Ulaanbaatar Big Cubes 2024

Thirteen competitors stepped up to the tables on June 8, 2024, at the Mongolia-Japan Center in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, ready to tackle some of the most grueling puzzles in the World Cube Association catalogue. Ulaanbaatar Big Cubes 2024 focused the spotlight directly on heavy endurance and intricate lookahead, stripping away smaller side events in favor of a demanding four-event schedule. Speedcubing at this scale requires immense concentration, as each layer added to a standard puzzle multiplies the physical stamina and tactical discipline required across single-round showdowns.

The 6x6x6 Cube proved to be the ultimate test of stamina during the competition, where Myagmardorj Ulziijargal delivered an authoritative performance to capture first place. Managing the immense mechanical drag and high move count of the big layers, Myagmardorj Ulziijargal locked down a winning average of 1:59.48 alongside the day's best single of 1:50.33. Altanbagana Altangerel pushed hard across all five solves to secure second place with an average of 2:01.21, while Orgil Otgonbayar took third place with a mark of 2:05.26 among seven finalists.

In the 5x5x5 Cube, Altanbagana Altangerel turned the tables with a commanding victory against a field of 10 competitors. Navigating the balance between edge-pairing accuracy and smooth turning speed, Altanbagana Altangerel posted a winning average of 58.80 and registered a standout single of 57.63. Orgil Otgonbayar stayed within striking distance throughout the round, claiming second place with a 1:00.42 average. Myagmardorj Ulziijargal rounded out the podium in third place with a steady 1:01.17, highlighting the tight trio at the top of Mongolia's big-cube ranks.

While traditional speed cubing often centers on the classic Rubik's Cube, the single round of the 4x4x4 Cube delivered some of the sharpest racing of the tournament. Orgil Otgonbayar secured the top step of the podium with a winning average of 33.44 and the round's fastest single at 29.40. The battle for the remaining podium spots was extraordinarily close, as Myagmardorj Ulziijargal edged out Altanbagana Altangerel for second place by a single hundredth of a second, posting an average of 34.52 to 34.53 in an intense 13-competitor bracket.

Beyond the cubic disciplines, the Megaminx brought a twelve-sided endurance challenge to the venue floor. Khuslen Gan-Ochir showed remarkable efficiency across all five solves, capturing first place with a winning average of 47.73 and a top single of 43.93. Bilguuntamir Soronzontugs claimed the second step on the podium with a solid 51.00 average, while Dulguun Altankhonkh finished in third place with a 58.54 mark, completing a full sweep of 12 podium spots by Mongolian competitors at Ulaanbaatar Big Cubes 2024.

Behind the headline finishes, several competitors delivered massive personal milestones that pure standings tables often obscure. Enkhbaatar Taivanjargal entered two events and made a major breakthrough in the 4x4x4 Cube, recording a personal best single of 58.30 that was 43.6 percent faster than their previous 1:43.36 mark, while also taking on their first ever attempt at 5x5x5 Cube with a 2:16.39 single for a 10th-place finish. Chinguun Munkhbat tackled three events, posting a 5x5x5 Cube personal best of 1:57.18, which improved on their prior 2:16.98 by 14.5 percent, and completed their first ever attempt at 6x6x6 Cube with a time of 4:56.80 to finish 6th.

That same drive was evident across the rest of the cohort during the cubing competition. Radnaa Zoljargal entered three events, took 7th in the 6x6x6 Cube on their first ever attempt with 4:49.48, and improved their 4x4x4 Cube personal best to 41.03, which was 14.2 percent faster than their previous 47.83 best. Buyantogtokh Batsaikhan took on two events, earning an 8th-place finish in 5x5x5 Cube with a first ever attempt of 1:49.85. Ariunbold Bayanmunkh contested four events, setting a 6x6x6 Cube personal best of 2:46.66 on the way to 4th in 5x5x5 Cube. Sergelenbat Nymdorj entered three events and secured a 5th-place finish in 6x6x6 Cube, while Ariunsaikhan Erdenebileg took on two events, finishing 7th in Megaminx with a personal best of 2:10.11.

Every round at Ulaanbaatar Big Cubes 2024 highlighted the deep mechanical mastery and mental resilience required when solving moves count into the hundreds. Even without standard 3x3 results on the schedule, the focused format allowed each competitor to push their technical boundaries across demanding multi-layered hardware. As the WCA competition concluded its single-day run, the event demonstrated that big-cube racing remains one of the most compelling and physically demanding arenas in competitive solving.