G'day Maitland 2024

Liam Highducheck delivered the weekend highlight on home soil at Rutherford Public School, securing victory in the 3x3x3 Cube final with a commanding 7.37 winning average. The Australian competitor held off a fierce challenge across three rounds of the classic Rubik's Cube, sealing the title ahead of runner-up Caden Liu. The thrilling finish in the main event brought the single-day gathering to a vibrant peak as speedcubing talent from across the region converged in New South Wales.

Held on February 3, 2024, G'day Maitland 2024 brought 75 competitors together in Maitland, New South Wales, Australia, for a packed schedule spanning nine rounds across four official disciplines. The cubing competition welcomed both experienced contenders and fresh talent to test their speed against the clock. The atmosphere inside the venue highlighted a day of focused solving and razor-thin margins from the first turn of the morning to the closing finals.

The 3x3 results proved remarkably tight at the top of the standings. Liam Highducheck notched a best single of 7.28 en route to his title-winning 7.37 average, finishing just fractions ahead of Caden Liu, who recorded a 7.40 average for second place. Bryan Eng completed the Australian sweep on the podium by securing third place with an average of 7.83, capping a grueling contest featuring 75 entrants.

Bryan Eng enjoyed an exceptional campaign throughout the tournament, taking top honors across two separate disciplines. In the 2x2x2 Cube, Eng topped a field of 70 competitors by posting an electric 1.76 winning average alongside a best single of 1.56. Cooper Holmes took second place on the podium with a 2.40 average, while Sebastian Lee finished third with a 2.64 mark.

Bryan Eng added a second gold medal in 3x3x3 One-Handed, demonstrating remarkable control with a 12.07 winning average and a best single of 10.93 among 48 entrants. Cooper Holmes earned another silver with a 13.87 average, and Liam Highducheck reached the podium once again to claim bronze with a 16.39 average. Meanwhile, Sebastian Lee dominated the Pyraminx event, setting a winning average of 1.83 and a best single of 1.39 to beat Bryan Eng and Liam Highducheck in the final round.

Beyond the top podium steps, the competition served as a breakthrough stage for competitors achieving massive personal milestones. Benji Wong cut his 2x2x2 Cube personal best by 77.2 percent down to 3.47 and took his 3x3x3 mark down to 16.46, while Riley Dunstan dropped his 3x3x3 Cube time by 58.5 percent to 14.01 and made his first attempt at 3x3x3 One-Handed in 49.21. Xavier Byrnes lowered his 3x3x3 One-Handed personal best by 54.4 percent to 33.67, and Alp Abdulla improved his 3x3x3 Cube mark by 54.1 percent to 17.04.

Other competitors took on new challenges across multiple disciplines throughout the schedule. Vincent Lenton tackled four events, producing his first attempt at Pyraminx in 8.75 and improving his 3x3x3 Cube personal best to 12.11. Jacob Davy lowered his 3x3x3 One-Handed mark by 48.8 percent to 25.45, while Boston Rolfe registered an 11.71 personal best in Pyraminx. Noah Mullan entered four events, posting a personal best of 3.87 on the 2x2x2 Cube and achieving a 13th-place finish in Pyraminx.

For new participants entering their first WCA competition, the meeting offered a warm entry into competitive speed cubing. Malachi Wegener completed four events including a 10.18 on the 2x2x2 Cube, Cooper Jackson completed four events with a 10.57 Pyraminx solve, Austin Bishop recorded a 6.47 2x2x2 single, and Leon Wood posted a 31.43 3x3x3 solve. The collective progress seen across all nine rounds reflected the healthy depth of Australian speedcubing.

As the final timers were packed away at Rutherford Public School, G'day Maitland 2024 concluded having showcased 12 podium finishes for Australian contenders. Liam Highducheck, Bryan Eng, and Sebastian Lee headlined the event honours with outstanding winning marks, while dozens of personal bests across the bracket ensured a memorable competition in Maitland for the 2024 season.