Birmingham Summer 2024

Caleb Wolf Dunn delivered the definitive performance of the weekend at Birmingham Summer 2024, averaging an exceptional 7.64 seconds across the final round to secure victory in the standard 3x3x3 Cube. Held at the University of Birmingham inside Sports Hall 3, the gathering brought together 184 competitors on August 17 and 18. While classic speedcubing challenges the nervous system with furious turning and split-second decisions, the weekend offered a full spectrum of puzzle formats across seven distinct events and 17 grueling rounds of head-to-head play.

The 3x3 results at the top of the standings reflected intense domestic competition, with United Kingdom solvers sweeping the podium spots. Dunn stood atop the pile after producing a best single of 6.56 seconds during the three rounds of the Rubik's Cube main event. Musa Marsh secured second place with an 8.46 average, narrowly edging Danny Morgan, who took third on an 8.55 average. Dunn also made a massive impact across multiple disciplines, claiming podium finishes in four separate events across the tournament schedule.

In the 2x2x2 Cube, international talent pushed to the fore as Anael Champion of France captured the title with a swift 2.03 winning average, highlighted by a 1.64 single in the final. Dunn kept the pressure on by claiming second place with a 2.09 mark, while fellow countryman Daniel Robinson rounded out the podium at 2.26 seconds. The two-round contest featured 162 competitors, serving as one of the most heavily populated brackets of the entire WCA competition in the West Midlands.

The big-cube events featured commanding displays of speed cubing efficiency. Dean David mastered the 4x4x4 Cube, clocking a 25.30 average alongside the best single of the event at 23.69 seconds. Harvie Partridge earned second place in 29.45 seconds, while Daniel Partridge finished third at 32.04 seconds. Danny Morgan took control of the 5x5x5 Cube, winning the gold with a 53.34 average and a 47.51 single, finishing ahead of Macau representative Max Kwok U Sam at 54.31 and David at 55.26.

Away from the main stages, several competitors achieved remarkable milestones across their individual campaigns. Claire Connell tackled seven events throughout the schedule, recording a massive 76.3 percent improvement on the Skewb to log a personal best of 10.46 seconds while also dropping her 2x2x2 mark to 5.45 seconds. Aadam Malhi cut 64.9 percent from a previous mark in Pyraminx to post a 12.53 personal best and took 31.9 percent off in the 3x3x3 with a 20.82 single, in addition to attempting 2x2x2 for the first time with a 5.64 solve. Noah Poulton knocked 50.1 percent off a prior 5x5x5 time with a 1:36.37 single, improved to 51.40 in 4x4x4, and took on Megaminx for the first time, notching a 1:29.21 finish.

Progress continued across all brackets as Ray Chen carved out an eighth-place finish in the 5x5x5 Cube, lowered his Megaminx personal best by 48 percent to 58.35 seconds, improved his Pyraminx single to 4.16 seconds, and logged a first-ever Skewb attempt of 4.24 seconds. Felix Barratt achieved a 24.3 percent drop in 5x5x5 down to 1:33.52, while attempting Pyraminx and Megaminx for the first time. Zayan Ambalia secured a 55.9 percent leap forward in 2x2x2 with a 6.97 single and posted debut marks in Pyraminx and Skewb. Katrina Cheung took on six events, recording first-ever attempts in Pyraminx at 4.69, 4x4x4 at 1:39.77, and Megaminx at 2:15.23, while George Alexander Rosleff improved his 4x4x4 best by 35.8 percent to 48.84 seconds alongside debut attempts in Megaminx and Skewb.

The side events provided thrilling action with rapid-fire rotations across non-cubic geometry. In the Pyraminx final, Edward Burgess prevailed with a sharp 2.17 average and a best single of 1.68 seconds, holding off Daniel Partridge at 2.36 and Dunn at 2.60 seconds. Danny Morgan earned his second victory of the weekend in Skewb, taking first place with a 3.63 average, while Harvie Partridge claimed the runner-up spot in 4.79 and Dunn secured another bronze in 5.50 seconds.

Matt Stephenson showcased incredible endurance on the twelve-sided Megaminx, winning the title with a 44.80 average and an event-best 41.59 single. Ainesh Sevellaraja of Malaysia followed in second place with a 45.75 average, while Morgan claimed third place at 46.21 seconds. Across the entire program, host nation competitors secured 18 podium positions, joined by single podium appearances from France, Macau, and Malaysia.

The successful conclusion of Birmingham Summer 2024 wrapped up a high-tempo weekend of elite solving in Birmingham, West Midlands, United Kingdom. From lightning-fast sprints to multi-layered tactical puzzles, the 2024 cubing competition displayed the full depth of skill present across the domestic and international scenes as competitors now set their sights on the upcoming season.