Extremely Mini-sota 2024

Inside the Hosmer Library in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, the gathering had all the warmth and close-knit focus of a dedicated specialty meet. Competitors sat side by side at tables lined with timers and mats, trading advice between attempts, sharing scrambling duties, and catching up over unusual puzzle mechanisms. Away from the larger multi-day conventions, this focused WCA competition offered an environment where participants could zero in on non-traditional challenges, trading tips on turning techniques and enjoying the community spirit that defines local speedcubing.

Held on August 5, Extremely Mini-sota 2024 brought together a targeted roster of 19 competitors for four rounds of action across two specialty events. While most general gatherings centre on standard 3x3 results and the classic Rubik's Cube, this single-day schedule narrowed its lens strictly to Clock and Megaminx. The intimacy of the venue allowed participants to follow every single heat closely, creating an encouraging atmosphere where every personal milestone was noticed and celebrated across the room.

The Clock event delivered remarkable precision across two competitive rounds featuring all 19 participants. Joseph Ong captured first place in the final with a winning average of 4.50 seconds, backed by a best single of 3.98 seconds. Kaius Young took second place with an average of 4.91 seconds, while Tyler Johnson secured third place with a 5.16 average. Nathan Rahn also turned in standout times during the event, recording a single of 3.69 seconds and an average of 3.81 seconds.

The 12-sided Megaminx brought a different tactical test to the tables, requiring endurance, spatial foresight, and fluid finger movement across its many facets. Tyler Robinson dominated the 14-player field over two rounds, winning the final with an average of 39.54 seconds and achieving the best single of the event at 38.01 seconds. Carl Overbye finished in second place with an average of 47.89 seconds, while Kaius Young earned another podium finish by claiming third place with an average of 56.77 seconds.

Beneath the top steps of the podium, the heart of the weekend lived in the sweeping personal progress made across the roster. Philippos Karypis delivered one of the most dramatic drops of the day, setting a new Clock personal best of 20.98 seconds, which was 61.4 percent faster than his previous mark of 54.38. Oliver Faust logged major gains in both disciplines, taking Clock down to 14.20 seconds for a 59.1 percent improvement and shaving 8.2 percent off his Megaminx best with a time of 3:11.67. Lucian Yantes had a standout day across two events, taking fourth place in Clock with a new personal best of 6.91 seconds, an improvement of 44 percent, while also completing his first ever official attempt at Megaminx in 1:49.83.

Other competitors similarly redefined their personal records through focused solving. Jonah Boisclair lowered his Clock personal best by 43.6 percent down to 10.71 seconds and improved his Megaminx mark by 26.9 percent to 1:27.12. Max Molitor advanced his Clock single to 13.83 seconds, which was 25.7 percent faster than his previous best, while Harrison Toppings lowered his Clock personal record by 23.3 percent to 10.74 seconds. Alexander Fomenko tackled Clock for the very first time in competition to record a 14.65 single, and Jace Jungers took on his first ever official Megaminx attempt with a time of 2:17.99.

The camaraderie that filled the library rooms throughout Extremely Mini-sota 2024 highlighted how much speed cubing thrives on shared enthusiasm. Without the crowded rush of larger tournaments, participants spent the day analyzing hardware setups, comparing lubrication preferences, and supporting each other through every solve. The USA swept all six podium positions across the two disciplines, reflecting strong regional depth in these specialized formats.

As the equipment was packed away at Hosmer Library, Extremely Mini-sota 2024 concluded having delivered exceptional times and a rich community experience. From first-time event attempts to razor-thin margins at the top of the Clock standings, the 2024 event proved that dedicated, small-scale meets remain an essential part of the sport. The local scene now looks forward to carrying this momentum and friendship into the next season of competitive cubing.