GA Cubers Go Bananas 2024

Twenty-nine competitors gathered at the Instructional Center in Atlanta, Georgia, USA on November 16, 2024, eager to test their precision and speed across six rounds of play. Speedcubing programs often lean on the intense endurance demanded by the larger puzzles, where long solves test focus and stamina, but this single-day speed cubing tournament centered entirely on rapid-fire specialization. Across three focused events, participants navigated the unique pressures of short-format solving, working through tight margins where a single hesitation could shift the final standings entirely.

The 2x2x2 Cube served as one of the fastest contests of the tournament, featuring a complete field of 29 competitors over two competitive rounds. Nicolás Sánchez of the United States secured the victory, posting a winning average of 1.27 seconds to top the podium. Sánchez also logged a personal best single of 1.12 seconds on the day. Fellow American Dominic Redisi claimed the runner-up position with an average of 2.16 seconds, while Caleb Chen took third place on the podium with a 2.40-second average, completing a clean sweep of the top spots for the host nation.

The event also saw major record movement in the 2x2x2 Cube opening round, where Taym Rihawi of Syria logged a 3.51-second average to establish a new National record. In the final round, several competitors secured personal best marks alongside their final rankings. Chen delivered a single of 1.13 and an average of 1.82, while Redisi recorded a single of 2.00 and an average of 2.23. Justin Barker finished with a 1.89 single and 2.44 average, Daniel Mullen posted a 2.57 single and 2.90 average, and Katie Hull registered a 2.43 single and 2.99 average in the same round.

In the Clock division, 28 competitors took their stations across two rounds of play, navigating the mechanical intricacies of the dual-sided puzzle. Drake Denton Richard of the United States captured first place with an impressive winning average of 4.88 seconds, bolstered by the best single of the event at 3.39 seconds. Justin Barker earned second place with an average of 4.97 seconds, finishing just ahead of Ledger Ramirez, who secured third place on the podium with an average of 5.16 seconds to complete another all-American podium.

Skewb concluded the weekend roster with 26 competitors vying for top honors over two rounds of competition. Dominic Redisi dominated the event, taking the victory with a 2.02-second winning average alongside the best single solve of the event at 1.21 seconds. Taym Rihawi earned the second step on the podium with a final average of 4.57 seconds, adding an international medal to Syria's tally. MJ Thomas rounded out the top three finishers by capturing third place with an average of 4.62 seconds.

Behind the top podium spots, several competitors delivered remarkable personal milestones throughout the day. Roxana Johnson entered three events and saw massive progress on Clock, setting a personal best of 7.34 seconds that was 21.3 percent faster than her previous mark of 9.33, while also recording a 2x2x2 Cube personal best of 3.40 seconds. Shreyas Minocha took on three events and dropped his 2x2x2 Cube personal best to 6.95 seconds, an improvement of 13 percent over his previous 7.99, alongside a 9.3 percent drop in Clock to 22.73 seconds. Didi Stone competed across three events and lowered their Clock personal best to 17.39 seconds, an improvement of 12.8 percent from 19.94.

Other competitors also made their mark across the tournament schedule with new personal bests and first-time event entries. Eli Kaufman competed in three disciplines, cutting 9.6 percent off his Clock best with an 8.64-second solve and securing an 8th-place finish in 2x2x2 Cube. Luis Garcia entered three events and improved his Skewb personal best by 7.7 percent to 3.36 seconds. Rohan Raj took on three events and lowered his Clock mark by 5.6 percent to 8.20 seconds. Oliver Kayse tackled three events and logged his first ever official attempts in both 2x2x2 Cube at 5.18 seconds and Skewb at 17.04 seconds. Zifeng Liu took part in two events and earned a 7th-place result in the 2x2x2 Cube.

The tournament closed having delivered a comprehensive showcase of short-format solving under World Cube Association regulations. While broader calendar meets often track traditional 3x3 results alongside classic Rubik's Cube categories, this WCA competition offered a focused stage for short-solve mastery in Atlanta. With eight podium positions secured by United States competitors and one by Syria, GA Cubers Go Bananas 2024 proved to be a vibrant display of speed, efficiency, and personal growth for the community.

As the equipment was packed away at the Instructional Center, GA Cubers Go Bananas 2024 highlighted the deep dedication of competitors across all experience levels. From national records to substantial percentage drops on personal bests, each round demonstrated the steady progress that defines the cubing competition circuit. Competitors now look ahead to upcoming meets in the region, bringing fresh momentum from a memorable day of competition.