Viljandi Open 2024

15 competitors stepped into the arena on July 13, 2024, facing an intense single-day gauntlet that packed 14 rounds across seven disciplines. Hosted at the Viljandi Linnaraamatukogu in Viljandi, Estonia, this WCA competition put championship-level focus to the test. Every entrant faced high pressure from the opening heats to the finals, with a packed schedule demanding precision across an array of puzzles. For Estonian speedcubing competitors, the stakes were clear: perform through back-to-back elimination stages or watch the podium spots slip away in fractions of a second.

The premier 3x3x3 Cube contest delivered exceptional drama as contenders pushed for top-tier 3x3 results. Kaur Tuule proved unbeatable over two rounds, clinching first place with a standout winning average of 7.82 seconds and a blistering best single solve of 6.27. Oliver Pällo claimed the runner-up spot with an average of 10.07, while Maksim Zemtšihhin rounded out the podium in third place at 10.53 seconds. Tuule set the standard early, showing masterclass efficiency on the classic Rubik's Cube under full tournament scrutiny.

Tuule expanded his dominance well beyond the main event, compiling an impressive tally of five gold-medal finishes during Viljandi Open 2024. In the 4x4x4 Cube, Tuule captured the title with an average of 32.13 seconds, besting Zemtšihhin, who finished second in 39.22, and Pällo, who took third in 40.28. The 2x2x2 Cube final saw another commanding performance, where Tuule took victory with an average of 2.75 seconds. Pällo secured second place at 3.18, and Zemtšihhin took third with a 3.92 average, cementing a dominant Estonian presence across the top ranks.

The one-handed event required extraordinary dexterity, and Tuule rose to the top once again. In 3x3x3 One-Handed, he secured first place with an average of 15.29 seconds and a best single solve of 12.96. Pällo captured second place with an average of 18.42, just edging Nikita Slavinski, who took third in 18.70. Tuule completed his remarkable five-event sweep in Skewb, recording a winning average of 5.63 seconds to beat out Pällo at 5.82 and Zemtšihhin at 6.05 in a tightly contested final round.

Oliver Pällo delivered his own championship-caliber performances, taking top honors in the remaining two events of the weekend. In Pyraminx, Pällo prevailed in a razor-thin final round, posting a winning average of 4.02 seconds to narrowly defeat Slavinski, who took second in 4.09, and Zemtšihhin, who finished third in 4.29. Pällo followed up with a decisive victory in Clock, averaging 4.45 seconds with a best single of 3.60. Artur Udatsnoi earned second place with an 8.49 average, followed by Zemtšihhin in third at 9.04 seconds.

Beyond the championship finals, the heart of the speed cubing weekend emerged in significant personal milestones across the roster. Andro Karuks took on his very first official tournament, entering six events and earning an eighth-place finish in 2x2x2 Cube while logging his first official attempts in Pyraminx at 9.40, 3x3x3 One-Handed at 44.07, and 3x3x3 Cube at 21.45. Gleb Zobnitsev secured a huge Pyraminx personal best of 10.76 seconds, which was 28.3 percent faster than his prior mark of 15.00. Ivan Berestovoi showed massive gains with a fourth-place finish in Clock, dropping his personal best to 7.61 seconds for a 26 percent improvement, alongside personal bests in Skewb at 4.46 and 3x3x3 Cube at 21.96.

The breakthroughs continued as Henry Liht took sixth in Skewb while improving his 3x3x3 Cube personal best by 25.8 percent to 15.06 seconds, his 4x4x4 Cube mark by 16.8 percent to 1:24.88, and his one-handed solve by 12.2 percent to 33.89. Ilja Krehov reached fifth place in Pyraminx and cut his 4x4x4 Cube personal best by 23.6 percent down to 1:10.04, alongside a 31.74 one-handed personal best and a 12.32 mark in 3x3x3 Cube. Mike Vidrik Rätsep took on seven events, placing fifth in Skewb with a 48.67 personal best in 4x4x4 Cube. Alfred Saidlo finished fifth in 3x3x3 Cube, while Jan Erik Soosaar earned fourth place in Skewb across seven events.

The 2024 gathering in Viljandi highlighted the high quality of regional competition, with all 21 podium places going to Estonian competitors. Across 14 total rounds, competitors demonstrated the intense dedication required to thrive in a high-pressure environment. As the cubing competition drew to a close at Viljandi Linnaraamatukogu, the focus shifted toward building on these hard-earned marks, setting a formidable benchmark for the next season of tournament play.