Tbilisi April Open 2023

Four event titles belonged to Tamar Dolenjishvili by the close of play on April 2, 2023, setting the tone for an extraordinary home display in the capital. Staged at College Barakoni in Tbilisi, Georgia, the Tbilisi April Open 2023 gathered 20 competitors for an intensive single-day WCA competition featuring six events and 12 rounds of action. With local supporters watching every turn, Georgian speedcubers controlled the tables across the program, claiming 15 of the 18 available podium positions across the six disciplines.

The centerpiece of the gathering was the traditional Rubik's Cube, where 19 competitors battled through three full rounds. Tamar Dolenjishvili delivered under pressure in the final round of the 3x3x3 Cube, posting a decisive winning average of 8.19 seconds along with the best single of the event at 6.37 seconds. Andro Gvaramadze pushed hard for the top spot, earning second place with an 8.51 average. Vako Marchilashvili rounded out an all-Georgian podium in third place with a 9.91 average, completing a thrilling set of 3x3 results.

Tamar Dolenjishvili extended that winning form across multiple formats throughout the weekend. In the 4x4x4 Cube, Dolenjishvili secured first place with an impressive winning average of 31.85 seconds and a best single solve of 29.36. Andro Gvaramadze claimed the silver medal position with a 45.20 average, narrowly edging out Ukraine's Mykhailo Lagoida, who logged an average of 45.52. Dolenjishvili's dominance continued in the Pyraminx, taking top honors with a 4.22 winning average over Gvaramadze's 4.76 and Nino Zguladze's 5.35.

One-handed solving brought yet another triumph for the Georgian standout. Facing a field of 10 competitors in the 3x3x3 One-Handed event, Tamar Dolenjishvili captured first place with a 15.00 winning average and a single solve of 13.91 seconds. Andro Gvaramadze secured second place with a 19.01 average, while Nino Zguladze placed third with 21.45. This remarkable run gave Dolenjishvili four gold medals on home turf, showcasing an extraordinary depth of skill across disparate puzzle types.

The 2x2x2 Cube produced the fastest solves of the tournament as 18 competitors raced through three rounds. Vako Marchilashvili captured the title with a razor-sharp 2.23 winning average and a lightning-fast best single of 1.23 seconds. Mykhailo Lagoida earned second place with a 2.61 average, while Nino Zguladze took third on a 2.86 mark. Meanwhile, Ukraine's Mykhailo Lagoida broke through for a victory in the Skewb final, recording a 3.82 winning average to beat Gvaramadze's 4.93 and Dolenjishvili's 5.40.

Away from the top of the podium, several competitors logged remarkable breakthroughs that the final standings do not fully reveal. Andrey Yakubovski achieved massive leaps forward, slicing his Skewb personal best down to 3.96 seconds, which was 63.2 percent faster than his prior mark, alongside a Pyraminx personal best of 5.54 that was 53.5 percent quicker. Aleksandre Kharazi dropped his 2x2x2 Cube personal best to 2.99, an improvement of 58.9 percent, and took on four separate events. Nikoloz Kikadze stepped up for their first WCA competition, logging a first ever attempt in the 2x2x2 Cube at 16.23 and a first 3x3x3 Cube solve of 43.78. Sandro Daushvili tackled five events, recording a first ever attempt in the Pyraminx at 9.06, a first 2x2x2 Cube solve of 6.39, and a first 3x3x3 One-Handed mark of 1:28.14.

Other competitors delivered memorable milestones across their respective slates at the Tbilisi April Open 2023. Dachi Abesadze registered a first ever attempt in the 2x2x2 Cube at 7.06 seconds and trimmed their 3x3x3 Cube best to 30.39 seconds. Luka Subari earned a 6th place finish in 3x3x3 One-Handed with a personal best of 22.95, which was 20.9 percent faster than before. Lali Amiranashvili lowered their 2x2x2 Cube best to 5.76, an 18.2 percent improvement, while Giorgi Gegeshidze reached 5th place in the 3x3x3 Cube with a personal best of 10.46 seconds, cutting 7.8 percent off their previous standard.

The depth of talent on display reinforced the strength of the regional community during an exhilarating day of speed cubing. In addition to personal triumphs, multiple national records fell throughout the 2x2x2 Cube rounds, with Nino Zguladze, Giorgi Gegeshidze, Andro Gvaramadze, and Luka Patashuri among those setting new benchmarks. From first-time entrants to seasoned specialists, the cubing competition delivered high drama from the opening scrambles to the final podium presentations.

As the equipment was packed away at College Barakoni, the Tbilisi April Open 2023 concluded as a memorable chapter for speedcubing in the region. Local competitors had seized the spotlight, led by the four-title sweep of Tamar Dolenjishvili and rapid solves across all disciplines. With so many new personal bests and national records established over 12 rounds, the stage is firmly set for even faster times when the community convenes for its next competitive season.