Council Bluffs Cubing Buff 2024

66 competitors gathered on May 26, 2024, bringing rapid hands and high focus to Council Bluffs, Iowa, USA. Across nine rounds and five events, the Holiday Inn Council Bluffs hosted a packed schedule of speed cubing excellence. Solvers from across the country converged to test their skills under official conditions, pushing each puzzle format to the limit over a single action-filled day of tournament play.

Nathan Rahn emerged as a standout force at Council Bluffs Cubing Buff 2024, claiming two gold medals and reaching four separate podiums. Rahn controlled the 2x2x2 Cube competition across two rounds, locking down victory in the final with a 2.05 average and a best single of 1.62 among 53 competitors. He also claimed top honors in Square-1, outpacing a field of 25 to win with an 11.77 average and a best single of 8.64.

Marcus Kamen matched that multi-event dominance by securing two event victories of his own. In the headlining 3x3x3 Cube event, Kamen set the standard across three rounds among 66 entrants, capturing first place in the final with an 8.08 average and a best single of 7.05. The classic Rubik's Cube final featured tight margins, as Jayben Keene claimed the second-place spot with an 8.32 average and Anton Angeletti secured third with an 8.54 mark.

Kamen also seized the title in Pyraminx, leading a 51-competitor field across two rounds to win with a blistering 2.17 average and a 1.61 single. Rahn showed his versatility once again by taking second place with a 2.95 average, while Mason Langenderfer earned third place with a 3.40 average. In Megaminx, Langenderfer climbed to the top of the podium, capturing the win in the 29-competitor event with a 1:01.70 average and a 55.06 single.

The 2x2x2 Cube final showcased an intense battle for the top spots, with Walker Welch finishing runner-up behind Rahn courtesy of a 2.63 average, while Langenderfer followed closely in third with 2.87. Square-1 action brought additional drama, as Shain Papalotl Longbehn finished second with a 14.30 average and Keene earned his second podium finish of the meet with a 14.76 average to take third.

Away from the top steps of the podium, several competitors delivered massive personal breakthroughs during this speedcubing showcase. Chase Hedrick logged a 4.16 single on the 2x2x2 Cube to beat his previous best by 78.6 percent, alongside a 6.49 Pyraminx single that cut his mark by 57.7 percent and a 16.35 3x3x3 single that improved by 48.1 percent. Jake Noring entered five events, cutting his Square-1 personal best by 57.3 percent down to 30.15 while making his first ever official attempts in Megaminx at 2:47.51 and 2x2x2 Cube at 6.02. Daniel Torres Miranda registered a 49.2 percent improvement on the 3x3x3 Cube with a 14.95 single, alongside his first official attempts in Square-1 at 27.14 and Pyraminx at 7.61. Lee Jackson posted a 40.2 percent drop on the 3x3x3 Cube with a 20.47 single and improved his Pyraminx best by 21.7 percent to 15.39.

The day also offered the perfect stage for debut efforts and new milestones across the WCA competition roster. William Nyberg tackled five events in his first official appearance, posting his best finish of 18th in Square-1 with a first attempt of 35.65 while also recording initial marks of 3:19.62 in Megaminx and 24.21 in the 3x3x3 Cube. Finn Coons made his tournament debut across five events, logging first attempts of 5.65 on the 2x2x2 Cube, 4:29.58 on Megaminx, and 29.34 on the 3x3x3 Cube. Rogan Brownlee took on five events, finishing 7th in the 2x2x2 Cube while logging his first attempts at Pyraminx in 5.27 and Square-1 in 30.35 alongside an 11.4 percent Megaminx drop to 1:22.40. Dru Weimer completed five events, achieving a 29.5 percent improvement in the 3x3x3 Cube with a 10.80 single and a first official Megaminx attempt of 2:53.18.

Across every event, Council Bluffs Cubing Buff 2024 delivered an exceptional showcase of puzzle solving in Iowa. From the official 3x3 results to the twelve-sided challenges of Megaminx, the participants pushed the limits of speed and precision. Every round reflected the dedication and skill that define the sport, creating a memorable chapter for all 66 solvers as they prepare for their next season of tournament competition.