honors in the event, logging a winning average of 3.41 seconds alongside the tournament's best single of 1.51 seconds. Fellow countryman Huseyn Eyvazli secured the runner-up spot with an average of 3.97 seconds, while Elisha Stark of the United States completed the podium in third place with an average of 4.41 seconds among 15 competitors.

That high-speed momentum carried directly into the classic 3x3x3 Cube, universally recognized as the central discipline of any Rubik's Cube tournament. Eighteen entrants took to the tables for two rounds of competition, seeking clean rotations and low turn counts. Mammedzade proved unbeatable once again, claiming his second gold medal of the day with a winning average of 13.49 seconds. His performance featured a sharp 10.58-second single, underscoring his command of the main event and setting the standard for the entire field in Sumgait.

The 3x3 results remained tight right through the final solve, with Stark pushing the champion to the limit. The American competitor logged an average of 13.69 seconds to secure second place, just two tenths of a second behind Mammedzade. Eyvazli earned his second medal of the program by taking third place with an average of 15.32 seconds. The battle at the top emphasized the razor-thin margins that define a premier speed cubing competition, where split-second pauses during transitions dictate the final order on the podium.

Beyond the sprint formats, the schedule also featured the twelve-sided Megaminx, testing competitors on a puzzle that requires prolonged stamina and complex spatial management across a single round of six solvers. Stark reversed the finishing order from the cube events, delivering a commanding victory with a winning average of 1:25.50 and a tournament-best single of 1:12.03. Eyvazli collected yet another podium placing by taking second with an average of 2:08.04, while Khalid Eynullayev of Azerbaijan finished third with a 3:08.13 average.

Beyond the podium battles, the floor of the Sumgait Youth House saw remarkable individual breakthroughs across the ranks. Hamid Zeynalli entered three events and delivered massive progress, posting a 2x2x2 personal best of 6.17 seconds that was 37.6 percent faster than his prior record, alongside a 3x3x3 best of 23.11 seconds that shaved 33.2 percent off his previous mark, and completing his first ever official attempt at Megaminx in 5:18.33 to take 5th place. Camal Dədəverdiyev tackled his first ever official attempt at the 3x3x3 Cube with a result of 1:02.91. Tunar Gadimli recorded an 18.72-second 3x3x3 personal best to improve by 16 percent while earning 8th place in 2x2x2, and Mələk Cəbrayıllı improved her 3x3x3 personal best by 11.5 percent with a new mark of 25.87 seconds.

The spirit of steady progression was equally evident among other dedicated competitors across the rounds. Huseyn Pirizade recorded a 3x3x3 personal best of 12.13 seconds, an improvement of 10 percent that carried him to a 7th-place event finish. Ilkin Karimli took on two events and produced a strong run to secure 5th place in the 3x3x3 Cube. David Orucov earned a 4th-place finish in 3x3x3 while trimming his 2x2x2 personal best to 3.69 seconds, a 3.4 percent improvement. Meanwhile, Murad Garagozov made his first WCA competition appearance, logging debut official marks of 29.62 seconds on the 3x3x3 Cube and 10.58 seconds on the 2x2x2 Cube.

First-time entrants continued to make their mark as Emir Mammadov made his official debut with marks of 23.85 seconds in 3x3x3 and 7.72 seconds in 2x2x2. Farkhan Khalil also navigated his maiden tournament, posting 24.64 seconds on the 3x3x3 Cube and 4.84 seconds on the 2x2x2 Cube. In the overall medal standings, host nation Azerbaijan secured six podium positions while the United States earned three, reflecting a competitive and diverse spread of talent across all three scheduled puzzle formats.

The action at the Sumgait Spring Open 2026 brought a packed schedule of speed solving to a decisive conclusion. From Mammedzade's commanding double victory in the sprint puzzles to the technical endurance shown on the Megaminx, the tournament highlighted the depth of local talent in the region. As the 2026 season advances, the times recorded in Sumgait provide a strong baseline for every entrant looking ahead to future tests on the official competitive circuit.