DuPage Fall 2024

Tymon Kolasiński delivered a breathtaking display of precision at DuPage Fall 2024, clinching the 3x3x3 Cube title with an outstanding 5.87-second winning average. While speedcubing often draws attention for its fast-paced, high-octane physical turns rather than the quiet, deliberate calculations seen in pen-and-paper events like Fewest Moves, this tournament showcased every tempo of puzzle solving. Held at the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, USA on September 28 and 29, the two-day gathering brought together 148 competitors who took on 12 official events across 27 rounds of intense action during the 2024 season.

The main 3x3 results capped a weekend of elite performances on the classic Rubik's Cube, where Kolasiński's 5.24 single led the 144-player field. Luke Garrett secured the runner-up spot with a 6.74 average, while Brian Johnson took third place averaging 7.06 seconds. Poland claimed five podium finishes across the weekend, all courtesy of Kolasiński, while competitors representing the USA accounted for 31 podium appearances. The competition maintained high energy throughout four full rounds of 3x3, highlighting the depth of talent present in the midwestern cubing competition scene.

Kolasiński was nearly unstoppable across the larger puzzles, demonstrating relentless consistency from four layers up to seven. He captured first place in the 4x4x4 Cube with a 21.76 average, topped the 5x5x5 Cube podium with a 37.02 mark, and claimed the 6x6x6 Cube in 1:20.42. He finalized his sweep of the big cubes by winning the 7x7x7 Cube with an average of 1:58.54. In those categories, Henry Lichner, Ethan Cho, and Luke Garrett continually traded top positions, with Lichner taking second in both 4x4x4 and 5x5x5.

Shorter formats and side events saw dramatic battles at DuPage Fall 2024. Sujan Feist claimed the 2x2x2 Cube title with a blistering 1.65 average, holding off Brian Johnson's 2.04 and Kevin Casey's 2.47. Johnson struck gold in both Pyraminx, winning with a 2.13 average, and Square-1, where his 6.47 average took top honours. Luke Garrett earned victories in Skewb with a 3.19 average, 3x3x3 One-Handed with a 10.36 average, and Megaminx with a 41.57 mark. Sylvia Crouch topped the Clock event, producing an impressive winning average of 4.12 seconds.

Away from the top steps of the podium, several participants made substantial personal strides across the weekend schedule. Theo Chin produced a massive leap in the 2x2x2 Cube, cutting his personal best by 66.3 percent down to 3.64 seconds from 10.81, while also improving his 3x3x3 Cube best to 27.44 seconds and completing his first ever attempt at Pyraminx in 9.86. George Christopher Sparks trimmed his 2x2x2 Cube mark by 47.1 percent to 2.30 seconds and registered initial official attempts in Megaminx at 3:30.91 and Clock at 32.22. Isaac Willemssen delivered a 32.5 percent reduction in his Clock personal best with a time of 17.68 seconds and logged debut attempts in Megaminx at 3:11.72 and Square-1 at 43.91.

Other competitors embraced packed event cards and new challenges throughout this WCA competition. Jayden Kvernmo contested 12 events at DuPage Fall 2024, achieving a best finish of 19th in 7x7x7 Cube and logging first-ever attempts in 3x3x3 One-Handed at 21.72, 6x6x6 Cube at 3:12.79, and 7x7x7 Cube at 4:36.25. Evan Harris took on 11 events, establishing inaugural marks in Pyraminx at 7.92, 3x3x3 One-Handed at 30.38, and 5x5x5 Cube at 2:23.22. Shivansh Upadhyay tackled nine events and posted opening results in 2x2x2 Cube at 7.46, Clock at 24.54, and One-Handed at 41.55. Lennox Quinn recorded debut times in 2x2x2 Cube at 5.19, 4x4x4 Cube at 2:08.18, and One-Handed at 1:36.04, while Caleb Carlson posted first attempts in Pyraminx at 5.94, One-Handed at 42.09, and 7x7x7 Cube at 9:46.12.

The versatility required across all 12 disciplines tested the stamina of the entire lineup. From the rapid rotations of 2x2 to the marathon endurance required for 7x7, competitors handled a diverse spectrum of mechanical puzzles. The 3x3x3 One-Handed event brought tactical nuance to the floor, as Garrett held off Johnson and Simon Kellum in a tight final. Meanwhile, the specialized mechanics of Clock and Square-1 demanded unique preparation, rewarding specialists like Crouch and Johnson for their sharp execution under tournament conditions.

As the final rounds wrapped up in Glen Ellyn, DuPage Fall 2024 stood as an expansive showcase of modern speed cubing skill. With dozens of competitor personal milestones, five event victories for Kolasiński, and balanced competition across every puzzle type, the tournament delivered high-quality action from start to finish. The community now looks ahead to upcoming dates on the circuit as another competitive season continues to unfold.