Cube Against Cancer Texas 2024

128 competitors converged on the University of Houston on March 2, 2024, for a high-octane day of solving. Held in Houston, Texas, USA, Cube Against Cancer Texas 2024 brought together a packed field spanning 11 rounds across four core disciplines. The spotlight fell squarely on the fast-paced short-format puzzles, where lightning-quick inspection and split-second execution decided the podiums. From the opening scrambles to the late finals, the atmosphere inside the venue captured the true intensity of a premier speedcubing meeting.

The 3x3x3 Cube event, the central focus of any cubing competition, drew 124 entrants across four challenging rounds of play. Dylan Miller established command over the bracket, sealing first place with an impressive winning average of 6.15 seconds along with a best single of 5.29 seconds. Teri McAcy secured the runner-up position with a 7.69 average, while Derek Herrera of the Philippines captured third place by finishing with an 8.03 mark. The high-caliber 3x3 results demonstrated remarkable depth, with top finalists trading sub-eight-second efforts throughout the deciding round.

The 2x2x2 Cube sprint delivered breathless turn speed across three full rounds for 108 competitors. Evan Smith took the top step of the podium, averaging 2.83 seconds in the final and claiming a sharp 2.21 single along the way. Andres Rodriguez chased closely to earn second place with a 3.30 average, while Nathanael Morgan locked up third place at 3.38. The explosive event showcased how minor differences in execution can decide the outcome of a competitive speed cubing fixture in mere fractions of a second.

Beyond the podium finishes, the 2x2x2 Cube rounds featured a relentless wave of personal milestones and competitive benchmark times. Nathanael Morgan recorded a single of 1.83 and an average of 2.50, while Desmond Carman logged a 2.19 single and a 2.65 average. Evan Smith registered a 2.63 single and a 3.25 average, with Garner James Nilsen posting a 2.42 single and a 3.32 average. Further down the roster, Catherine Connolly of Canada notched a 2.05 single and a 3.41 average, Chad Nilsen posted a 3.37 single and a 3.61 average, and Dylan Miller contributed a 1.72 single alongside a 3.67 average. Justin Zhou, Thomas Thanhtran, and Nathan Nguyen also logged standout marks during the brisk contest.

The broader story of the day lived in the massive leaps made across the staging tables. Keira Hoopes delivered a spectacular performance across three events, slicing her 2x2x2 personal best down to 4.04 seconds from an earlier 11.91, representing an improvement of 66.1 percent, alongside a 23.00 single on the classic Rubik's Cube. Ian Kleppinger tackled four events and achieved a career-best ninth-place finish in the 4x4x4 Cube, posting a 39.80 single while cutting his Pyraminx personal record by 58.2 percent to 4.63 seconds. Caleb Merritt entered four events, posting a personal best of 3.85 seconds on Pyraminx for a 53.3 percent improvement and earning a 14th-place ranking, along with taking his first ever attempt at 2x2x2 Cube with a 2.61 mark.

Other competitors marked crucial milestones by challenging brand new puzzles on the official stage. Anish R. Iyer took on four events, completing a first ever attempt at 4x4x4 Cube in 1:09.63 and a first Pyraminx solve in 20.02, while chopping his 2x2x2 best by 47.7 percent to 2.03 seconds. Mohammad Hussain Ahmadi registered a first official Pyraminx solve of 9.35 seconds and improved his 2x2x2 mark by 47.1 percent to 10.86 seconds. Jonathan Michael Moreaux logged his first attempts in 4x4x4 Cube at 1:53.83 and Pyraminx at 8.50 seconds. Ryan Wilkerson secured his maiden Pyraminx result of 10.66 seconds, while Brian Tran entered four events, earned 10th place in 4x4x4 Cube with a 43.18 personal best, and logged debut attempts in both 2x2x2 Cube and Pyraminx.

The remaining schedule broadened the technical challenge with larger cubes and non-cubic geometry. In the 4x4x4 Cube final, Teri McAcy captured the championship with a winning average of 30.17 seconds and a sharp single of 26.76. Dylan Miller followed in second place with a 31.53 average, and Derek Herrera claimed third place at 33.10. Over in the Pyraminx division, Andres Rodriguez dominated the two-round contest among 86 competitors, taking victory with a 2.31 average and a 1.76 single, ahead of Seth Talbot with 3.97 and McAcy with 4.11.

When the final scores were tallied across all 11 rounds, the United States accounted for 10 podium positions while the Philippines captured two. The efficient schedule and lively atmosphere at the University of Houston highlighted the vibrancy of the regional scene during the 2024 calendar. Cube Against Cancer Texas 2024 concluded as a memorable WCA competition, celebrated equally for its blazing sprint champions and the dozens of personal milestones achieved on the competition floor.