6x6 Still in a Madison Park 2024

Henry Lichner produced the defining performance of the weekend with a dominant 1:21.14 winning average in the 6x6x6 Cube, capping a display of big cube precision. While deliberate, pen-and-paper challenges like the Fewest Moves event demand silent contemplation and meticulous planning, this gathering leaned entirely into the fast-paced intensity of the stopwatch. Held on September 15, 2024, at Brittingham Park in Madison, Wisconsin, USA, 6x6 Still in a Madison Park 2024 brought together 34 competitors for a packed schedule across 5 events and 11 rounds of elite speedcubing.

The 6x6x6 Cube final served as the competition centerpiece, spanning three full rounds of head-to-head racing. Lichner took top honors with his 1:21.14 average, also securing the weekend best single of 1:11.56. Nathan Phillips finished as the runner-up with an average of 1:36.55, while Paul Mahvi took the third podium position with a 1:37.25 mark. The large hardware tested stamina and turn accuracy across the 24 competitors who entered the event, rewarding those who maintained control through extended solving phases.

Lichner carried his momentum across the higher-order puzzles, claiming another victory in the 5x5x5 Cube. In that final, he recorded a winning average of 46.59 and the round best single of 42.70 to clear the 28-player field. Mihir Narayan of India secured second place with a mark of 51.91, followed closely by Carter Thomas in third at 52.53. The performance cemented Lichner as a double champion at the Madison cubing competition, showcasing steady efficiency across multiple multi-layered puzzles.

The 7x7x7 Cube delivered another tightly contested podium, featuring 22 competitors over two rounds. Nathan Phillips claimed the victory by posting a 2:17.04 average along with the best single of the event at 2:14.85. Lichner followed narrowly behind to take second place with a 2:18.18 average, while Max Walaszek locked down the third spot on the podium at 2:29.96. The event tested deep endurance, with top solvers separating themselves through rapid layer alignment and center construction.

Beyond the podium finishes, the tournament provided plenty of breakthroughs for competitors climbing the ranks. Anish Gogineni delivered one of the largest gains of the day in the 2x2x2 Cube, dropping his personal best to 2.58 seconds, which was 62.3 percent faster than his previous mark of 6.85, alongside setting a 3x3x3 Cube personal best of 9.72. Jameson R. Sramek took on all five events, securing a 5x5x5 Cube personal best of 1:30.62 that improved upon his prior time by 35.5 percent, as well as an 11.3 percent drop in the 6x6x6 Cube to 3:10.28. Tenley Baumann logged a first ever official attempt in the 5x5x5 Cube with a time of 2:32.36, while Zachary Kaczmarczyk advanced his 2x2x2 Cube standard to 3.79 seconds, a 20.2 percent improvement.

The personal milestones continued throughout the roster in Madison. Morris Brace improved his 2x2x2 Cube standard by 16.4 percent with a new best of 7.80. Varun Gudibanda completed all five disciplines, setting a 7x7x7 Cube personal best of 4:30.06 to cut 10 percent off his previous benchmark, alongside a 2:45.72 personal best in the 6x6x6 Cube. Charles F. Roller competed across five events, improving his 3x3x3 Cube best to 9.07 seconds, an 8.7 percent drop, while Cayden Grice completed their first WCA competition by recording marks in three events, including a 17.28 in the 3x3x3 Cube and a 7.91 in the 2x2x2 Cube.

In the classic Rubik's Cube category, 34 solvers lined up for the two-round contest, generating intense drama in the final 3x3 results. Zeke Mackay secured first place with a 6.62 winning average and the best single of the event at 6.15. Lichner challenged for the title once again, finishing second with a 6.73 average, while Mihir Narayan completed the podium in third place at 6.78. The slim margin of sixteen hundredths of a second between first and third highlighted the tight execution required at the front of the pack.

The sprint dynamic peaked during the 2x2x2 Cube contest, where Max Walaszek captured the title with a 1.63 winning average across two rounds. Brian Johnson earned second place with a 1.68 average, while Mackay added another podium finish by taking third in 1.84 seconds. Across the entire 2024 meet, solvers representing the USA secured 13 podium places, while India claimed 2, reflecting competitive international representation on the stage.

The single-day gathering at 6x6 Still in a Madison Park 2024 wrapped up with high turnout across all five categories. From the rapid-fire turning of the smaller puzzles to the strategic patience demanded by the massive cubes, the speed cubing action demonstrated the broad skill required across modern WCA events. As the competitors depart Madison, their marks stand as a testament to precision and race-day execution.