FMC Cheltenham Autumn 2024

18 competitors gathered at St Mark's Church Hall for FMC Cheltenham Autumn 2024, a single-discipline gathering focused entirely on finding the most efficient solutions possible. Held on September 7, 2024, in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, United Kingdom, the event offered a pure test of analysis and planning. With two full rounds on the schedule, the format demanded consistent precision across multiple distinct scrambles rather than relying on a single fortunate stroke of luck.

The two-round structure set a high standard for anyone hoping to take the title at FMC Cheltenham Autumn 2024. In 3x3x3 Fewest Moves, solving the classic Rubik's Cube requires deep spatial foresight, and each attempt is evaluated on the exact move count rather than sheer turning speed. With 18 entrants battling through both stages, the format required participants to back up their opening solutions under the pressure of a full competitive slate.

Jaye Sloan rose to the occasion in the final round of the cubing competition, earning the top spot on the podium with a winning average of 23.67 moves. Sloan navigated the round with extraordinary control, matching the demanding requirements of the event format. That stellar three-solve mean secured the gold medal, proving that sustained accuracy through every attempt was the deciding factor of the tournament.

The podium battle at FMC Cheltenham Autumn 2024 remained fierce through the concluding attempts. Kai Cui claimed the second position on the podium with an average of 24.33 moves, having earlier logged a single solve of 23 moves. Fabio Schwandt followed closely in third place, recording a final average of 25.33 moves and setting the benchmark for the best single of the entire weekend with an impressive 21-move solution.

Beyond the top steps, the weekend provided meaningful milestones throughout the field that standard 3x3 results often fail to capture. Daniel Chiu produced a standout performance by securing fourth place with a new personal best single of 23 moves, which improved upon his previous best of 29 moves by 20.7 percent. Dorian Chan earned a sixth-place finish after delivering a personal best solve of 25 moves, marking a 24.2 percent drop from his prior mark of 33.

Several other competitors marked major individual achievements during the WCA competition. Jimi Naysmith captured seventh place with a personal best single of 40 moves, slicing 24.5 percent off a previous record of 53. Oliver Wheat achieved fifth place at the tournament, while AJ Nicholls finished ninth and Blue James secured tenth. For other entrants, the meet represented an entry into the discipline: Edd Dibley recorded an eleventh-place result with a 41-move first ever attempt, and Joseph Kilpack notched a 50-move solve in his first ever attempt at the event.

The depth of the British field was evident throughout the day, as competitors refined their techniques in this specialised speed cubing discipline. Jacob Sherwen Brown finished in twelfth place, while Adam Devere and Oliver Wheat posted solid multi-solve sequences across the rounds. The format gave every solver an equal platform to explore intricate commutators and skeleton insertions without the distraction of physical turning tempo.

All three podium places at FMC Cheltenham Autumn 2024 went to competitors representing the United Kingdom, closing out a highly focused day of speedcubing. As the 2024 calendar progresses, the efficient solutions mapped out inside St Mark's Church Hall stand as a testament to the discipline required across structured multi-round fewest moves tournaments.