Cubestuff Challenge Q4 Menlyn Park 2024

Inside the bustling shopping complex of Menlyn Park in Pretoria, South Africa, the tables were set across November 23 and 24 for a high-intensity weekend of hands-on puzzle solving. A total of 72 competitors gathered to test their skills across six official events, generating an atmosphere of non-stop turning and mechanical clicking. The Cubestuff Challenge Q4 Menlyn Park 2024 featured 12 rounds of action, drawing both seasoned performers and fresh faces to the mats to compete under official tournament regulations in 2024.

The sprint categories took centre stage early, commanding massive attention as competitors attacked the 2x2x2 Cube and 3x3x3 Cube formats. The 2x2 event featured a deep field of 46 entrants across three stages of elimination, where quick inspections and explosive finger execution decided margins down to hundredths of a second. Ruben Grobler set the standard throughout the weekend, capturing the top step of the podium with a winning average of 2.55 seconds, backed by a best single solve of 1.96 seconds.

In that same 2x2x2 Cube final, Juandré Jacobs secured second place with a steady 3.49 average, while Osman Badroodin rounded out the medal positions in third with an average of 3.75. Earlier in the bracket, Ruben Grobler registered a 1.80 single and a 2.46 average, while Juandré Jacobs produced marks of 2.68 and 3.31. Osman Badroodin logged a 3.30 single and 4.09 average, closely matched by Juan Erasmus at 3.43 and 4.09, and Amahle Nyembe with marks of 3.12 and 4.11.

The classic Rubik's Cube drew the largest lineup of the weekend, with 68 participants battling across three rigorous rounds. When the deciding 3x3 results were tabulated, Ruben Grobler stood atop the standings once again, taking first place with an average of 8.77 seconds and a best single solve of 8.44. Osman Badroodin delivered a strong runner-up performance with a 9.92 average, while Juandré Jacobs clinched third on the podium with a 10.61 average.

Beyond the sprint showdowns, the Cubestuff Challenge Q4 Menlyn Park 2024 provided massive personal milestones across the wider field. Michiel Bernard de Kock delivered an exceptional showing in Skewb, recording a personal best of 3.56 seconds that improved on his previous mark by 64.4 percent, alongside a 26.5 percent drop in his 4x4x4 Cube best to 1:04.22. Kaylie Pretorius entered five disciplines and slashed her Skewb personal record by 49.8 percent down to 6.31 seconds, while also making her first ever attempt at Clock with an 18.62 single. Andrew Stander logged a personal best of 10.01 seconds in the 3x3x3 Cube, an improvement of 41.8 percent, and completed his first ever attempt at the 2x2x2 Cube with a 3.77 result.

The progress continued across the tournament roster as Kaiden Terre Blanche took on two events, cutting his 3x3x3 Cube best by 40.8 percent down to 24.17 seconds after logging a first ever 2x2x2 Cube effort of 8.34. Alexander Korff entered five events, recording his first Clock solve at 17.62 seconds while improving his 4x4x4 Cube mark by 30.1 percent to 1:07.38. Dihan Swanepoel took on four events, highlighted by a first ever 4x4x4 Cube solve of 1:19.93 and a 4.38 on his maiden 2x2x2 Cube attempt. Meanwhile, Khumo Matras attended their first WCA competition, logging initial marks of 19.82 in the 3x3x3 Cube and 2:24.42 in the 4x4x4 Cube, and Masego Ramotsoenyane likewise made their competition debut, submitting a 27.20 in 3x3x3 Cube and a 3:06.39 in 4x4x4 Cube.

The longer puzzles and specialty formats expanded the scope of this cubing competition. In the 4x4x4 Cube, Ruben Grobler took top honours from a 34-competitor bracket with a 33.92 average and a single of 31.04, trailed by Osman Badroodin with a 38.86 average and Ian Luies in third at 45.69. Ruben Grobler also led the 26-player Skewb field with a winning 4.91 average and a single of 4.53, followed by Osman Badroodin in second at 5.17 and Leonidas Kanellos in third at 6.51.

Precision mechanics and memory played decisive roles in the remaining events of the schedule. Ian Luies captured the Clock crown with a 9.58 average and an 8.13 best single, holding off Grant Robert King at 9.79 and Ruben Grobler at 10.35 across 18 entrants. In the 3x3x3 Blindfolded discipline, Marike Faught took first place among six competitors with a winning single time of 49.10 seconds, ahead of Yusuf Talha Sayed Karim with 1:34.04 and Phetolo Mashamaite with 3:40.32.

Across two full days, the speed cubing gathering reflected the rich competitive depth in Pretoria, South Africa, with all 18 podium positions claimed by South African competitors. From rapid sub-three-second 2x2 rotations to complex blindfolded solves, the Cubestuff Challenge Q4 Menlyn Park 2024 delivered high-calibre results across every bracket as local competitors wrapped up another major stop on the national calendar.