4x4 by Four Madison Lakes 2024

Brian Johnson set the benchmark across the floor at Monona Terrace by capturing the marquee 3x3x3 Cube title with a 6.76 winning average and a crisp 6.50 best single. His clinical turns topped a crowded field of 104 competitors over three rounds, concluding an intense day of Rubik's Cube action in Madison, Wisconsin, USA on December 7, 2024. The 4x4 by Four Madison Lakes 2024 brought together 105 competitors for 10 rounds across 5 events, delivering a complete showcase of high-level speedcubing.

While blindfolded disciplines are famed across the sport for the intense memorisation and uninterrupted focus they demand from solvers, that exact same mental clarity defined the day in Madison. Solving under competition pressure requires total visual and spatial discipline, whether tracing pieces sight unseen or navigating fast-paced turns in open rounds. Every competitor had to summon deep concentration as timers started and the room watched the fastest hands in the region operate with relentless efficiency.

Henry Lichner produced a commanding performance in the big cubes, claiming dual victories in both 4x4x4 Cube and 5x5x5 Cube. In the 4x4x4 Cube, Lichner navigated three rounds against 75 competitors, sealing first place with a 24.96 winning average and a 23.12 single. Mihir Narayan took second with a 27.40 average, followed by Amey Gaba in third at 30.17. Lichner returned in the 5x5x5 Cube to post a dominant 44.16 average, while Johnson secured second at 52.09 and Narayan collected third at 52.72.

Sprint events brought blisteringly fast turnarounds, led by Carter Kucala in the 2x2x2 Cube. Kucala took top honors with a 1.52 average and a 1.30 single, leading a podium that featured Johnson in second at 1.76 and Simon Kellum in third at 2.08. Johnson then secured his second event victory in the 3x3x3 One-Handed, averaging 10.54 to hold off Kucala, who finished second at 10.67, and Zeke Mackay, who claimed third at 13.77. The overall podium count saw competitors from the USA earn 11 places while India captured 4.

The 3x3 results formed the centerpiece of the program, where Johnson held off a determined charge from Mackay and Narayan. Mackay finished runner-up with a 7.07 average, while Narayan earned the third step on the podium with a 7.41 mark. Behind the podium battles, this cubing competition featured a vibrant slate of personal milestones throughout the field, reflecting the steady depth of the local speed cubing community as participants tackled ambitious multi-event schedules across the weekend schedule.

Away from the trophies, several competitors delivered massive personal breakthroughs at 4x4 by Four Madison Lakes 2024. Elliot Hauser cut a massive 53.4 percent off his previous 3x3x3 Cube mark to finish with a 26.00 personal best, alongside his first ever attempt at 2x2x2 Cube of 5.63. Lucas Orville improved his 3x3x3 One-Handed mark by 47 percent down to 1:01.01, shaved his 3x3x3 Cube time by 14 percent to 21.01, and took his first ever attempt at 2x2x2 Cube with a 5.55 result.

First-time event entries highlighted the rest of the roster as solvers expanded their competitive ranges. Ethan Chou logged his first ever attempt at 5x5x5 Cube with a 1:58.16, made his debut in 4x4x4 Cube at 56.04, and dropped his 2x2x2 Cube mark by 36.3 percent to 3.35. Nolan Yeung took on five events, logging a 25.52 in his first ever attempt at 3x3x3 One-Handed, a 40.29 in his first 4x4x4 Cube attempt, and a 1:40.06 personal best in 5x5x5 Cube. Benjamin Cai registered a 58.18 in his first 4x4x4 Cube attempt, a 2:58.08 in 5x5x5 Cube, and a 4.76 in 2x2x2 Cube. Ken Law logged an 8.19 in his first 2x2x2 Cube attempt and lowered his 3x3x3 Cube time by 29.8 percent to 34.00, while Andrew C. Liu tackled his first 4x4x4 Cube attempt in 1:19.83 and Ethan Graham took his first 4x4x4 Cube attempt in 2:38.09.

With 105 competitors testing their limits across 10 rounds of play, 4x4 by Four Madison Lakes 2024 stood as a comprehensive showcase of talent and technical skill. From Lichner and Johnson securing multiple titles to the dozens of personal records established across every puzzle size, the WCA competition highlighted the dedication required to perform on the tournament stage. As the 2024 season progresses, the results in Madison reaffirm the continuous growth and standard of competitive cubing across the region.