Tbilisi April Open 2024

Inside the Institute of Cybernetic, the rhythmic clack of turning plastic echoed across the hall as competitors leaned intently over their mats. Tables stood arranged beneath the bright overhead lights, lined with timers and display monitors ready for a full day of action. Hand warmers rested beside stacks of puzzles while participants performed their final practice turns. The atmosphere in Tbilisi, Georgia captured the focused energy of a dedicated cubing competition, setting the stage for an intense single-day gathering on April 7, 2024.

A compact field of 16 participants gathered for the Tbilisi April Open 2024, taking on 10 distinct events across 15 total rounds. The single-day schedule demanded rapid transitions between events, testing versatility across classic puzzles and complex challenges. Speedcubing in the region continues to gain momentum, and this official WCA competition highlighted how quickly emerging talent is reshaping the competitive landscape. Enthusiasts and seasoned participants alike arrived ready to push their personal limits across a packed program.

The premier 3x3x3 Cube event drew the entire roster of 16 competitors through two hard-fought rounds. When the final 3x3 results were tallied, Andro Gvaramadze secured first place with an 8.94 winning average and a best single of 8.09. Tamar Dolenjishvili pressed closely behind to claim the second step on the podium with a 9.13 average, while Vako Marchilashvili took third place with a 10.14 average. The contest at the main Rubik's Cube tables proved fierce from the opening solves straight through to the final round.

Beyond the main event, Vako Marchilashvili produced a standout highlight in the 2x2x2 Cube by setting a new Georgian national record single of 0.44 seconds. Marchilashvili won the event outright with a 1.77 average, finishing ahead of Andro Gvaramadze who recorded a 3.26 average and Tamar Dolenjishvili who finished in 3.36. Marchilashvili also demonstrated sharp focus in the 3x3x3 Blindfolded event, where memorisation and execution without sight earned him the victory with a winning average of 3:08.84 and a top single of 2:52.98.

Tamar Dolenjishvili assembled an extraordinary series of wins throughout the day, claiming titles across multiple disciplines. Dolenjishvili won the 3x3x3 One-Handed event with a 15.66 average and a single of 13.60, outperforming Gvaramadze who finished second with 18.26. Dolenjishvili extended that dominance into big cubes, taking first place in the 4x4x4 Cube with a 30.96 average and winning the 5x5x5 Cube with a 1:01.33 mark, alongside a victory in Square-1 with a 25.80 average.

The true heart of the Tbilisi April Open 2024 emerged in the remarkable personal leaps achieved across the field. Toma Kvachakhia led the progress with a massive 68.6 percent improvement in the 2x2x2 Cube, lowering their personal best to 1.68 seconds and finishing sixth overall. Shota Kojima dropped their 2x2x2 Cube best by 65.2 percent to 4.36 and cut their 3x3x3 Cube mark to 28.80. Daniel Mamonov sliced 39.3 percent off their 2x2x2 Cube time to hit 3.04 and improved their 3x3x3 Cube mark by 30.5 percent to 12.75 while placing fifth in 3x3x3 One-Handed. Tinatin Tsimakuridze advanced by 28.2 percent in the 2x2x2 Cube with a new personal best of 5.69.

New event debuts added further depth to the competition card. Gvantsa Makalatia took on two brand new challenges, recording a first ever attempt of 12.05 in Skewb to place sixth and a 4:07.15 single in Megaminx. Giorgi Mtsituri logged a first attempt of 4.23 in the 2x2x2 Cube while securing fifth place in the 4x4x4 Cube. Luka Patashuri tackled a first ever Megaminx attempt with a time of 5:33.71 alongside a fourth-place finish in 3x3x3 One-Handed. Saba Vepkhvadze contested six events, setting personal bests of 8.25 in Pyraminx and 1:54.80 in Megaminx while earning fourth place in the Megaminx final. Ana Marchilashvili took on five events, improving her 2x2x2 Cube mark to 8.68 and securing a best finish of ninth in 3x3x3 One-Handed.

Side events brought additional hardware for the weekend leaders. In the Megaminx, Dachi Tevdorashvili captured the title with a 52.58 average and a best single of 52.06, finishing ahead of Dolenjishvili at 1:02.06 and Ketevan Feradze at 1:45.16. Andro Gvaramadze secured two more event victories, winning the Pyraminx with a 4.10 average ahead of Dolenjishvili at 4.68, and capturing the Skewb crown with a 4.98 winning average. The wide variety of puzzles showcased the dexterity and preparation required across speed cubing formats.

When the final timers reset at the Tbilisi April Open 2024, the standings reflected 28 podium finishes for Georgian competitors and one for Belarus. The rapid progress of the field and the exceptional marks set in the Institute of Cybernetic marked another significant step for cubing in 2024. As competitors look ahead to the next season, the sharp times and personal bests established in Tbilisi underline a community moving swiftly toward higher benchmarks.