Tbilisi Cube Sunday 2024

Inside the halls of the Institute of Cybernetic, the rhythmic snap of plastic mechanisms echoed through the bright winter air. Across fifteen rounds of intense play, seventeen solvers gathered around the timing mats, ready to test their preparation on the official stage. The atmosphere carried the distinct focus of a premier speedcubing gathering, where every fraction of a second counted. Fans and fellow competitors watched the tables closely as the one-day WCA competition got underway in Tbilisi, Georgia, setting up an exceptional showcase of domestic talent across nine different puzzle disciplines.

Local standout Giorgi Minasiani delivered a remarkable display on familiar ground at Tbilisi Cube Sunday 2024. Minasiani captured four separate victories over the course of the day, demonstrating immense versatility across puzzles of all shapes and sizes. In the classic 3x3x3 Cube event, the discipline most associated with the Rubik's Cube, he paced the field through two demanding rounds. Minasiani secured the title with an impressive winning average of 7.53 seconds, bolstered by a day-best single solve of 6.55 seconds to lead the final 3x3 results.

The 3x3 podium reflected the high level of speed cubing present throughout the host nation. Vako Marchilashvili claimed the runner-up spot behind Minasiani with an average of 8.31 seconds, while Tamar Dolenjishvili rounded out the top three with an average of 8.54. Minasiani continued his commanding run in the Pyraminx, taking top honours with an average of 2.29 seconds and a quick single of 1.53. He added another gold medal in the Skewb final, finishing with an average of 4.30 ahead of Giorgi Gegeshidze at 4.40 and Andro Gvaramadze at 4.72.

Minasiani also dominated the larger puzzles, securing the 4x4x4 Cube victory with a 37.21-second average and a single of 32.63. Gvaramadze took second place on the 4x4 podium with an average of 38.35, while Marchilashvili claimed third in 44.55. In the 3x3x3 One-Handed event, however, Gvaramadze turned the tables in an electrifying final. Gvaramadze posted a winning average of 16.73 seconds and a sharp single of 13.43, narrowly holding off Minasiani, who took second with an average of 16.87. Marchilashvili took third place with 19.35.

Dachi Tevdorashvili also made a massive mark at Tbilisi Cube Sunday 2024, collecting two major victories in the endurance and multi-layered categories. In the twelve-sided Megaminx, Tevdorashvili logged a winning average of 58.05 seconds, highlighted by a single solve of 50.76. Dolenjishvili followed closely in second place at 1:00.42, with Minasiani taking third at 1:02.34. Tevdorashvili returned to the top of the podium in the 5x5x5 Cube, registering an average of 1:18.47 to edge out Gvaramadze at 1:19.07 and Minasiani at 1:19.15 in a remarkably tight contest. Meanwhile, Giorgi Gegeshidze claimed the Square-1 title with an average of 17.24, ahead of Luka Subari and Tevdorashvili.

Away from the top steps of the podium, several competitors delivered memorable milestones throughout the competition. Saba Vepkhvadze entered five disciplines, setting a 3x3x3 One-Handed personal best of 48.89 seconds that was 44 percent faster than his previous mark, chopping his Pyraminx best down to 9.47 seconds by 37.2 percent, and recording his first ever Skewb attempt with an 8.48. Ilia Lomaia stepped forward in four events, logging his first ever attempts in 3x3x3 One-Handed at 48.45 seconds, Pyraminx at 12.53 seconds, and 2x2x2 Cube at 12.47 seconds. Toma Kvachakhia tackled three events, making his first official Pyraminx attempt at 12.12 seconds and improving his 2x2x2 Cube best by 7 percent to 10.03 seconds. Deniel Andriasov logged huge gains across three events, cutting his Pyraminx personal best by 27.5 percent down to 7.08 seconds, improving his 3x3x3 Cube best by 12.4 percent to 20.48, and trimming his 2x2x2 mark to 7.79.

The progress continued across the rest of the lineup at Tbilisi Cube Sunday 2024. Andrey Yakubovski took on six events and achieved a best finish of 6th place in Skewb while improving his 3x3x3 One-Handed personal best by 20.3 percent to 50.94 seconds. Luka Patashuri competed in three events, highlighted by a strong 6th place finish in 3x3x3 One-Handed. Ketevan Feradze managed an expansive schedule of eight events, securing a 4th place finish in Megaminx, taking 19.3 percent off her Megaminx personal best to reach 1:26.62, reducing her 4x4x4 Cube mark to 1:09.59, and clocking a Pyraminx personal best of 3.58 seconds. Making his official debut, Giorgi Mtsituri entered his first competition and took 7th place in 4x4x4 Cube, posting maiden official results of 1:24.96 on 4x4x4 and 14.92 on the 3x3x3 Cube.

In the 2x2x2 Cube event, Vako Marchilashvili captured victory with a polished 2.14-second average in the final round, having posted the event's top single solve of 1.39 seconds. Nino Zguladze earned second place with an average of 2.65 seconds, just ahead of Giorgi Gegeshidze in third at 2.68. The entire medal haul at the cubing competition remained on home soil, with Georgian solvers taking all twenty-seven podium places across the nine contested events.

The successful conclusion of Tbilisi Cube Sunday 2024 on January 21, 2024, capped a thrilling day of competition in the capital. Solvers walked away with major titles, personal milestones, and sharp benchmark times to start the year. As the winter calendar moves forward, the performances at the Institute of Cybernetic demonstrated the depth and growing talent across the regional circuit.