Benoni Cubing Comeback 2024

Ruben Grobler delivered a blistering performance across multiple rounds in the 2x2x2 Cube, setting an electric 1.57 single and a 2.05 average to capture the title in emphatic fashion. Across two action-packed days from August 31 to September 1, 2024, competitors journeyed from across the region to converge on the Actonville Community Hall. Benoni Cubing Comeback 2024 brought together a dedicated field of 52 speedcubers who travelled to test their skills over 12 rounds and 7 varied events, filling the hall with fast turns and relentless determination.

The journey proved worthwhile for the region's top solvers as the headline events delivered dramatic showdowns. In the 3x3x3 Cube, the premier discipline of any Rubik's Cube gathering, Isaac Scheepers secured the top spot on the podium with a winning average of 9.07 seconds. Scheepers laid down the weekend's best single of 8.13 seconds in the event, holding off strong challenges from Grobler, who finished runner-up with an average of 9.57 seconds, and Osman Badroodin, who locked up third place averaging 11.00 seconds in the decisive round.

The 3x3 results formed only one part of an extensive weekend of speed cubing excellence in Benoni, South Africa. Grobler was a constant fixture at the top of the standings, claiming victory not only in 2x2x2 with a final round average of 2.58 seconds ahead of Zaakir Hagee and Juandré Jacobs, but also topping the Skewb final. In that event, Grobler recorded a 5.40 average and a best single of 4.33 seconds, leading Badroodin and Marike Faught on the podium.

Badroodin put together a stellar multi-discipline campaign of his own, taking home gold in both the 4x4x4 Cube and Square-1. In the 4x4x4 final, Badroodin logged a winning average of 33.57 seconds alongside the fastest single of the bracket at 27.87 seconds, narrowly overcoming Grobler's 34.57 average and Scheepers's 38.13. Badroodin then showcased his versatility on the Square-1, producing an authoritative 10.56 average and a 9.10 single to finish ahead of Grobler and Scheepers in the single-round contest.

The blindfolded events tested pure memory and spatial awareness, demanding immense concentration under the stopwatch. In the 3x3x3 Blindfolded discipline, Yusuf Talha Sayed Karim claimed the victory with a stellar best single of 1:12.10, edging out Grobler's 1:19.53 and Taariq Hassim's 3:56.57. The demanding 4x4x4 Blindfolded event saw Marike Faught emerge as the sole competitor to secure a successful solve, taking first place with a composed time of 6:41.43.

Away from the championship podiums, the heart of this cubing competition was visible in the remarkable strides made by developing solvers across the venue. Itai Seth Polon produced massive personal bests across multiple puzzles, dropping his Skewb mark to 11.10 seconds, which was 44.6 percent faster than his prior best, alongside a 22.2 percent improvement on the classic 3x3x3 Cube at 17.93 seconds. Tumelo Kahumba also shaved vast amounts of time, cutting his Skewb personal best by 41 percent down to 14.23 seconds and posting a 4.88 in 2x2x2. Lethabo Maputla took on his first ever attempt at 4x4x4 Cube, recording a 1:30.59 to finish 15th, while improving his 3x3x3 personal best by 32.7 percent down to 18.66 seconds.

Other solvers showed tremendous progress across the competition schedule. Bonolo Ngwako Ramokgopa lowered his 2x2x2 personal best by 39.5 percent to 9.08 seconds, while Michael Kahumba advanced to 8th in Square-1 and improved his Skewb best by 30.3 percent to 11.55 seconds. Johan Venter took on his first Skewb attempt with a 13.95 and dropped his 4x4x4 Cube time by 28.8 percent to 54.32 seconds. For Muhammed Trajia, who took on four separate events in his first official appearance, the weekend yielded an 8.30 single in 2x2x2 and a 30.18 in 3x3x3. Justin Naicker also tackled his first official competition, claiming 16th place in 4x4x4 Cube with an initial effort of 1:40.71.

The depth of skill in the hall was underlined by a wide spread of quick times in the 2x2x2 event, where solvers such as Hagee, Ian Luies, Albert Kruger, and Amahle Nyembe registered fast singles and averages. In every discipline, competitors embraced the opportunity to push their limits against the timer, making every round a vibrant demonstration of the craft of speedcubing. As the curtain fell on Benoni Cubing Comeback 2024, the community celebrated a full calendar of personal milestones and competitive triumphs that set the tone for the season ahead.