Tbilisi July Open 2024

A nail-biting finish defined the 3x3x3 Cube final at the Institute of Cybernetic, where Vako Marchilashvili secured victory with an 8.21 average, edging out Tamar Dolenjishvili who finished right behind at 8.26. That five-hundredths-of-a-second margin highlighted the competitive drama at Tbilisi July Open 2024, held on July 21, 2024. The one-day WCA competition brought together 14 competitors in Tbilisi, Georgia, offering a compact yet fiercely contested schedule. Across six rounds and three distinct disciplines, seasoned solvers and a remarkable wave of emerging talents gave their all on the official tables.

The presence of so many fresh faces set the tone for this summer speedcubing gathering in Tbilisi, Georgia. Speed cubing in the region continues to attract enthusiastic newcomers eager to test their skills under official tournament conditions. For several participants, stepping onto the competition floor marked their introduction to the wider cubing community, while others returned determined to show how much their preparation had paid off. The balance of high-stakes podium races and memorable debuts gave the single-day program a vibrant atmosphere from morning to evening.

In the main event, the classic Rubik's Cube drew a field of 13 solvers over two rounds of action. The 3x3 results showcased remarkable consistency at the top of the standings. Marchilashvili delivered the fastest single solve of the entire discipline with a 6.49 before taking the title with his 8.21 average. Dolenjishvili pushed the champion to the absolute limit, claiming second place with her 8.26 average. Nino Zguladze completed the podium in third place with a solid 8.71 mark, sealing a complete podium sweep for the host nation.

Marchilashvili extended his winning form into the 2x2x2 Cube, dominating the event across both rounds. In the final, he registered a winning average of 1.72 alongside the best single solve of 1.30 to collect his second gold of the day. Nino Zguladze put together a steady sequence to secure second place with a 2.53 average, while Giorgi Gegeshidze earned the third podium spot with an average of 2.93. The brisk event saw twelve competitors push for rapid execution and quick turnarounds throughout the afternoon.

The Pyraminx competition produced another thrilling duel between familiar contenders at Tbilisi July Open 2024. Tamar Dolenjishvili took top honors with a winning average of 3.78, accompanied by the round best single time of 2.51. Andro Gvaramadze finished just three-hundredths of a second behind, securing the runner-up position with an average of 3.81. Giorgi Gegeshidze returned to the podium once more, capturing third place with an average of 6.64 in the eight-person field.

Beyond the top steps of the podium, several competitors achieved remarkable milestones that told the true story of individual progression. Irakli Elizbarashvili made massive strides across two events, cutting his 2x2x2 Cube personal best to 4.12, which was 60.3 percent faster than his previous mark, and lowering his 3x3x3 Cube personal best to 23.01, an improvement of 20.9 percent. Demetre Kepuladze tackled three events and achieved a 5th place finish in Pyraminx with a personal best of 6.85, a 47 percent improvement, while also lowering his 2x2x2 Cube best by 36.1 percent to 4.73. Mikheil Kapanadze entered three events, recording his first ever attempt at Pyraminx with an 11.15 single to place 6th, while cutting 22.1 percent off his 2x2x2 Cube mark to reach 3.53 and shaving 4.4 percent off his 3x3x3 Cube best with a 14.53.

The depth of progress continued across the rest of the field as dedicated solvers tested new frontiers. Luka Subari took on two events and claimed a best finish of 6th place in the 2x2x2 Cube, while Dachi Tevdorashvili focused on a single event to earn a best finish of 6th place in the 3x3x3 Cube. Levan Japarashvili made this gathering their first WCA competition by entering three events, posting a first ever attempt at Pyraminx of 14.43, a first ever attempt at 3x3x3 Cube of 39.89, and a first ever attempt at 2x2x2 Cube of 9.54. Meanwhile, Andria Gogiashvili also embraced their first WCA competition, taking on one event and completing a first ever attempt at 3x3x3 Cube with a time of 21.06.

With all nine podium spots secured by Georgian solvers, Tbilisi July Open 2024 served as an inspiring showcase of local speedcubing talent. The mix of thrilling final-round deciders and groundbreaking debuts confirmed the vitality of the local scene in 2024. As competitors look ahead to the next season of regional meets, the impressive personal leaps and sharp competitive standards established in Tbilisi will provide ample motivation for solvers returning to the practice mat.