Tbilisi Summer Open 2023

A blistering 1.61-second winning average on the 2x2x2 Cube by Vako Marchilashvili set a fierce tone at the Institute of Cybernetic, demonstrating the razor-thin margins that define elite speedcubing. Held in Tbilisi, Georgia on June 11, 2023, the Tbilisi Summer Open 2023 gathered 19 competitors across 7 events and 10 rounds of intense solving. In short formats and precision rounds, a single mistake or slow lockup completely rewrites the standings, leaving zero room for hesitation from the opening turn.

The premier 3x3x3 Cube tournament delivered standout moments as Tamar Dolenjishvili took top honors with a winning average of 7.56 seconds. Dolenjishvili also secured the best single solve of the entire main event at 6.52 seconds, outpacing Giorgi Minasiani, who took second place with an 8.15 average, and Andro Gvaramadze in third with 8.25. The 3x3 results reflected remarkable consistency across two demanding rounds, proving that maintaining composure through five solves is essential in any elite cubing competition.

Dolenjishvili continued to dominate the table in the 3x3x3 One-Handed event, taking victory with a 14.35 average and a stunning single of 10.92 seconds. Minasiani claimed the runner-up spot with a 15.07 average, while Gvaramadze rounded out the podium at 18.85. The single-handed discipline punishes even minor finger-trick errors, demanding absolute stability and smooth lookahead throughout every turn of the Rubik's Cube mechanism.

In the Pyraminx event, Giorgi Minasiani captured first place with an impressive winning average of 2.38 seconds, backed by a quick 2.05 single solve. Gvaramadze secured second place with an average of 4.41, while New Zealand's Liam Wadek finished third at 4.91 seconds. Minasiani also earned a third-place finish on the 2x2x2 Cube with a 2.72 average, just behind Dolenjishvili's 2.63, as Marchilashvili's lightning 1.61 average secured the gold.

Beyond the standard cubic puzzles, the Tbilisi Summer Open 2023 featured complex rotation challenges in Megaminx and Square-1. Liam Wadek topped the Megaminx podium with a 1:09.79 average and a 1:03.99 single, ahead of Belarus competitor Ilya Anishchanka at 1:25.79 and Dolenjishvili at 1:36.75. In Square-1, Conan Mo of Australia captured the title with an 18.12 average, finishing ahead of Anishchanka's 19.92 and Dolenjishvili's 24.27 in a discipline where parity errors can immediately derail a podium chase.

The Skewb bracket brought further drama to the Tbilisi Summer Open 2023, where Nikolozi Kobakhidze took the victory with a 4.90 average and a best single of 4.29 seconds. Wadek followed closely in second place with a 5.00 average, while Gvaramadze earned another podium finish in third with 5.27. Across the entire official WCA competition schedule, the host nation secured 15 podium places, alongside three for New Zealand, two for Belarus, and one for Australia.

Away from the top steps of the podium, several competitors achieved remarkable milestones across the board. Sandro Daushvili took on 6 events, posting a personal best of 28.16 in 3x3x3 One-Handed that was 68.1 percent faster than their previous mark, alongside a 2.84 in 2x2x2 Cube and a first ever attempt at Megaminx of 2:48.45. Lali Amiranashvili logged an 8th-place Megaminx finish with a first ever attempt of 2:53.98, while also improving their 2x2x2 Cube mark to 4.33 and Pyraminx to 8.53. Arame Matshkalyan dropped their 2x2x2 Cube best by 42.9 percent down to 3.86 and achieved 20.18 on the 3x3x3 Cube, while Vahe Oustakarayan recorded a 4th-place finish in 2x2x2 Cube with a 2.28 single, 43.8 percent faster than their prior record.

Hayk Mergeryan delivered a 38 percent drop on the 2x2x2 Cube with a 3.25 single, coupled with a 16.77 on the 3x3x3 Cube and a 6th-place finish in Pyraminx. Luka Patashuri tackled 4 events, setting a new personal best of 22.04 in 3x3x3 One-Handed and a 4.36 single in 2x2x2 Cube. Ana Marchilashvili registered a personal best of 13.80 in Pyraminx across 3 events, while Luka Subari recorded a first ever attempt at Square-1 with a time of 34.82 and dropped their Pyraminx best by 24.5 percent to 8.30.

The dynamic day of speed cubing at the Tbilisi Summer Open 2023 highlighted the technical depth of the region's solvers, from multi-puzzle veterans to determined specialists. Every second gained and every clean execution on the timer reflected months of disciplined practice. As the 2023 calendar progresses, the memorable solves and personal breakthroughs achieved in Tbilisi stand as a benchmark of precision and speed for upcoming tournaments.