Choo Choo Cubing B 2024

A total of 75 competitors converged on the Hilton Garden Inn Chattanooga/Hamilton Place on January 14, 2024, creating an electric atmosphere marked by a massive surge of new talent. For many stepping up to the timing mats in Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA, this one-day showcase served as their official introduction to the world of speedcubing. The brisk schedule presented 13 fast-paced rounds across six official disciplines, challenging both seasoned hands and eager newcomers to perform under tournament pressure.

The 3x3x3 Cube contest stood as the centerpiece of the program, drawing 72 competitors across three rounds of intense action. Nicolás Sánchez captured victory in the main event, delivering a winning average of 7.43 seconds alongside a best single solve of 7.14 seconds. Matias Marcantoni-Nunez claimed the second spot on the podium with an 8.03 average, while Rowan Stough earned third place with an 8.96 mark. These standout 3x3 results crowned an exceptionally competitive classic Rubik's Cube bracket.

In the lightning-fast 2x2x2 Cube event, Matias Marcantoni-Nunez stepped atop the podium with a dazzling 1.57 winning average and a 1.38 single. Nicolás Sánchez followed closely behind in second place at 1.78, while Sujan Feist earned third place with a 2.22 average. The event featured exceptional depth throughout the 71-person field, highlighted by Feist posting a blazing 1.03 single and Marcantoni-Nunez clocking a 1.22 single during earlier rounds of the tournament.

The distinctive non-twisting Clock discipline brought technical precision to the table as Jasper Wolfe-Tham secured the top position with an average of 4.82 seconds and a 3.90 best single. Andreas Lambropoulos took second place with a 5.94 average, and Roman Wofford rounded out the top three at 6.30. In the Square-1 competition, Alex Bohac earned first place with a 10.77 winning average, outlasting Marcantoni-Nunez at 13.77 and Henry Schueneman at 15.97.

The Pyraminx and 3x3x3 One-Handed brackets also delivered thrilling conclusions at Choo Choo Cubing B 2024. Keon Wilson navigated the pyramid puzzle to victory with a winning average of 2.07 seconds, finishing ahead of Bohac at 2.35 and Schueneman at 3.37. Lambropoulos then returned to the top of the podium in the one-handed division, securing first place with a 13.25 average to lead Wilson at 13.72 and Daniel Cheng at 15.07.

Away from the podium battles, several competitors achieved remarkable milestones in their personal development. Knox Chambers entered all six events, earning an 8th-place finish in Pyraminx while posting a Clock debut of 14.13 and cutting their Square-1 personal best by 78.8 percent down to 16.63. Julian Smith completed a 2x2x2 debut in 5.84 seconds and improved their 3x3x3 personal best by 56.8 percent down to 26.00. Charles Immanuel West tackled five events, recording debuts in Clock at 25.83 and One-Handed at 1:14.63, while Eli Kaufman completed a Square-1 debut in 24.46 and took 12th in 2x2x2 with a personal best of 2.24.

The wave of progression continued across the floor as Logan Ramsey logged a One-Handed debut of 1:02.22 alongside a 37.5 percent improvement in 2x2x2 to reach 2.95. Tucker Wilson made their official WCA competition debut across five events, posting marks of 7.66 in Pyraminx and 22.81 in 3x3x3. Maci Strickland also contested their first tournament, registering attempts across five disciplines including 9.91 in Pyraminx and 17.73 in Clock. Avery Thomas completed their tournament debut with four events, highlighted by an 18.56 single in the classic 3x3x3.

Across every bracket and discipline, all 18 podium positions went to competitors representing the United States, underscoring the formidable national talent gathered in Hamilton County. From the nervous excitement of first-time entrants to the polished consistency of the champions, Choo Choo Cubing B 2024 provided a perfect snapshot of speed cubing growth in early 2024. As these athletes look ahead to their next cubing competition, the impressive debuts and sweeping personal records achieved in Chattanooga suggest that the upcoming season will be brighter than ever.