Hangzhou Open 2024

The tournament hall inside the Btg-Nanyuan Kaihao Hotel buzzed with rapid hand movements and the rhythmic clatter of plastic on December 15, 2024. Competitors adjusted their mats, inspected scrambled puzzles, and launched into lightning-fast solves across multiple disciplines. A total of 232 speedcubers gathered in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China for a packed single day of action, where the youthful energy of the circuit was on full display. With 14 rounds scheduled across six official events, the floor remained in constant motion from morning to evening.

The rapid rise and improving pace of young competitors framed the day at the Hangzhou Open 2024. In the headline 3x3x3 Cube, which drew an enormous field of 222 competitors across three rounds of play, Yiheng Wang delivered an exceptional masterclass. Taking the victory, he put up a winning average of 4.54 seconds alongside the weekend best single of 3.92 seconds. Xuanyi Geng secured the second step on the podium with an average of 5.08 seconds, while Ruihang Xu followed closely behind in third position averaging 5.30 seconds in the 3x3 results.

Yiheng Wang also asserted complete control over the 2x2x2 Cube event, navigating three intense rounds of 138 competitors. Wang claimed first place with an impressive winning average of 1.17 seconds and a best single of 1.02 seconds in the final round. The competition podium was swept by Chinese talent, with Jiazhou Li claiming second place with an average of 1.37 seconds and Ziyu Ye finishing in third place at 1.40 seconds. The event showcased just how quick turning and fluid execution have become among the newer generation of competitors.

In the 4x4x4 Cube, Ruihang Xu demonstrated composure across two rounds to secure the top spot among 116 entrants. Xu posted a winning average of 23.99 seconds alongside a tournament-best single of 21.54 seconds. Jiazhou Li earned his second podium finish of the day by taking the runner-up spot with an average of 26.07 seconds, while Bofan Zhang captured third place with an average of 27.91 seconds. The bigger puzzle demanded stamina and precision, but the podium finishers handled every solve with remarkable stability.

Beyond the top podiums, the WCA competition offered a platform where emerging talent showed massive development and broadened their competitive range. Xu Lu took on five events, earning a 14th-place finish in 4x4x4 Cube, setting marks in his first ever attempts at Pyraminx with 3.34 seconds and Skewb with 5.28 seconds, and dropping his 2x2x2 Cube personal best to 1.69 seconds, which was 59.9 percent faster than his prior 4.21 mark. Shenye Zhang entered four events, logging his first official attempt at 4x4x4 Cube in 1:25.49 and Pyraminx in 8.58 seconds, while lowering his 2x2x2 Cube mark by 54.6 percent to 2.89 seconds. Chang Wu tackled five events, completing a first Skewb attempt of 5.40 seconds, a first Pyraminx attempt of 4.19 seconds, and cutting his 2x2x2 Cube personal best by 41.7 percent to 2.87 seconds.

The drive to expand skill sets across the cubing competition was equally evident in several other determined solvers. Muran Cao entered five events, recording his first official attempts in Skewb at 4.19 seconds, Pyraminx at 6.56 seconds, and 4x4x4 Cube at 45.11 seconds. Yang Zong also embraced a heavy slate of five disciplines, registering first-ever marks in Skewb with a 6.16, Pyraminx with a 3.21, and 4x4x4 Cube with a 37.60. Wei Shi took on five events as well, logging first attempts in the 2x2x2 Cube at 6.13 seconds, Pyraminx at 4.78 seconds, and Skewb at 11.10 seconds, illustrating how quickly competitors continue to expand their repertoires.

Side events brought additional speed cubing highlights to the venue floor throughout the afternoon. In Pyraminx, Lingkun Jiang led a field of 106 entrants over two rounds, winning the event with an average of 1.31 seconds and a best single of 1.11 seconds. Shengze Tang finished second with an average of 1.88 seconds, ahead of Yifan Luo who took third with 2.09 seconds. Shengze Tang returned to the top in Skewb, beating 92 other solvers with a winning average of 1.85 seconds and a single of 1.52. Zihao Qian secured second with 2.39 seconds and Qi Zhou placed third with 2.63 seconds.

Solving the classic Rubik's Cube without sight provided a striking contrast of quiet concentration against the rapid-fire action of the other tables. The 3x3x3 Blindfolded event featured 44 competitors across two rounds, where memorisation and spatial recollection were tested under pressure. Yifan Wang captured the title with a swift best single of 21.70 seconds. Jieyu Yang claimed second place on the podium with a single solve of 23.23 seconds, while Haotian Shi took third place with a time of 24.48 seconds.

As the final timers stopped and equipment was packed away, the Hangzhou Open 2024 left a clear impression of a community progressing at rapid speed. Across all six events, all 18 podium spots were earned by competitors representing China, underscoring the deep talent pool in the region. With so many young solvers shaving huge percentages off their previous bests and expanding into new disciplines, the stage is firmly set for even faster times across the circuit in the upcoming year.

232名魔方选手在2024年12月15日齐聚Btg-Nanyuan Kaihao Hotel。这场在Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China举行的Hangzhou Open 2024共设6个项目与14轮比拼。赛场内选手们交流切磋，在各个项目的轮次间隙互相分享还原思路与指法技巧，充分展现了魔方竞速社群的温暖氛围与凝聚力。

三阶魔方项目共有222名选手参与3轮角逐。最终Yiheng Wang (王艺衡)凭借4.54秒的决赛平均成绩夺冠，并在比赛中做出3.92秒的最快单次。Xuanyi Geng (耿暄一)以5.08秒获得亚军，Ruihang Xu (许瑞航)以5.30秒取得季军。顶尖选手们在高压对抗中展现了极高水准。

在二阶魔方项目中，138名参赛者展开了3轮激烈比拼。Yiheng Wang (王艺衡)再次展现稳定发挥，以1.17秒的平均成绩拿下冠军，最快单次成绩为1.02秒。Jiazhou Li (李佳洲)以1.37秒收获第二名，Ziyu Ye (叶梓渝)以1.40秒位列第三，领奖台竞争极为紧凑。

四阶魔方赛场上，116名选手经过2轮较量决出胜负。Ruihang Xu (许瑞航)以23.99秒的平均成绩斩获冠军，并交出全场单次最快21.54秒。Jiazhou Li (李佳洲)以26.07秒夺得亚军，Bofan Zhang (张博藩)以27.91秒名列季军。

除了主项角逐，异形与特殊项目也精彩纷呈。金字塔魔方项目中，Lingkun Jiang (姜凌坤)以1.31秒的平均成绩夺金，Shengze Tang (唐圣泽)以1.88秒获银牌，Yifan Luo (骆奕帆)以2.09秒获铜牌。随后Shengze Tang (唐圣泽)在斜方魔方项目以1.85秒夺冠，Zihao Qian (钱梓豪)与Qi Zhou (周祺)分列二三位。三阶盲拧项目中，Yifan Wang (王逸帆)凭借21.70秒的单次成绩夺得第一。

在本次Hangzhou Open 2024的激烈争夺之外，许多选手的自我突破同样亮眼。Jiaxun Song (宋佳迅)参加了2个项目并在斜方魔方取得第14名，其斜方单次达到2.76秒，相比原个人最好成绩提升了66.3%，三阶魔方也跑出11.66秒进步了16.2%。Jiangyuan Xie (谢江源)出战4个项目，斜方魔方以10.48秒大幅提速65.8%，四阶魔方做出1:04.94提高39.9%，金字塔魔方以6.90秒进步24.3%。

多位选手也在赛场上勇敢解锁新项目。Haoyang Mai (麦皓阳)参加4个项目并迎来四阶魔方的生涯首秀，成绩为1:27.39，二阶魔方以3.99秒提升42.3%，三阶魔方以12.24秒进步17.6%。Tao Wang (王涛)出战5个项目，不仅首次尝试斜方魔方拿下7.26秒、首次尝试金字塔魔方拿下6.25秒，二阶魔方更以2.70秒提升了36.5%。Xuanheng Yan (颜暄衡)同样出战5个项目，完成斜方魔方首秀7.12秒与四阶魔方首秀53.35秒，金字塔魔方以6.06秒提升23.6%。报名6个项目的Yanghong Zhang (张扬红)在三阶盲拧拿下第9名并以1:42.09进步21.3%，同时首次尝试斜方魔方拿下4.62秒以及四阶魔方首秀36.30秒。

作为一场盛大的WCA competition，本届Hangzhou Open 2024见证了18座领奖台席位的产生。选手们在比赛中互相鼓励、交流经验，不仅创造了优异成绩，也让这场2024年的速度魔方赛事留下了许多难忘的竞技瞬间与深厚情谊。