Cubestuff Challenge Q1 2024

Inside the halls of Curro Academy Pretoria, the distinct plastic clatter of turning puzzles echoed across two intense days of puzzle-solving action. Timers flashed green and competitors methodically inspected scrambles as 91 speedcubers gathered in Pretoria, South Africa for a packed weekend schedule spanning 10 events and 12 distinct rounds. From the early setups on January 27 to the decisive finals closing out the schedule on January 28, the atmosphere was defined by sharp focus, quick resets, and rapid hands. It set the stage for an extraordinary start to the 2024 regional calendar.

The opening day established a thrilling pace as competitors branched into both classic puzzles and complex challenges. Speed cubing enthusiasts took on everything from short sprints to taxing endurance events. Daniel Rush made an immediate statement across the higher-order puzzles, establishing commanding control over the big cube categories. In the 4x4x4 Cube, Rush earned the win with a clinical 31.40 average, posting a single of 25.76. Ruben Grobler followed in second place with a 36.33 average, while Osman Badroodin secured third with a 37.28 mark across a 29-player field.

As the schedule rolled through the large hardware, Rush continued his sweeping momentum across the tables. In 5x5x5 Cube, he posted a winning 55.36 average with a best single of 47.73, while Grobler finished second on 1:08.65 and Badroodin took third in 1:13.33. The 6x6x6 Cube saw Rush capture first with a 1:40.50 average over Grobler’s 2:11.47 and Badroodin’s 2:23.30. In the massive 7x7x7 Cube, Rush locked down the top step with an average of 2:24.46, followed once again by Grobler at 3:37.79 and Badroodin at 3:38.79. Rush completed his dominant multi-layered run by winning Megaminx with a 49.07 average, finishing ahead of Badroodin at 1:03.13 and Grobler at 1:13.41.

Ruben Grobler countered with his own masterclass across the alternate events. In the Pyraminx final featuring 51 entrants, Grobler took top honours with a steady 5.05 average and a 4.25 single. He duplicated that winning efficiency in Skewb, pacing the 34-competitor bracket with a 5.02 average and a best solve of 3.92. Grobler also demonstrated profound spatial memory in 3x3x3 Blindfolded, where solving without sight demands complete memorisation before executing moves. He claimed the win with a 1:28.28 average and a 1:27.07 single, besting Marike Faught’s 2:07.00 and Rush’s 2:07.54.

Away from the top steps of the podium, the heart of the cubing competition unfolded through personal triumphs and brave first-time entries. Davin Sudhakaran delivered massive progress, trimming his 2x2x2 Cube personal best by 47.6 percent down to 7.59 seconds and lowering his 3x3x3 Cube mark by 20.4 percent to 27.68, alongside a first ever attempt at Pyraminx of 12.42. Zuhayr Mahomed slashed 40.6 percent off his previous Pyraminx mark to record a 12.50 personal best, while tackling his first official attempts in Megaminx in 7:32.28 and Skewb in 45.91. Henry Darwin Hollmann made significant leaps, improving his Skewb best by 40.2 percent to 10.36, cutting his 4x4x4 Cube mark by 33.8 percent to 1:55.54, and trying Megaminx for the first time in 4:26.62. Dawid Gous saw his 2x2x2 Cube personal best drop 40.2 percent to 3.98 seconds, placed 10th in Pyraminx, and logged first attempts in 5x5x5 Cube at 3:49.57 and Skewb at 15.98.

That same energy drove many others through heavy event workloads and fresh milestones. Bjorn van der Nest carved 36.9 percent off his 2x2x2 Cube standard to reach 5.55 seconds, lowered his 3x3x3 Cube best by 17.7 percent to 25.60, and tried Pyraminx for the first time with a 10.73 solve. Khongelani Masumbe improved his 3x3x3 Cube personal best by 21.5 percent to 11.88 seconds, finishing 11th overall while recording first attempts in Skewb at 33.11 and 4x4x4 Cube at 2:29.13. Making their official WCA competition debuts, Wei ting Huang entered six events, securing 13th in 3x3x3 Cube with first attempts in 4x4x4 Cube at 1:09.75, 5x5x5 Cube at 3:32.56, and Pyraminx at 10.94, while Joel van Breda reached 6th place in Pyraminx during his debut weekend with first attempts in 3x3x3 Cube at 17.21, 2x2x2 Cube at 6.16, and 4x4x4 Cube at 2:14.19.

The second afternoon brought the weekend to a crescendo with the final rounds of the sprint events. In the 2x2x2 Cube, Ruben Grobler claimed the title with a rapid 2.34 average and a 2.04 single across two competitive rounds. Shivaan Harichander secured the runner-up spot with an average of 3.17, while Daniel Rush locked down third place with a 3.30 mark. The short puzzle saw intense competition throughout the 70-person bracket, reflecting the fine margins that separate the top contenders in South African speedcubing.

The main event arrived as 88 entrants took on the traditional Rubik's Cube, narrowing down to an electric final round. Daniel Rush proved unstoppable in the 3x3 results, capturing the premier 3x3x3 Cube championship with a winning average of 7.26 and the weekend's best single of 6.35. Shivaan Harichander pushed hard to claim second place with a 7.69 average, while Osman Badroodin completed the podium in third with a 9.04 mark.

When the final timers were packed away, Cubestuff Challenge Q1 2024 concluded having distributed 29 podium places to South African competitors and one to Zimbabwe. With six event victories for Rush, four titles for Grobler, and dozens of personal milestones logged across the roster, the gathering at Curro Academy Pretoria delivered a comprehensive showcase of dedication and skill to open the racing season.