Ipswich Autumn 2024

A total of 28 competitors lined up for 3x3x3 One-Handed at Suffolk New College, each facing the unique physical and mental demands of turning the puzzle with just a single hand. The event strips away the symmetry of standard solving, demanding table grip, finger rolls, and flawless fingertrick execution. Over two intense rounds, Fabio Schwandt proved to be the master of the discipline, delivering a winning average of 13.12 seconds and a best single of 12.71. Angelos Nevin-Psarras took second place with a 16.23 average, while Noah Calderon-Kamata secured third with 16.44.

The one-handed event was a focal point of Ipswich Autumn 2024, held in Ipswich, Suffolk, United Kingdom across October 12 and 13. Bringing together 59 competitors across 10 events and 19 rounds of action, the weekend showcased top-tier talent in every discipline. The classic 3x3x3 Cube contest saw 55 competitors battle through three rounds of standard speedcubing. Noah Calderon-Kamata claimed victory in the final with a blistering 7.31 winning average and a 5.98 single, leading Felix Hincks who averaged 7.93 and Schwandt who took third with an 8.02 mark.

Calderon-Kamata's triumph in the main event topped off an impressive showing in the general 3x3 results, but the weekend offered plenty of variety across different puzzle formats. In the 2x2x2 Cube, 41 entrants pushed the limits over three rounds of rapid solving. Daniel Robinson took top honours with a clinical 1.85 winning average and a single of 1.46. Robinson outpaced Calderon-Kamata, who finished second with 2.16, and Schwandt, who picked up another podium position with 2.65 in third.

The big cubes provided dramatic battles of endurance and precision throughout the speed cubing programme. In 4x4x4 Cube, Harvie Partridge led a field of 33 entrants to take the title with an average of 29.89 seconds, backed by a 28.17 single. Calderon-Kamata followed in second at 33.45, with Ben Stokes taking third at 33.70. Partridge also conquered the 12-sided Megaminx event, winning across two rounds with a 49.71 average ahead of 22 other competitors.

Schwandt returned to the top step in the 5x5x5 Cube, taking victory in 56.46 seconds ahead of Partridge with 1:00.43 and Calderon-Kamata with 1:02.22. Schwandt also captured first place in Skewb, posting an average of 3.35 across three rounds. Meanwhile, Ben Stokes put together a multi-discipline masterclass across several categories. Stokes claimed the 6x6x6 Cube title with a 1:52.80 average, defeated 30 other challengers in Clock with a 6.42 average, and won 3x3x3 Blindfolded with a 25.50 single, where Ben Ridley and Partridge completed the podium.

Beyond the trophies, the cubing competition provided plenty of remarkable personal breakthroughs across the scorecards. Sam Antczak made major strides across multiple categories, cutting their 3x3x3 Cube personal best by 31.6 percent down to 7.34 seconds, improving their Clock best to 22.65, and lowering their 4x4x4 Cube single to 1:03.44. Timothy Johnstone shaved 27.2 percent off their 3x3x3 Cube best to record a 14.35, while also tackling their first official attempts at 4x4x4 Cube in 1:00.51 and 3x3x3 One-Handed in 35.93. Emily Gunthorpe dropped their 2x2x2 Cube personal best by 27 percent to 5.04 and took on Megaminx for the first time, logging 1:48.96.

Fresh challenges defined the weekend for many others on the stage. James Jarrett took on seven events, setting an 18.2 percent improvement in 5x5x5 Cube at 2:28.88, a 15.6 percent personal best in 3x3x3 Cube at 8.30, and completing a first Megaminx attempt at 3:35.40. Ronald Young tackled a massive 10 events, scoring a 13.5 percent improvement in 3x3x3 Cube with 10.48 and making a first Megaminx run in 1:54.76. Zachary Pruden improved their 2x2x2 Cube single by 20.9 percent to 3.71, Stephen Page took on seven events with a best finish of 11th in 2x2x2 Cube alongside a first 5x5x5 Cube solve of 3:37.47, and Samuel Webber completed their first official tournament with entries in six events, highlighted by a 21.55 3x3x3 Cube attempt.

The variety of tests at Ipswich Autumn 2024 brought out the best in both seasoned hands and newer solvers in 2024. All 30 podium places across the ten events went to competitors from the United Kingdom, reflecting strong collective depth across short sprints, big cubes, side events, and complex mental challenges. With clean executions and decisive victories in the one-handed and standard events, the WCA competition in Ipswich delivered two memorable days of high-speed solving.