Gander 2024

Thirty-three competitors gathered at Gander Collegiate on October 5, 2024, facing ten rounds of intense pressure across five distinct disciplines. The single-day schedule left no room for hesitation in Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. With podium honors on the line across every bracket, speedcubing enthusiasts arrived ready to deliver precision under strict tournament conditions. The battle for supremacy demanded consistency through multiple stages of elimination, testing stamina and focus from the morning rounds straight through to the finals.

The premier event of the cubing competition delivered classic tension as the traditional Rubik's Cube took center stage. Thirty-one entrants battled across three separate rounds of classic 3x3 solving, whittling down the field to the top contenders. Sakib Ibn Rashid Rhivu of Bangladesh claimed the title with a tournament-best average of 11.16 seconds, accompanied by an impressive 10.39 single solve. Rhivu held off Alex Andersen of Canada, who finished in second place with an average of 12.57 seconds, while Ukraine's Timothy Chabanenko secured third place with an average of 12.95.

While Rhivu took top honors in the main event, Alex Andersen proved to be the most prolific competitor of the weekend by capturing three individual event victories. Andersen took command in the 4x4x4 Cube, posting a winning average of 49.07 seconds and a best single of 45.93 to edge out Rhivu, who placed second with a 49.58 average, and Pakistan's Abdullah Gulab in third at 58.44. Andersen's versatility across multiple puzzle formats highlighted the technical demands required across different cubic rotations.

Andersen continued his dominant display in the side events, sweeping both Pyraminx and Skewb. In the Pyraminx final, Andersen topped the field of fifteen competitors with a 6.62 winning average and a single of 4.86, narrowly leading Canada's Damon Squires at 6.91 and Gulab at 9.47. In Skewb, Andersen locked down his third title with a 7.29 average and a 6.70 single, finishing ahead of Canadian rivals Tarandeep Mittal at 8.22 and Squires at 9.34. The three gold medals underscored Andersen's mastery across varied mechanical mechanisms.

The fast-paced 2x2x2 Cube division featured twenty-one competitors and proved to be one of the closest contests on the program. Timothy Chabanenko captured the crown for Ukraine, recording a swift 3.79 winning average and the best single of the entire bracket at 2.10 seconds. Andersen finished just fractions behind in second place with a 3.97 average, while Rhivu rounded out the podium with a 5.00 average, ensuring all three top finishers left with hardware across multiple disciplines.

Away from the top steps of the podium, several competitors achieved meaningful breakthroughs across their respective events. Adam Liam Martin took on five events, earning a personal best of 4.14 seconds on 2x2x2 to cut 42.7 percent off his previous mark, while also recording his first ever official attempts in Pyraminx with 13.01 and 4x4x4 with 1:30.60. Max Forward entered four events, posting a personal best of 4.27 on 2x2x2, an improvement of 33.1 percent, and made his first official attempt at Skewb with a 7.85 solve. Tai Sullivan tackled five events, achieving a best finish of fifth in Pyraminx along with a first attempt of 8.64, while also trying 4x4x4 for the first time with a 2:05.82 mark. Liam Vatcher contested five disciplines, securing eighth place in Skewb with a first-time mark of 8.69 and completing his first official Pyraminx solve in 19.86.

Other solvers similarly capitalized on the weekend format to push their personal standards to new heights. Eli Green competed in four events, dropping his Pyraminx personal best to 9.82 seconds to finish 33.2 percent faster than before, alongside a 31.81 personal record on 3x3x3. Geoffrey Chalker took on four events, setting personal bests of 8.95 in Pyraminx, 5.82 in 2x2x2, and 20.78 in the 3x3x3 bracket. Nick Slade made an impressive start in his first WCA competition by entering five events, recording his first official 3x3x3 single of 13.10 and securing fifth place in the 4x4x4 Cube. Ian Cole also participated in his first tournament, taking on four disciplines, finishing sixth in Skewb with an 8.83 first attempt, and logging a 14.15 mark in his debut 3x3x3 solve.

Across ten total rounds, the podium standings reflected a diverse international lineup representing Canada, Bangladesh, Ukraine, and Pakistan. Canadian solvers secured eight total podium spots, while Bangladesh earned three, and Ukraine and Pakistan took two each. From established championship standards to debut appearances, Gander 2024 provided a complete showcase of precision speed cubing in Newfoundland, setting a strong competitive foundation as participants look ahead to future tests on the tournament calendar.