Halifax Summer 2024

Albert Sanhueza Theriault delivered a masterclass in heavy puzzle solving at Halifax Summer 2024, locking down the 4x4x4 Cube with a commanding 36.90 winning average and a best single of 33.30. In larger events where piece count multiplies and endurance matters on every turn, Sanhueza Theriault separated himself decisively from the 29-person field. The one-round format offered no room for error, requiring sustained concentration across five consecutive solves to secure the top step over Marco Yang, who took second at 44.46, and Liam Orovec, who secured third at 46.44.

The single-day WCA competition took place on June 30, 2024, inside the Collaborative Health Education Building at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. A total of 58 competitors gathered for the mid-year speedcubing showdown, taking part in 10 rounds across six distinct disciplines. From traditional Rubik's Cube matchups to complex twisty puzzles, the event showcased a full spectrum of mechanical problem solving in Atlantic Canada. Canadian competitors swept all 18 podium positions across the six featured categories.

Sanhueza Theriault extended his dominance well beyond the four-layered cube, putting together an exceptional display across varied puzzle types. In the 12-sided Megaminx, another test of sustained lookahead and finger stamina, he captured first place with an average of 53.69 and a single of 49.33, again finishing ahead of Marco Yang at 1:01.96 and Liam Orovec at 1:25.91. His versatility continued in Square-1, where he claimed the title with an 18.93 average and a 14.18 single, edging out Yang at 19.82 and Dayun Son at 21.72.

The premier 3x3x3 Cube event drew the largest crowd of the weekend with 58 entrants over three stages of competition. Sanhueza Theriault completed his quadruple-victory performance by leading the final 3x3 results, registering an 8.84 average along with a best single of 7.88. Marco Yang collected his fourth silver medal of the day with a solid 10.15 mark, while Evan Meunier rounded out the podium in third place with a 10.26 average after intense knockout rounds.

In the shorter events, rapid burst turning defined the leaderboard at this cubing competition. Maxen Morrison secured the 2x2x2 Cube crown with a blisteringly fast 2.45 final average, backed by a 1.84 single solve. Evan Meunier claimed second place at 2.94, while Sanhueza Theriault added a bronze to his medal haul with a 3.21 average. The Skewb tournament was won by Dayun Son, who averaged 5.08 to capture gold ahead of Sanhueza Theriault at 6.01 and Marco Yang at 6.37.

Away from the top of the podium, several speed cubing participants delivered notable breakthrough performances across the schedule. Evan Fisher cut his 3x3x3 Cube personal best in half with a 46.12 single, improving by 50 percent over his previous mark of 1:32.19. Jack Ibsen lowered his Skewb best by 43 percent down to 3.67 while also attempting Square-1 for the first time with a 40.72 single and logging his first Megaminx result at 2:04.03. Gavin Carey-Sullivan took 42.6 percent off his 3x3x3 single to reach 17.61 and tried Skewb for the first time with a 13.51 mark, while Kendrick Desmond dropped his 3x3x3 mark by 36.7 percent to 20.54 and tackled Megaminx for the first time with a 3:23.68.

The lower rounds also welcomed several debutants who took on diverse puzzle rosters during the weekend. Jayden Webber entered five events in their first official competition, taking 17th in Megaminx while recording first attempts of 2:33.59 on 4x4x4 and 11.76 on 2x2x2. Yaroslav Buchko also made a tournament debut across five events, finishing 16th in Megaminx with a 4:06.92 single and setting initial marks of 36.02 on 3x3x3 and 9.52 on 2x2x2. Aagney Sandeep debuted with four events, taking 28th on 4x4x4 with a 3:50.12, and Isaac Apollo Hamilton Stone began their official journey by posting a 5.28 on 2x2x2 and 46.02 on 3x3x3.

The action at Halifax Summer 2024 wrapped up after 10 packed rounds of competitive solving on the Dalhousie University campus. By balancing high-speed sprint rounds on the 2x2x2 with grueling, technical routines on the 4x4x4 and Megaminx, the tournament highlighted the immense range of modern puzzle solving. With local talent advancing their personal records and newcomers setting their initial benchmarks, the Halifax speedcubing scene closed another productive chapter on the Atlantic circuit.