Fast Solves in Fendalton 2024

The sports hall at Christchurch Boys High School was filled with focused intensity across two packed days of solving. Scramblers prepped puzzles at the staging tables while competitors stood at the ready, hands resting lightly beside the timers as judges looked on. The atmosphere across May 18 and May 19 in Christchurch, New Zealand, captured the true spirit of speedcubing. Forty-five competitors gathered for a demanding program that spanned 10 events and 26 rounds, testing every discipline from standard solves to one-handed turns and blindfolded memory tests.

While trophies and podium places rewarded the final rounds, the defining theme of the weekend was the widespread drop in personal bests across the board. The classic Rubik's Cube brought 44 competitors to the tables across three rounds of intense action. Jasper Murray took top honours in the event, posting a winning average of 6.40 seconds and the fastest single of the weekend at 4.58 seconds. The 3x3 results saw Chris Mills secure second place with a 7.16 average, while Dwyane Ramos completed the podium with a 7.22 mark.

Murray was not finished with just one victory, putting together a dominant weekend across the larger puzzles. He clinched the 4x4x4 Cube with a 30.33 winning average and a best single of 25.38 seconds, finishing ahead of Mills at 31.79 and Ramos at 32.67. In the 5x5x5 Cube, Murray once again climbed to the top of the standings, recording a winning average of 51.41 seconds and a top single of 47.46 seconds. Ramos took second place in the event with a 52.21 average, while Henry Eyles finished third with 58.91.

Connor Johnson produced an exceptional weekend in his own right, capturing three titles across the two days. Johnson secured first place in the 2x2x2 Cube with a winning average of 1.93 seconds, edging out Ramos at 2.09 and Jack McDougall at 2.14. Johnson continued his sharp form on the Clock, winning the final with an average of 5.95 seconds ahead of McDougall at 6.19 and Numair Malik at 6.21. Johnson also captured the Pyraminx title with a swift 2.16 winning average, posting a single of 1.42 seconds during the event.

Dwyane Ramos added to his extensive medal tally by claiming victories in two distinct formats. Ramos delivered a winning average of 9.01 seconds in the 3x3x3 One-Handed final, holding off Murray who took second with 10.69 and Mills in third with 11.76. Ramos followed that up with a win in Skewb, posting a 2.45 average and a blistering 1.17 single across 22 competitors. The weekend also featured specialized memory events, where Jack Maddigan won the 3x3x3 Blindfolded final with a single of 45.63 seconds, and McDougall claimed the 4x4x4 Blindfolded title with a 5:08.41 average.

Beneath the top podium finishes, the cubing competition served as a launchpad for remarkable individual progression. Millie Abrams cut her Pyraminx personal best down to 2.40 seconds, an astonishing 77.7 percent faster than her prior mark of 10.74, while also achieving her best overall result with 12th place in Skewb. Emir Ali brought down his Pyraminx record by 59.1 percent to 6.81 seconds and took on his first ever attempt at 5x5x5 Cube, finishing in 2:30.03. Leo Glassey shaved 51.2 percent off his 2x2x2 Cube mark to register 3.15 seconds, while Fateen Irtiza posted a 3x3x3 Cube personal best of 15.69 seconds, improving by 49.3 percent alongside a first attempt at 3x3x3 One-Handed in 54.09 seconds.

Other competitors marked major milestones by diving into new disciplines. Matthew Sia delivered a 12.30 second personal best in the 3x3x3 Cube, representing a 44.8 percent improvement, and completed his first ever attempt at 2x2x2 Cube with a 2.15 single. Tim Johnston entered nine events across the schedule, earning a 4th place finish in 3x3x3 Blindfolded, logging a first Clock solve of 13.35 seconds, and improving his Pyraminx best by 46.8 percent to 3.13. Sebastian Kimber made his debut appearance at a WCA competition, taking 14th in 2x2x2 Cube with a 2.90 single, while Jayden Smith improved his 2x2x2 Cube record by 49.4 percent down to 4.78 seconds.

The overall depth of the field was reflected in the sheer volume of sharp times logged across the 26 rounds of speed cubing action. Fast Solves in Fendalton 2024 provided the perfect platform for seasoned solvers and newer competitors to push their limits in Christchurch. As the equipment was packed away, the weekend stood as a showcase of rapid progress, dedication, and measurable improvement on the competitive stage.

With 31 podium positions claimed by local talent throughout the event, the tournament highlighted the strong competitive baseline across the region. Fast Solves in Fendalton 2024 concluded having delivered top-tier solves, memorable breakthroughs, and countless personal milestones across all ten featured disciplines.