Don't Pop Preble 2024

Ninety-two competitors gathered at The Gym and Star Theatre at Eagles Point on December 14, 2024, for a day packed with thirteen rounds of elite puzzle solving. The single-day WCA competition brought a wave of milestones to Eaton, Ohio, USA, testing contenders across six distinct disciplines. From large polyhedral puzzles to the traditional twisty puzzles, participants pushed the pace right from the opening solves. Across the roster, competitors capitalized on favorable turnings to rewrite their individual standing in the World Cube Association database, establishing a high benchmark for the 2024 speed cubing calendar.

The 3x3x3 Cube contest stood out for a barrage of historic marks across the bracket. Drew Taylor delivered a standout effort with an 18.24 single and a 25.28 average, while Cyrus Gearhart registered a 12.78 single and a 13.68 average. International representation made its mark through India competitor Thamaneeswar Sathesh Kumar, who authored a scorching 7.75 single and an 8.56 average. Chase Farrell recorded an 11.57 single alongside a 13.54 average, and Garrett Michael Becker put up an 11.92 single with a 14.19 average to bolster the remarkable depth of the event.

The surge continued through the rest of the ninety-person field as more breakthrough times were logged on the main stage. Alexander Hess claimed an 18.84 single and a 22.88 average, while Evan Brown set a blazing 8.16 single and a 9.06 average. Roland Ababat delivered an 8.63 single with a 9.96 average, Mateo Harari secured a 1:18.93 single and a 1:30.98 average, and Nolan Rickett added a 9.07 single with a 10.43 average. These performances underscored the intense preparation brought by participants seeking to make an impact in the region.

Beyond the record-breaking figures, the individual growth of competitors across the floor defined the spirit of the meeting. Drew Taylor tackled five events, making a first ever attempt at 4x4x4 Cube in 1:48.00 and Clock in 26.25, while slicing 51.1 percent off a Pyraminx personal best with a 7.19. Cole Bruick took on four events, producing debut marks in 4x4x4 Cube with 1:43.98 and Clock with 28.42 alongside a 28.7 percent drop in Pyraminx to 7.09. Joshua Spurlock completed five events, recording initial times in Clock at 30.35 and 4x4x4 Cube at 2:07.41 while improving in the Rubik's Cube to 23.17, a 25 percent leap. Logan Queen tried Clock for the first time at 46.27 and 4x4x4 Cube at 2:03.59, also taking 20.9 percent off a 3x3x3 Cube best with 15.60.

That drive extended across every corner of the venue as other athletes took on expanded workloads. Lorenzo Jimenez Wade-Murphy of Colombia entered four events, logging debut runs in 4x4x4 Cube at 1:05.00 and Megaminx at 2:21.13 alongside a personal best of 10.48 in 3x3x3 Cube. Isaac Lee attacked five disciplines, taking Megaminx down by 41.1 percent to 1:22.11, Pyraminx down by 28 percent to 4.01, and Clock down by 24.3 percent to 12.71. Carson Kurtz competed across all six events, earning a 28th-place finish in 5x5x5 Cube, dropping 36.2 percent on Pyraminx to 3.97, 19.3 percent on 3x3x3 Cube to 9.69, and 11.9 percent on Clock to 9.96. Archer Syngkon maximized a single entry by carving 42.8 percent off their 3x3x3 Cube mark to finish at 23.37.

At the sharp end of the speedcubing standings, Luke Garrett produced an overwhelming showcase of versatility by capturing five separate event titles. In the premier 3x3 results, Garrett claimed the victory over ninety competitors across three rounds, posting a winning average of 5.72 and the day's best single of 5.15. Stanley Chapel followed in second place with an average of 6.93, while Luke Griesser rounded out the podium in third with a 7.49 mark.

Garrett continued his sweep in the larger cubes, navigating sixty-five competitors in the 4x4x4 Cube with a 25.33 average and a 20.98 single. Stanley Chapel secured second place with 28.97, and Braden Richards took third at 33.23. In the 5x5x5 Cube, Garrett posted a winning average of 48.61 and a single of 45.34 to lead a forty-two competitor bracket. Chapel finished runner-up once more with a 56.22 average, while Jacob Dyland Bennett captured third place with 57.56.

The technical events saw Garrett maintain his command over the competition floor. He paced sixty-seven entrants in Clock, winning with a 4.66 average and a 3.04 single ahead of Keenan Darkins at 5.56 and Harsha Paladugu at 6.00. Moving over to Megaminx, Garrett topped forty-eight competitors across two rounds with a 37.96 average and a 33.59 single, finishing ahead of Lucy Grace Bryson with 40.70 and Chapel with 47.15. Across eighteen available podium spots, United States solvers collected every single position.

The sole event that eluded Garrett's grasp was Pyraminx, where Jeriyah Griffin delivered an exceptional performance to lead eighty-one competitors. Griffin secured the title with a rapid 1.74 average and a 1.27 single. Jacob Dyland Bennett claimed second place with a 2.18 average, leaving Garrett to collect third place with 2.28. Don't Pop Preble 2024 concluded as a masterclass in top-tier consistency and personal advancement, setting an inspiring tone as athletes look ahead to the upcoming tournament schedule.

From debut attempts to rapid-fire finals, Don't Pop Preble 2024 demonstrated the remarkable breadth of talent present in the regional scene. The gathering at Eagles Point proved that whether pursuing records, setting personal milestones, or dominating multiple disciplines in a single afternoon, every solve contributes to the vibrant momentum of the cubing competition circuit.