FMC Brazil-Africa 2024

Desks stood arranged across multiple locations, equipped with pencils, blank solution sheets, and standard scrambling sequences rather than the customary electronic stopwatches and speed mats. Solvers sat in quiet concentration, carefully turning scrambled layers and mapping out efficient move sequences stroke by stroke on scrap paper. The atmosphere was one of calculated patience and deliberate planning, far removed from the frantic pace of standard turning contests. At FMC Brazil-Africa 2024, held on April 14, 2024 across Multiple Cities, XW, efficiency was the sole objective as nineteen participants tackled the classic puzzle one rotation at a time.

The specialised discipline of 3x3x3 Fewest Moves stands apart from every other speedcubing category. Rather than seeking the fastest mechanical turn rate, entrants receive an hour to analyse a single scramble and produce the shortest possible written solution. Precision, block-building insight, and advanced algorithmic knowledge take precedence over raw finger dexterity. This cubing competition brought together dedicated specialists looking to minimise every extra rotation and find optimal reconstructions of the standard Rubik's Cube over three challenging attempts.

Securing the overall victory on the day was Kim Vianna of Brazil, who turned in an exceptional performance across the single scheduled round. Vianna registered a commanding winning average of 25.67 moves, supported by an event-best single solve of just 23 moves. That consistency across the attempts ensured the top step of the podium, setting a remarkably high standard for the entire intercontinental field.

The remaining podium steps were fiercely contested among Brazil's top strategic solvers. Pedro Henrique Maciel Ceccopieri Belo (陈昊然) claimed the silver medal position with a solid average of 30.33 moves and a best single attempt of 27. Right behind in third place, João Vinícius Santos completed the podium sweep for Brazil with an average of 33.33 moves and a single best of 28. These tight 3x3 results demonstrated how a margin of just a few turns can determine placements across three distinct attempts.

Beyond the top three, several other competitors posted complete averages on the final scoresheet. Beatriz Hernandes Bernardes secured fourth place overall with an average of 34.67 moves and a single of 29. Lucas Ichiro Yunomae finished with a 36.00 move average alongside a 30-move single, while Fabio Bini Graciose recorded an average of 37.00 moves and a single of 35. Felipe Cardim rounded out the full average finishers with a 41.00 average and a single mark of 40.

Away from the main podium battle, FMC Brazil-Africa 2024 offered significant personal milestones for several seasoned entrants pursuing fresh technical breakthroughs. Matheus Casassa made one of the day's sharpest jumps by delivering a 3x3x3 Fewest Moves personal best of 34, which improved upon his previous best of 40 by 15 percent on his way to 12th place. Andrey Conceição also lowered his personal best single to 23 moves, a 4.2 percent improvement over his prior standard of 24, finishing 8th. For other experienced speed cubing competitors, the single-event schedule provided an ideal stage to take on the discipline for the very first time in their careers.

That initial step into the event was embraced by multiple solvers who logged their first ever official attempts. Oluleke-Oke John of Nigeria recorded a first attempt of 38 moves to take 13th place, while fellow countryman David Okoro-Sokoh notched a 41 on his maiden attempt to secure 15th. Roger Nataniel Issassa dos Santos of Angola also logged a 41 on his event debut for a share of 15th place. Caetano Passos registered a first attempt of 58 moves to finish 17th, Lucas Dantas de Sousa marked a 61 on his debut attempt for 18th place, and Marius Rombout Ferreira van Riemsdijk took on the event to finish 10th overall.

Others in the field made notable single-attempt marks despite incomplete averages over the three tries. Andrey Conceição, Marlon de V. Marques, and Marius Rombout Ferreira van Riemsdijk each encountered a DNF on their averages but still locked in impressive single solutions of 23, 30, and 32 moves respectively. Pedro Miranda Moreira completed the event in 14th place, while Alessandro Tavares da Silva Bernardo concluded his schedule in 19th position.

Operating across dispersed sites under strict standardised oversight, this WCA competition demonstrated how unified regulations bring participants together across oceans through a shared puzzle. FMC Brazil-Africa 2024 showcased the depth of tactical analysis required in modern fewest moves solving. As the 2024 calendar moves forward, the techniques and solutions logged during this focused one-day gathering will serve as valuable reference points for competitors refining their strategies for the next season of international competition.