Varaždin Open 2024

Sixty-seven competitors gathered at IV. Osnovna škola Varaždin across December 7 and 8 for a weekend of intense speedcubing action. The Varaždin Open 2024 featured 20 rounds across 11 disciplines, testing endurance, composure, and raw technique. Over the course of the tournament, the drama frequently highlighted the difference between fleeting single turns of speed and steady, repeatable solving. When the dust settled in Varaždin, Croatia, it was relentless consistency across multi-solve rounds that dictated the top of the podiums.

Nowhere was that consistency clearer than in the main 3x3x3 Cube event, where 65 competitors took part across three rounds. Alexey Tsvetkov captured the title with a dominant winning average of 6.35, backed by a best single of 5.00. Oskar Vidiček followed in second place with a 9.27 average, while Jakov Srečković secured third place on a 9.53 mark. The 3x3 results underscored how steady execution across five solves outpaces isolated quick attempts in a high-stakes cubing competition.

Tsvetkov orchestrated an extraordinary run throughout the weekend, securing first place in seven different disciplines. In the 2x2x2 Cube, he led three rounds to finish on a 1.33 winning average, ahead of András Orbán with 1.80 and Reuven Michaely with 2.60. He also captured top honors in 4x4x4 Cube with a 31.60 average and the Pyraminx with a 2.44 average, ahead of Srečković at 3.33 and Jakob Kitak at 3.52. His one-handed efficiency carried him to a 9.35 average in 3x3x3 One-Handed, outlasting Tomaž Saje and Vidiček.

The sweep continued across the auxiliary formats, as Tsvetkov registered a 2.96 winning average in Skewb and a 5.14 average in Clock. The Clock final provided one of the tightest margins of the tournament, with Srečković applying immense pressure before settling for second with a 5.27 average, while Filip Premužić took third at 7.34. Across every event he entered, Tsvetkov demonstrated that controlling variations across consecutive solves is the ultimate path to victory in modern speed cubing.

Beyond the sprints, the larger puzzles and extended formats delivered compelling tactical battles. David Vujasić took charge in the 5x5x5 Cube, putting together a winning average of 59.07 to edge out Vidiček at 1:02.19 and Matic Omulec at 1:06.60. Vujasić added another victory in the 6x6x6 Cube, recording an average of 1:55.03 against Srečković at 2:07.16 and Omulec at 2:25.46. Meanwhile, Vidiček claimed two wins of his own, taking Megaminx with a 43.04 average and navigating 7x7x7 Cube to victory in 3:02.00, narrowly besting Vujasić at 3:03.77.

Away from the top steps of the podium, several competitors achieved remarkable milestones across their individual campaigns. Roko Mihael Ivić took on nine events, claiming fourth in Skewb while improving his Clock personal best by 67.4 percent down to 14.90, alongside a 5.5 percent Megaminx drop to 1:52.73 and a first ever attempt at 5x5x5 Cube of 3:11.37. Andrej Šimić made his first ever attempt at 4x4x4 Cube in 3:00.55, while cutting his 2x2x2 Cube personal best by 50.6 percent to 6.57 and his classic Rubik's Cube mark by 10 percent to 40.73. Karlo Tretinjak tackled nine events, posting first ever attempts in Megaminx at 2:50.34 and 4x4x4 Cube at 2:09.26, while slashing his Skewb best by 48.9 percent to 6.23.

The progress continued with Petar Kudelić, who trimmed his 3x3x3 Cube time by 33.5 percent to 22.38, improved his 2x2x2 Cube by 13.1 percent to 9.35, and made a first ever attempt at Pyraminx in 11.65. Toni Sekula dropped his 3x3x3 Cube mark by 26.4 percent to 12.66 while logging first attempts in Pyraminx at 9.07 and 2x2x2 Cube at 3.38. Luka Hunjak produced a first ever attempt at Clock in 27.20, lowered his 2x2x2 Cube best by 21 percent to 6.82, and took 16.9 percent off his 4x4x4 Cube time to reach 2:04.36. Jan Gal Lončar made first attempts in Clock at 16.05 and Megaminx at 2:08.07, and Roko Peršić logged his first tries at Megaminx in 3:27.96 and Skewb in 14.37 alongside a 10.8 percent cut to his 3x3x3 Cube time.

The medal distribution across the weekend highlighted deep representation across neighboring countries, with Croatia earning 12 podium spots, Slovenia securing 12, Russia claiming 7, and Hungary taking 2. The combined efforts of the competitors demonstrated how structural preparation and round-by-round poise continue to elevate regional standards. As this WCA competition concluded its run in northern Croatia, the Varaždin Open 2024 wrapped up as a definitive showcase of mechanical precision and unmatched consistency heading into the 2024 season close.

Dvorana u prostoru IV. Osnovne škole Varaždin vrvjela je natjecateljskim uzbuđenjem dok su se slagatelji iz nekoliko zemalja pripremali za dva dana intenzivnih slaganja. Stolovi sa službenim mjeračima vremena, suci u punoj pripravnosti i fokusirani natjecatelji stvorili su pravo sportsko ozračje u baroknom gradu. Vikend je donio pregršt uzbuđenja u svim disciplinama koje nudi moderno brzo slaganje Rubikove kocke, a natjecateljski duh bio je na vrhuncu od samog otvaranja programa.

Glavno ime koje je obilježilo natjecanje Varaždin Open 2024 bio je Alexey Tsvetkov. Ruski natjecatelj prikazao je nevjerojatnu razinu vještine i kontrole, osvojivši prvo mjesto u čak sedam različitih disciplina. U klasičnoj disciplini 3x3x3 Cube, Tsvetkov je suvereno uzeo pobjedu s prosjekom od 6.35 sekundi, dok je njegov najbolji pojedinačni pokušaj iznosio okruglih 5.00 sekundi kroz tri kruga u konkurenciji od 65 natjecatelja. Iza njega su na postolju završili Oskar Vidiček s prosjekom 9.27 i domaći predstavnik Jakov Srečković s 9.53.

Tsvetkov je jednako impresivan bio i na manjim i većim slagalicama. U disciplini 2x2x2 Cube trijumfirao je s pobjedničkim prosjekom od 1.33 sekunde, dok je András Orbán uzeo srebro s 1.80, a Reuven Michaely broncu s 2.60. Pobjednički niz nastavio se i u 4x4x4 Cube gdje je slavio s prosjekom 31.60 sekundi uz najbrži pojedinačni rezultat od 29.39 sekundi. Tsvetkov je bez premca bio i u disciplinama Pyraminx s prosjekom 2.44, Skewb s prosjekom 2.96 te Clock s 5.14 sekundi.

Jednoručno slaganje, poznato kao 3x3x3 One-Handed, donijelo je još jednu demonstraciju klase Alekseja Cvetkova. U samo jednom krugu među 37 natjecatelja zabilježio je pobjednički prosjek od 9.35 sekundi, uz najbolji pojedinačni pokušaj od 7.58 sekundi. Drugo mjesto osvojio je slovenski natjecatelj Tomaž Saje s prosjekom 13.95, dok je treću poziciju zauzeo Oskar Vidiček s prosjekom 17.11 sekundi. Time je Tsvetkov zaokružio svoju nestvarnu seriju od sedam pojedinačnih zlata.

U većim slagalicama istaknuli su se drugi natjecatelji. David Vujasić ostvario je sjajne pobjede za Hrvatsku u dvije velike kategorije, uzevši zlato u 5x5x5 Cube s prosjekom 59.07 sekundi ispred Vidičeka i Matica Omuleca, kao i u 6x6x6 Cube s vremenom 1:55.03. Oskar Vidiček briljirao je u najzahtjevnijim slagalicama vikenda, osvojivši prvo mjesto u 7x7x7 Cube s prosjekom 3:02.00, tijesno ispred Vujasića koji je imao 3:03.77, te pobjedu u Megaminxu s prosjekom 43.04 sekunde.

Izvan borbe za medalje, brojni natjecatelji ostvarili su izvanredne osobne pomake. Lana Bedek ostvarila je ogroman napredak u disciplini Skewb s novim osobnim rekordom od 3.82 sekunde, što je 33.6 posto brže od prijašnjih 5.75, uz 8.53 u 3x3x3 Cube i prvi službeni nastup u Pyraminxu s 8.91. Andrij Rozbakov poboljšao je svoj rezultat u 4x4x4 Cube na 1:27.76, što je 31.3 posto brže od ranijih 2:07.80, a popravio je vremena i u Skewbu na 7.71 te u 2x2x2 Cube na 3.00, nastupivši u čak sedam disciplina. Vedran Maljevac zabilježio je napredak od 20.9 posto u 4x4x4 Cube s vremenom 1:25.64 te skinuo svoj rekord u 3x3x3 Cube na 19.60, uz prvi nastup u 3x3x3 One-Handed s 1:01.97. Nikola Vuković ostvario je 22.87 u 3x3x3 Cube, što je 18.4 posto brže od dosadašnjih 28.04, uz prvi jednoručni nastup s 1:01.35.

Za mnoge je ovo bilo prvo WCA natjecanje u karijeri. Filip Melnjak debitirao je na sceni nastupivši u pet disciplina, upisavši svoj prvi službeni 3x3x3 Cube rezultat od 31.54 sekunde, 11.78 u Pyraminxu te 1:30.36 u 3x3x3 One-Handed. Dorijan Peša upisao je prve rezultate s 6.06 u 2x2x2 Cube i 19.29 u 3x3x3 Cube. Mislav Toth uspješno je odradio prve pokušaje s 8.93 u 2x2x2 Cube i 22.01 u 3x3x3 Cube, dok je Duje Janković zabilježio svoja prva službena vremena od 19.63 u 2x2x2 Cube i 36.36 u 3x3x3 Cube.

Ovo speedcubing natjecanje okupilo je 67 natjecatelja kroz 11 disciplina i ukupno 20 krugova, ponudivši vrhunski dvodnevni program. Na ljestvici postolja Hrvatska i Slovenija podijelile su vrh s po 12 osvojenih postolja, dok je Rusija zahvaljujući neprikosnovenom Tsvetkovu prikupila 7, a Mađarska 2. Dvodnevni susret Varaždin Open 2024, održan u gradu Varaždin, Croatia od 7. do 8. prosinca 2024. godine, pružio je savršen završetak natjecateljske sezone i postavio visoke standarde za buduće susrete.