Corduff Cubing Sunday 2024

While the cerebral, deliberate nature of events like Fewest Moves relies entirely on pen, paper, and methodical planning in stark contrast to high-octane speed events, rapid execution was the definitive law of the day at the Corduff Sports Centre. Ciar!n Beahan delivered the single most striking performance of the entire gathering by sweeping through four separate events, punctuated by a commanding victory in the premier 3x3x3 Cube with a winning average of 7.06 seconds.

Across the entire span of February 18, 2024, the one-day gathering brought together 98 competitors in Corduff, Dublin, Ireland. Organised as an official WCA competition, the action tested speedcubing talent across 6 diverse disciplines and 11 rounds of intense solving. A total of 18 podium spots were awarded during the year 2024 fixture, with Irish competitors securing 15 of them, flanked by two podium finishes for the United Kingdom and one for India.

The premier 3x3x3 Cube contest drew 95 competitors across three rounds, serving up some of the most competitive 3x3 results seen on Irish soil this season. Beahan took the title over Richard Madden, who finished second with an 8.19 average, and CJ Furey, who placed third at 8.61. Beahan also secured the fastest single solve of the finals with a 6.15, having earlier notched a 6.10 single and a 6.84 average during earlier rounds to solidify his absolute control of the Rubik's Cube category.

Beahan extended his dominance across the larger twisty puzzles, securing first place in both the 4x4x4 Cube and 5x5x5 Cube events. In the 4x4x4 Cube, he clinched the title with an average of 24.65 seconds and a best single of 21.33, outpacing runner-up Cillian Hainbach at 34.48 and the United Kingdom's Matt Stephenson at 37.27. In the 5x5x5 Cube, Beahan claimed gold in 43.51 seconds, well ahead of Madden's 1:00.26 and Hainbach's 1:04.48.

The one-handed event presented another masterclass from Beahan, who topped the 54-player field with a winning average of 13.27 seconds. Furey followed in second place with a 15.56 average, while Madden took third at 15.72. The broader cubing competition showcased a wide array of mechanics and turning styles, ranging from the twelve-sided Megaminx to the rapid corner-turning triangular Pyraminx.

Away from the top steps, individual development took center stage across all experience levels. Tiernan O'Brien logged massive personal bests across multiple events, trimming his 3x3x3 One-Handed time by 67.9 percent down to 21.99 seconds, taking 28.4 percent off his 5x5x5 Cube mark with 1:58.39, and dropping his 3x3x3 Cube personal best by 26.9 percent to 10.19. Tadhg O'Shea improved his one-handed mark by 60.3 percent down to 30.23, dropped his Pyraminx best by 48.6 percent to 5.07, and made a first ever attempt at 4x4x4 Cube with 1:57.59. Elijah Gillespie dropped his 3x3x3 Cube personal best by 37.6 percent to 22.56 while recording a first Pyraminx attempt of 14.56. Sean Ahearne cut 29.4 percent off his one-handed record to post 38.06 and took on his first Megaminx solve in 3:49.82.

First-time official attempts highlighted the dedication across the venue. Antica Dragos made their official debut by tackling six events, including a 13.16 first attempt on the 3x3x3 Cube and an 18th-place Megaminx finish. Benny King entered their first official event lineup, recording opening marks of 39.68 in One-Handed and 2:19.68 on Megaminx. Ryan O'Callaghan made first attempts at Pyraminx with 6.32 and 5x5x5 Cube in 1:54.04, alongside a personal best 1:13.77 in Megaminx for 8th place. Ignas Sneideris completed six events, logging first attempts in One-Handed at 36.33, 4x4x4 Cube at 1:59.72, and 5x5x5 Cube at 3:48.88 for 35th place.

The remaining podiums at Corduff Cubing Sunday 2024 saw distinct specialists capture well-earned victories. In the Megaminx, India's Prabhav Rajaram Nayak posted a superb 39.94 winning average with a single of 35.89 to take first place ahead of Stephenson's 49.55 and Madden's 55.11. The Pyraminx final brought a victory for Miłosz Andzel, who achieved a 3.32 average and a 2.38 single to finish ahead of Mason Mulready at 3.78 and Tiernan McCorry at 3.83.

By the time the final timers were packed away, Corduff Cubing Sunday 2024 had delivered a masterclass in speed cubing skill and community growth. With four gold medals for Beahan and countless breakthrough milestones across the board, the tournament in Dublin provided an exceptional display of dexterity and poise that sets a high benchmark for the remainder of the 2024 speedcubing calendar.