Hampshire Autumn 2024

Fifty competitors stepped forward for the 3x3x3 One-Handed event at Barton Peveril Sixth Form College, testing their dexterity across three demanding rounds. Solving the classic puzzle with a single hand demands precise fingertricks, exceptional spatial awareness, and steady table management. Joseph Briggs of the United Kingdom mastered the format across the weekend, securing first place with an average of 13.07 seconds. He sealed the title ahead of fellow British contenders Rufus Cripps, who averaged 14.49 seconds, and Harry Dixon, who rounded out the podium at 14.88 seconds after posting a tournament-best single solve of 11.05 seconds.

The broader cubing competition brought 87 competitors together in Eastleigh, Hampshire, United Kingdom on October 19 and 20, 2024. Running across 19 rounds in nine distinct events, the gathering showcased the full breadth of modern speedcubing. Harry Dixon carried his strong momentum from the one-handed contest directly into the 4x4x4 Cube, taking the championship with a winning average of 29.91 seconds and a rapid single of 25.67. Thomas Bevan followed in second place with a 31.56 average, while Malaysia's Ainesh Sevellaraja earned third place with an average of 32.61 seconds.

Ainesh Sevellaraja found his way to the top step in the traditional 3x3x3 Cube, navigating three rounds against a massive field of 81 competitors to post a decisive winning average of 8.12 seconds. The 3x3 results at the summit were tight, with Rufus Cripps taking second place with an average of 8.37 seconds and Jake Brown capturing third with an 8.45 average. Sevellaraja also claimed the fastest single solve of the entire event, stopping the clock at 7.08 seconds during an outstanding display of speed cubing on the main stage.

Aidan Grainger enjoyed an exceptionally fruitful weekend, claiming two major individual titles at Hampshire Autumn 2024. Grainger conquered the twelve-sided Megaminx by putting up a winning average of 30.68 seconds and a single of 29.02, finishing ahead of Oliver Richards at 40.73 and Ainesh Sevellaraja at 45.04. Grainger followed that performance by sweeping the Clock competition, clocking an average of 4.25 seconds to win over Adam Devere and Sophie Gilbert, who posted averages of 4.97 and 5.69 seconds respectively.

Short puzzles and intense bursts of turning defined the 2x2x2 Cube, which featured 63 entrants. Harry Allen of the United Kingdom claimed the victory with a 2.24 average in the final round, narrowly edging out Fabio Rossi of Italy, who finished second with a 2.28 average. Ben Stokes took third place on the podium with an average of 2.45 seconds. Across the three rounds of the event, competitors routinely bettered their marks, with Harry Allen recording a blistering 1.58 single solve during the contest.

Beyond the podium battles, the floor at Hampshire Autumn 2024 revealed significant individual breakthroughs throughout the weekend. Rowan Davey tackled seven events, logging a first career Megaminx attempt of 1:48.41 and a blindfolded debut of 6:16.91, alongside a massive 53.9 percent cut to their 3x3x3 One-Handed personal best at 28.73 seconds. Andrew Lewis took on four disciplines, establishing maiden marks in Megaminx and 4x4x4 while dropping their 2x2x2 best by 47.9 percent to 4.13 seconds. Daniel Green entered four events, posting a personal best of 2.24 in 2x2x2, finishing 23rd, and recording first official attempts in both 4x4x4 and one-handed. Henry Tear contested seven events, securing a Clock mark of 8.20 and trimming personal bests by over twenty percent in both 2x2x2 and 4x4x4.

Similar milestone achievements echoed across the remaining tables throughout both days of action. King Long Wong made a first attempt in Clock at 26.32 while cutting their 2x2x2 personal best by 46.6 percent down to 4.70 seconds. Jacob Melotti completed five events, securing a first 4x4x4 result of 1:30.75 and improving their Clock personal best by 46.2 percent to 27.98 seconds. Freddie Hull posted a 41.9 percent reduction in their 4x4x4 best with 51.61 seconds and delivered a Megaminx debut of 2:52.97. Luke Tam made their first ever appearance at a WCA competition, recording initial marks across four events including a 6.49 in 2x2x2, a 15.35 on the 3x3x3 Rubik's Cube, and a 2:54.56 in Megaminx.

The blindfolded disciplines tested memory and spatial calculation under strict competition conditions. Ben Stokes took the 3x3x3 Blindfolded crown with a best single solve of 22.37 seconds, beating Ashwyn Wadhawan and Adam Devere. Devere achieved victory in the 4x4x4 Blindfolded event with a time of 4:15.98, outlasting Jake Brown and Thomas Bevan. Ashwyn Wadhawan closed out the big cube blind solving with a first-place single of 10:19.00 in the 5x5x5 Blindfolded discipline, putting a memorable capstone on two days of high-level competition in Eastleigh.