Back to School Colorado 2024

Jacob Nokes set the standard in Denver, Colorado, USA, delivering a decisive 7.77 winning average across four intense rounds to claim the top prize in the main event. His commanding run capped a memorable weekend of competition, anchored by a blistering single solve of 6.67. The performance reinforced his standing at the top of the regional leaderboards and set the tone for a high-paced day of speedcubing action among seasoned contenders.

Held on August 24, 2024, at the Denver Police Protective Association and PPA Event Center, Back to School Colorado 2024 brought together a diverse field of 105 competitors. Across 12 rounds in five distinct disciplines, participants tackled everything from the classic mechanical puzzle to specialised variants. The full schedule tested technical execution and endurance alike, showcasing the depth of talent present in the American cubing community throughout the 2024 season.

The premier 3x3x3 Cube contest drew a massive lineup of 100 competitors, making it the most heavily contested discipline of the meet. In the final round, Oliver Michael Sitja Sichel applied pressure with a consistent 8.31 average to take second place, while Jack Bellomy secured the third spot on the podium with an 8.37 average. The final 3x3 results reflected a disciplined showing from the veterans, who kept their turn counts low and execution smooth under the pressure of the elimination rounds.

Nokes doubled his gold tally in the 3x3x3 One-Handed event, navigating a field of 63 entrants to win with an average of 15.69 and a best single time of 13.90. The single-handed discipline demands total control over finger dexterity and cube orientation, and Nokes edged out David Brady, who claimed second place with a 15.81 average. Miles Walcott finished in third position with an average of 16.24, rounding out a tight podium battle in one of the most mechanically demanding formats on the schedule.

In the Pyraminx division, Jack Bellomy delivered a dominant performance to take the title, averaging 2.45 across the final round with a best single solve of 1.47 among 84 competitors. Reid James Sungy followed in second place with a 3.39 average, holding off William Mitchell, who claimed third with a mark of 3.41. Meanwhile, the Clock event featured international precision as Poland's Jakub Turczyk secured victory with a 3.70 average and a single of 3.00, outperforming Olivia Schroeder at 5.24 and Alex Aguayo at 5.78.

Beyond the podium finishes, the competition floor was defined by athletes achieving breakthrough milestones and expanding into new disciplines. Adela Jo Raddatz took on three events, posting an exceptional 59.6 percent improvement in the 2x2x2 Cube with a time of 9.85 compared to her previous 24.36, while dropping her 3x3x3 Cube best by 57.2 percent to 51.27 and logging a first ever attempt in Pyraminx at 15.10. Rayne Lelah shaved 62.4 percent off her 2x2x2 Cube mark with a new personal best of 4.77 down from 12.67, alongside a 17.01 in the 3x3x3 Cube. Rowan Lighthouse entered five events, recording a first ever 2x2x2 Cube attempt of 5.80 and securing a 47.4 percent improvement in Pyraminx with a 5.91 best.

That drive continued through the rest of the roster as competitors unlocked major personal benchmarks. Jacob Blancq tackled four events, recording his first Clock solve at 30.54 and slashing his Pyraminx best by 40 percent down to 11.48. JP Grace registered his first attempt in 2x2x2 Cube at 14.30 and trimmed his Pyraminx time by 35.5 percent to 12.03. Ahsan Afzal posted a 7.80 on his first Pyraminx attempt while cutting his 3x3x3 Cube mark by 34.9 percent to 16.28. Maddox Breitweiser registered a 1:14.07 in his first 3x3x3 One-Handed solve alongside a 31.4 percent drop in Pyraminx to 5.09, and Kyo Osorio completed five events, logging first attempts in Clock at 20.91, Pyraminx at 11.16, and One-Handed at 1:15.19.

The 2x2x2 Cube final served up the closest margins of the entire WCA competition, with the top three podium spots decided by mere hundredths of a second. Eashan Tilaye claimed first place with an average of 2.43 and a tournament-best single of 1.75 across 95 competitors. Alex Aguayo took second position just two-hundredths behind with a 2.45 average, while Bryan B. Conrrado finished third at 2.46 in a thrilling demonstration of explosive turning speed and high-level preparation.

As the single-day meeting at Back to School Colorado 2024 concluded, the results underlined both the staying power of proven performers and the steady rise of emerging solvers. With 14 podium finishes captured by American competitors alongside international representation from Poland, the gathering provided a comprehensive showcase of modern speed cubing skill. The solid foundations built on the classic Rubik's Cube and specialised puzzles alike set an encouraging benchmark as solvers turn their sights toward the upcoming phases of the competitive season.