Dublin Summer Solving 2024

Controlling the 3x3x3 cube with a single hand demands exceptional fingertip dexterity, precise table-sliding maneuvers, and a distinct approach to algorithm execution. At Dublin Summer Solving 2024, Ciarán Beahan demonstrated absolute mastery of the event, navigating two tense rounds against 49 competitors to capture the 3x3x3 One-Handed title with a 12.30 winning average and a best single time of 10.13. It served as the defining performance of an expansive weekend of speedcubing action.

Hosted at the Perrystown Community Centre in Dublin, Ireland from August 17 to August 18, 2024, the WCA competition drew 77 competitors across 14 events and 24 rounds. The schedule offered a rigorous test across varied puzzle formats, from standard three-layered challenges to massiveNxN puzzles and specialised hardware. Solvers travelled from multiple nations to test their skill, with the hosts securing 30 podium places alongside notable visits from competitors representing Malaysia, India, and Mongolia.

Beahan extended his commanding form across the entire traditional cube roster. Beyond his one-handed triumph, he secured the blue-ribbon 3x3x3 Cube crown with a 7.65 winning average, holding off Namuun Natsagdorj of Mongolia who took second with an 8.39 average and India's Prabhav Rajaram Nayak in third at 8.68. In that main event, Beahan also authored the fastest turn of the competition with a 5.68 single. The 3x3 results formed part of a remarkable six-gold sweep for the Irish competitor across the schedule.

His dominance grew as the layer counts increased. In the 4x4x4 Cube, Beahan won with an average of 23.97, clear of Malaysia's Tan Jun at 34.27 and Ben Timmons at 36.83. The 5x5x5 Cube final followed a similar narrative, where Beahan registered a 42.69 average ahead of Laurence He and Tan Jun. Moving onto the big cubes, he completed the sweep by claiming the 6x6x6 Cube in 1:18.95 and the 7x7x7 Cube in 1:57.48, besting Tan Jun and Adam Bermingham in both disciplines.

Away from the top of the podiums, the spirit of speed cubing was reflected across the floor through major individual breakthroughs. Leon Eoín Bailey tackled 13 events during the weekend, achieving a 10th-place finish in 3x3x3 Blindfolded, logging a first ever 6x6x6 Cube attempt of 5:31.42, and slicing his Skewb mark by 57.8 percent to 2.91. Abbey McNally entered nine events, posting a 16th-place finish in Square-1, a maiden 8.37 Pyraminx mark, a first 3x3x3 One-Handed run of 41.67, and a Skewb personal best of 5.38 that was 47.6 percent faster than before. Alex Hamilton brought home a fourth-place finish in Pyraminx, completed a first Clock attempt in 9.26 seconds, and improved his 2x2x2 Cube mark by 48.6 percent down to 1.60.

Other competitors unlocked milestones across their selected categories. Darragh Stengel shaved 57.6 percent off his previous 2x2x2 Cube mark to finish with a 4.89 personal best while taking on his first ever Skewb attempt at 21.00. Pedro Collado Palma entered 11 disciplines, finishing 10th in 3x3x3 Blindfolded and securing a 1.81 in 2x2x2 Cube. Mark Wang delivered a first 5x5x5 Cube solve of 3:25.45 and took 24.6 percent off his 4x4x4 Cube mark down to 54.29. Olin Long recorded a first Clock attempt of 19.97 alongside a 26.9 percent 2x2x2 Cube personal best of 3.12, while Alfie Kelly locked in an opening Clock solve of 19.66 and dropped his 4x4x4 Cube mark by 18.6 percent to 1:42.62.

The sprint puzzles produced intense battles across short-format rounds. Kalin Doherty won the 2x2x2 Cube with a rapid 1.54 average after three rounds, setting an event single of 1.05 and posting regional records along the way. Tiernan McCorry claimed the Pyraminx title with an average of 2.79, while William Carey took top honours in Skewb with a 2.87 average. In Clock, Tan Jun took gold with a 5.04 average, narrowly prevailing over Namuun Natsagdorj at 5.25 and Onome Brownly-Otiede at 6.11.

Specialist solving saw Prabhav Rajaram Nayak capture the Megaminx event with a winning average of 35.30, finishing ahead of Rory Menary at 40.90 and Tan Jun at 57.98. Adam Bermingham proved fastest in Square-1 with a 9.14 average. In blindfolded disciplines requiring immense focus and memory, Simon Kelly claimed victory in both the single 3x3x3 Blindfolded event with a 35.50 mark and the 3x3x3 Multi-Blind, successfully resolving 18 out of 30 cubes in 52:00.

Across two days at Dublin Summer Solving 2024, competitors proved their capabilities across the full spectrum of the Rubik's Cube family. From technical one-handed ergonomics to high-order big cubes and memory trials, the cubing competition celebrated dedication at every tier of the field as another memorable chapter of Irish speedcubing drew to a close.