DFW Winter Variation 2024

Ryan Pilat opened the early months of the 2024 speedcubing calendar with an overwhelming display of versatility, capturing six event titles across a packed schedule in Denton, Texas, USA. The highlight came in the premier 3x3x3 Cube event, where Pilat produced a winning average of 6.67 seconds and a best single solve of 5.96 seconds to seal the victory. Across two intense days on January 13 and January 14, 139 competitors gathered at the University of North Texas Union, kicking off their campaign for the new year with 24 rounds across 13 diverse events.

The opening leg of the competitive calendar provided a demanding test for every specialist and all-round solver present. DFW Winter Variation 2024 featured everything from rapid-fire sprints to grueling blindfolded marathons, testing the depth of the regional field right out of the gate. Pilat set the pace for the entire tournament, sweeping through multiple disciplines with remarkable consistency and setting a high standard for the upcoming circuit.

In the main event, the 3x3 results confirmed the depth of the field as 134 entrants battled through four rounds of classic Rubik's Cube solving. Pilat topped the podium with his 6.67 mark, finishing ahead of Azhar Virani, who secured second place with an average of 7.39 seconds. Ray Bai joined them on the podium in third place with a 7.61 average, capping a fiercely contested final round that demonstrated top-tier precision in the premier event of the cubing competition.

Beyond the standard puzzle, Pilat amassed top honors in an extraordinary range of disciplines. He won the 2x2x2 Cube with an average of 1.95 seconds and a single of 1.31, then captured the Pyraminx title in 3.22 seconds ahead of Matthew Kleineberg and Dylan Baumbach. Moving to big cubes, Pilat collected victories in the 6x6x6 Cube with a winning average of 1:47.12 and the 7x7x7 Cube in 2:46.06. He finished his gold haul in the 5x5x5 Blindfolded event, where he recorded a winning single time of 13:28.00.

The tournament also highlighted standout performances across the specialist categories. Ray Bai delivered two commanding wins, claiming the 4x4x4 Cube with a 27.14 average and topping the Megaminx field with a 38.00 average. Dylan Baumbach swept both the Clock and Square-1 titles, recording a 4.69 average on Clock and a 5.71 average on Square-1, edging Pilat in the Square-1 final. In the memory events, Andrew Tao won 3x3x3 Blindfolded with a rapid 24.21 single, Fletcher Berry took the 3x3x3 Multi-Blind with 21 out of 23 cubes in 50:24, and Jeremy Sheng secured the 4x4x4 Blindfolded title in 4:13.96.

Away from the top steps of the podium, several competitors made substantial progress on their personal records at this WCA competition. Jake Miller entered six events and cut his Clock personal best down to 13.15 seconds, an improvement of 50.1 percent, while also logging his first ever attempt at 2x2x2 Cube with a 6.73 single. Wyatt William Morrow took on seven events and knocked 46 percent off his Square-1 best with a 59.34 mark, alongside a first Clock attempt of 38.52. Alan Arul Stephen improved his 2x2x2 Cube record by 49.4 percent to 4.51 and tackled his first 4x4x4 Cube attempt at 1:21.48. Meanwhile, Matthew Crockett shaved 36.5 percent off his 2x2x2 Cube mark to 3.98 and completed his first Megaminx solve in 2:57.09.

Other dedicated solvers also expanded their repertoire across the tournament tables. Greyson Lee contested six events, lowering his Pyraminx best by 26.4 percent to 6.49 and registering his first Square-1 solve of 1:12.09. Oliver Lambert entered eight events, securing a best finish of 7th in 4x4x4 Blindfolded while taking his first attempt at 3x3x3 Multi-Blind with 2 of 4 cubes solved in 29:40. David Hunt took on seven events, cutting 41.1 percent off his Square-1 personal record down to 16.35 and completing his first Megaminx attempt in 2:35.27. Cole Dugger handled nine events, achieving an 8th-place finish in Square-1 and taking on his first 6x6x6 Cube solve in 3:01.87.

The overall weekend served as an ideal launchpad for the winter speed cubing schedule in the region. With competitors from the United States locking up all 41 podium positions across the board, the competition showcased both experienced veterans and rising talents pushing their boundaries. As the year gets underway, the high bar established at DFW Winter Variation 2024 promises an exceptionally competitive season ahead.