Apple Cider Open MA 2024

A dead heat at the summit of the 2x2x2 Cube standings provided the most electrifying moment of the weekend at Apple Cider Open MA 2024. Both Chris Chi and Aedan Bryant concluded the final round tied with matching 2.06 second averages, leaving the contest settled on tiebreak procedures while Levi Gibson followed close behind in third place at 2.46 seconds. The sheer precision demanded by the smaller puzzle set the tone for an intense day of competition where mere hundredths of a second dictated the top steps of the podium.

Held at Ashfield Town Hall on June 22, 2024, the WCA competition welcomed 39 competitors to Ashfield, Massachusetts, USA for a packed slate of speedcubing. Across 11 rounds spanning 5 events, participants tested their solving abilities across multiple disciplines. The tight margins at the top were not confined to the shorter solves, as podium battles remained fiercely contested across the entire schedule of events throughout the single-day gathering.

The 3x3x3 Cube competition delivered another dramatic chapter in the battle for podium supremacy. Alexei Sinyavin claimed top honors with a winning average of 7.99 seconds, anchored by a best single of 6.12 seconds across three demanding rounds featuring 38 competitors. The silver and bronze positions saw another thrillingly close finish, with Chris Chi securing second place with an average of 8.33 seconds, just two hundredths of a second ahead of Aedan Bryant who posted an 8.35 average. These classic Rubik's Cube finishes underscored how competitive Massachusetts cubing remains in 2024.

Alexei Sinyavin secured a second tournament victory by dominating the Megaminx event. Out of 19 competitors across two rounds, Sinyavin registered a winning average of 27.92 seconds and a best single of 26.93 seconds to finish well clear of the field. Aedan Bryant earned the runner-up position with a 48.96 average, while Chris Chi captured third place with a 59.58 mark, completing an all-United States sweep across the podium spots.

Beyond the headline battles, several competitors made massive personal strides and tackled unfamiliar puzzles. Elias Kulp took on five separate events at Apple Cider Open MA 2024, logging a 3:01.30 in their first ever attempt at 6x6x6 Cube alongside a 6.02 in their first ever attempt at Skewb, while slashing their Megaminx personal best by 34.5 percent down to 1:50.33. Noah Russo took on three events, posting a 16.62 in their first ever attempt at Skewb while improving their 2x2x2 Cube personal best by 63.2 percent to 6.42 seconds. Henry Raiti entered four events, logging 4:52.27 on their first ever Megaminx attempt, 21.26 on their first ever Skewb attempt, and improving their 2x2x2 Cube personal best by 30.3 percent to 4.39. Seth Hayashida logged a 3:32.64 in their first ever 6x6x6 Cube attempt and lowered their 3x3x3 Cube personal best by 18.2 percent to 10.00 seconds.

Newcomers and seasoned speed cubing entrants alike embraced major challenges throughout the venue. Chase Allen dropped their Skewb personal best by 22.1 percent to 6.11 seconds and improved their 3x3x3 Cube best by 17.4 percent to 18.96. Bobby Kiernan secured a 10th-place finish in Skewb after dropping their personal best by 25.4 percent to 5.02 seconds. Mason Fitzgerald entered their first WCA competition, tackling five separate events and recording a first ever attempt of 20.74 on 3x3x3 Cube, 4.71 on 2x2x2 Cube, and 5:01.41 on Megaminx. Kouta Hachiya also made their debut at this cubing competition across four events, logging first attempts of 19.25 on 3x3x3 Cube, 3:35.88 on Megaminx, and 10.62 on Skewb.

In the Skewb tournament, Saisabari Ramesh delivered consistent speed across two rounds of 22 competitors to capture the title with an average of 3.38 seconds and a single of 2.97. Chris Chi followed in second place with an average of 4.02 seconds, while Jeffrey Li rounded out the podium in third with a 4.38 average. The event showcased high dexterity and rapid corner manipulations in one of the most dynamic formats of the day.

Big cube specialists found their spotlight in the 6x6x6 Cube event, where Jeffrey Li outpaced 15 competitors across a single round to claim victory with an average of 1:27.77 and a best single of 1:24.42. Aedan Bryant locked in second place with an average of 1:54.47, and Alexei Sinyavin captured third with 2:12.88. The heavy test of endurance and spatial memory concluded a memorable day of racing inside the historic town hall venue.

As the day wrapped up in Ashfield, the official 3x3 results and podium totals reflected an event defined by precision and tight competition across every round. With 15 podium places distributed across diverse disciplines, Apple Cider Open MA 2024 highlighted the skill of top local solvers while establishing new benchmark times for dozens of developing participants preparing for their next season on the regional speedcubing circuit.