Idaho Championship 2024

Cade Beck set the tone for the marathon tests of endurance in Meridian, Idaho, USA, capturing both the 6x6x6 Cube and 7x7x7 Cube events in dominant fashion. Solving the largest cubes in a WCA competition requires sustained concentration, physical stamina, and sharp lookahead across hundreds of moving pieces. Beck conquered the single round of 7x7x7 with a winning average of 3:14.75 and a best single of 3:04.96, outlasting Isaac Buck who took second with 3:35.48 and Abdel Issa of Jordan who finished third in 3:37.36.

Beck completed his big-cube double on the 6x6x6 Cube, recording a winning average of 2:12.85 alongside a round-best single of 2:05.73. Isaac Buck again secured the runner-up spot with an average of 2:16.84, while Wilson Hettinger earned third place in 2:19.98. The big-cube showcase was rounded out by the 5x5x5 Cube, where Ian Lawson delivered a blistering sub-minute single of 59.46 on his way to an overall winning average of 1:02.75. Ethan George Hayes finished second at 1:05.93, and Hettinger stood on his second big-cube podium of the weekend in third with 1:09.30.

Held across November 2 and November 3 at the Courtyard by Marriott Boise West, the Idaho Championship 2024 drew 65 competitors tackling 13 events over 24 rounds of play. Speedcubing action spanned from the sheer endurance of the massive NxN layers down to explosive, fraction-of-a-second turning on smaller puzzles. The two-day gathering in Meridian showcased a complete cross-section of the sport, bringing together seasoned finalists and newer solvers testing their resolve on the official stage.

In the classic 3x3x3 Cube, Michael Lee topped the podium after three grueling rounds, sealing victory with a 7.27 winning average and a swift single of 5.92. Caiden Lee claimed second place with a 7.56 average, followed closely by Ethan George Hayes in third at 7.91. For fans tracking 3x3 results, the contest served as the centerpiece of a bustling second day. Lee doubled his title tally in Skewb, logging a winning average of 4.52 to best Hayes at 5.21 and Michael Aparicio at 5.84.

Across the wider schedule of this cubing competition, versatility proved decisive. Wilson Hettinger collected two individual titles, securing first place in Clock with a 4.52 average and winning Square-1 with a mark of 10.19. Ethan George Hayes captured the 4x4x4 Cube crown with a 34.68 average, while Corbin Rodriguez took dual honors by winning Pyraminx in 2.69 and Megaminx in 58.12. In 2x2x2 Cube, James Wei prevailed with a 2.86 average, edging Caiden Lee at 2.94 and Hayes at 3.02. Derek McNee took top honors in 3x3x3 Blindfolded, posting a single of 36.49 ahead of Wei at 46.42.

Beyond the top steps of the podium, several competitors achieved remarkable milestones across their individual schedules. Andrew Hart entered 10 separate events, taking fourth place in Pyraminx with a personal best single of 3.56 that improved his previous record by 57.1 percent, while also recording his first official attempts in Megaminx at 2:09.81 and Square-1 at 41.22. Matthias Moore tackled 11 events, achieving a Clock personal best of 16.67, which was 54.1 percent faster than his prior mark, alongside his first career attempts in 5x5x5 Cube at 2:36.31 and 6x6x6 Cube at 6:19.16.

Personal progress defined the weekend for many others. Pierce Freiburghaus recorded a 3x3x3 Rubiks Cube personal best of 27.18, improving by 43.8 percent, and logged first-time attempts of 14.44 in Skewb and 9.29 in Pyraminx. Landen Walter notched a Pyraminx personal best of 6.56, cutting 44.8 percent off his earlier mark, alongside a first 4x4x4 Cube attempt of 1:30.78. Cade Wixom cut his Pyraminx best by 44.4 percent down to 5.43. Eli Jameson tackled seven events, posting initial official results in Clock at 18.33, 3x3x3 One-Handed at 1:11.73, and Square-1 at 58.75. Grayson Dudley posted first attempts in Pyraminx at 16.46, 2x2x2 Cube at 6.43, and Skewb at 9.79, while Jack Floyd completed his very first speed cubing tournament with four events, logging marks of 5.94 in 2x2x2 Cube, 8.12 in Pyraminx, and 2:01.40 in 4x4x4 Cube.

With 38 podium finishes earned by United States solvers and one earned by Jordan, the competition proved to be a vibrant display of regional depth and technical skill. The Idaho Championship 2024 brought the 2024 regional calendar to a memorable high point, blending high-stamina big-cube triumphs with rapid-fire sprint puzzles as competitors look ahead to the next season of play.