Coffs Big Banana Bonanza 2024

A blistering 14.75 blindfolded single by Charlie Eggins set the high-water mark at the Norm Jordan Pavillion, but the true spirit of the Coffs Big Banana Bonanza 2024 lived in the buzzing energy between rounds. Over the weekend of September 28 to September 29, 2024, 47 competitors gathered in Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, Australia, to test their dexterity across eight different puzzles and 17 demanding rounds of tournament action.

The atmosphere of the speedcubing gathering in Coffs Harbour was shaped as much by camaraderie as it was by the race against the timer. Across two days of intense speed cubing, participants shared techniques, scrambled puzzles for each other, and supported rivals during side events. From newcomers experiencing their very first WCA competition to seasoned hands, the gathering highlighted the shared dedication that defines the modern Rubik's Cube community in regional New South Wales.

Eggins turned in a dominant showing across multiple disciplines, claiming three tournament titles. In the premier 3x3x3 Cube, Eggins secured victory with an average of 6.72 seconds, complemented by a tournament-best single solve of 5.01. Bryan Eng finished in second place with a 7.90 average, while Lachlan Adams-Romyn claimed third on the podium averaging 8.11. The 3x3 results capped three rounds of fierce competition among 47 entrants vying for the top spots.

Eng made his own major impact across the board, earning two gold finishes and multiple podium spots. In the 4x4x4 Cube, Eng captured the win with a 32.89 average, ahead of Hans Lin at 35.84 and Jamie Otsu at 36.12. Eng also prevailed in the Pyraminx final, posting a winning average of 3.11 to edge out Liam Pipia at 3.22 and Eggins at 3.49. Eng added second-place finishes in both the 2x2x2 Cube and Skewb.

Notable strides filled the scorecards of athletes making breakthroughs away from the podium spotlight. Joshua Johnson achieved massive progress at the Coffs Big Banana Bonanza 2024, dropping his Pyraminx personal best to 11.02 seconds, a 53.9 percent improvement, while also carving 52.9 percent off his 2x2x2 mark to reach 7.02 and taking 36.8 percent off his 3x3x3 best to hit 24.06. Tiana Panaia lowered her 2x2x2 best by 53.5 percent to 6.09 seconds while logging her first career attempts in both 3x3x3 One-Handed and 4x4x4.

Other competitors took on ambitious schedules across the event lineup. George Handley made significant leaps, improving his Skewb mark by 41.2 percent down to 5.77 seconds and his Pyraminx solve by 30.2 percent to 4.21. Max Tao Zhuang shaved 37.7 percent off his 3x3x3 time to finish with a 12.84 personal best. Agam Singh Khural reduced his 2x2x2 mark by 29.9 percent to 2.55 while tackling 4x4x4 and One-Handed for the first time. Ray Cusack cut 27.3 percent from his 2x2x2 best to score 2.85. Oscar Luong made his official debut by entering seven events, including a 4.16 in 2x2x2 and a 10.10 in Pyraminx. Seth Baker also debuted, recording a 4.37 in 2x2x2 and a 21.04 in the 3x3x3 Cube.

Specialist events brought exceptional performances across the tournament program. In the Megaminx, Jamie Otsu delivered a commanding win with a 35.60 average, outpacing Lucas Otsu at 51.20 and Eggins at 53.80. The Skewb title went to Thomas Tinlin, whose 3.39 average led Eng at 3.76 and Elijah La Porte at 3.92. La Porte struck gold in the 3x3x3 One-Handed event, securing the title with a 12.01 average ahead of Eggins at 12.39 and Eng at 13.08.

In the 2x2x2 Cube, Eggins earned his second gold of the weekend with a 1.78 average, leading Eng at 2.29 and Tinlin at 2.49. The event saw remarkable depth, with Eng posting a 1.16 single and a 1.75 average during earlier stages, while Adams-Romyn recorded a 1.49 single and 1.94 average. Eggins added a 1.33 single, and La Porte recorded a 1.47 single during the rounds.

Eggins completed his triple-crown weekend by capturing the 3x3x3 Blindfolded title, navigating memory and execution to log a winning 14.75 single. Hans Lin took second place with a 30.59 solve, while Conan Mo rounded out the podium with a time of 1:03.56. All 24 podium positions across the weekend were claimed by Australian competitors, highlighting the standard of play.

As tables were cleared and timers packed away at the Norm Jordan Pavillion, the Coffs Big Banana Bonanza 2024 stood as a testament to the growth of regional cubing competition. From sharp technical battles in blindfolded solving and side events to personal milestones achieved across the 47-competitor roster, the weekend proved that community warmth and elite speedcubing flourish together on the New South Wales coast.