Katano Milky Way 2024

227 competitors arrived at the Iwafune Nature Forest Center on July 7, 2024, to test their speed and accuracy across four distinct disciplines. While speedcubing enthusiasts often associate major tournaments with the calm, analytical discipline of Fewest Moves and its pen-and-paper calculations, this single-day speed cubing showdown shifted the focus entirely to raw reaction time. Without the quiet reflection of FMC on the schedule, Katano Milky Way 2024 pushed solvers to rely on rapid pattern recognition across seven rounds of high-intensity play in Katano, Osaka, Japan.

The 3x3x3 Cube served as the centerpiece of the gathering, drawing 222 participants through two fierce rounds. India's Amey Gaba captured the title with a winning average of 7.05 seconds, also recording a best single of 6.67 in the final stage. Ivan Li Ka Leong from Hong Kong claimed second place with an average of 8.19, while Japan's Kohdai Kusatani rounded out the podium in third with an 8.62 average. The 3x3 results demonstrated world-class consistency, highlighting how modern solvers execute algorithmic sequences in mere fractions of a second on the traditional Rubik's Cube.

Amey Gaba maintained his golden momentum in the 4x4x4 Cube, dominating a field of 72 contenders across two competitive rounds. Gaba secured his second championship of the tournament by logging a winning average of 26.64 seconds alongside a best single mark of 25.55. Ivan Li Ka Leong mounted a close chase to secure the runner-up spot with a 27.35 average, adding to his collection of silverware. Yuki Nomura took the third step on the podium for Japan, completing the final round with a steady average of 29.19 seconds.

Beyond the top steps of the podium, Katano Milky Way 2024 highlighted massive personal milestones for emerging talent across the floor. Shuji Yoneda took on two events and delivered an extraordinary performance in the 3x3x3 Cube, setting a personal best of 9.35 seconds to improve upon a previous mark of 28.55 by 67.3 percent, alongside a first ever attempt at the 4x4x4 Cube that clocked in at 48.99. Izuru Sakamoto tackled three events, claiming a 7th place finish in Pyraminx with a first ever attempt of 2.04, logging a first 4x4x4 Cube attempt of 46.21, and cutting his 3x3x3 Cube mark by 34.2 percent to 10.10.

The breakthrough performances continued through Hiroaki Aoki, who entered three events and registered a Pyraminx personal best of 10.51 seconds, a 48.5 percent drop from 20.39, while completing a first 4x4x4 Cube attempt in 2:28.64. Kento Hirai took on four events, securing a 26th place finish in Square-1 on a first attempt of 24.07, cutting his Pyraminx time by 35.8 percent to 5.48, and trimming his 4x4x4 Cube best by 35.4 percent to 36.06. Guangzhi Hou entered four events to finish 28th in Square-1 with a first attempt of 29.01, while Kaito Suzuki placed 5th in Square-1 with an initial mark of 13.59.

The Pyraminx bracket proved to be one of the quickest events of the afternoon, featuring 62 participants across two rounds of rapid turning. Hajime Miyazaki of Japan took top honors with a winning average of 1.82 seconds, bolstered by a blistering best single of 1.34. Japan's Takahiro Aoki secured second place with an average of 2.23 seconds, while Minjun Kim of Korea took third place with a 2.70 average. The triangular puzzle demanded exceptional fingertip dexterity, providing spectators with nonstop quick-fire action throughout the elimination stage.

Square-1 offered a different technical test, drawing 37 entrants into a direct final round where shape-shifting layers had to be resolved rapidly. Makoto Takaoka claimed the gold for Japan by posting a winning average of 8.25 seconds and the best single time of 7.34. Yasunari Kumekawa followed in second place with an average of 9.40 seconds, while Ivan Li Ka Leong earned his third medal of the day by placing third with a 12.40 average. The discipline rewarded precise geometric visualization during every turn.

International representation was strong at this WCA competition, with Japan securing six podium positions, Hong Kong earning three, India taking two, and Korea capturing one. Katano Milky Way 2024 demonstrated how a tightly organized schedule can deliver top-tier speedcubing across multiple disciplines in a single afternoon. Solvers leave Katano, Osaka, Japan with fresh personal records and renewed focus as the global circuit prepares for the next series of events in the 2024 season.

227人の競技者が集結した熱戦の舞台となったのは、Katano, Osaka, Japanの星の里いわふねです。2024年7月7日、スピードキューブの腕を競い合うKatano Milky Way 2024が開催されました。単発の爆発力だけでなく、5回の試技を揃える総合的な安定性が勝敗を分ける一日となりました。

花形である3x3x3 Cube部門は222人がエントリーする大規模なトーナメントとなりました。決勝ではAmey Gaba選手が7.05という極めて安定した平均記録を叩き出し、見事に優勝を勝ち取りました。Ivan Li Ka Leong (李嘉亮)選手は平均8.19で2位、Kohdai Kusatani (草谷幸大)選手が平均8.62で3位表彰台に立ちました。

Amey Gaba選手の精密な技術は4x4x4 Cubeでも遺憾なく発揮されました。72人が競い合ったこの種目で、Amey Gaba選手は26.64の平均タイムを記録して今大会2つ目のタイトルを獲得しました。2位には平均27.35を記録したIvan Li Ka Leong (李嘉亮)選手が続き、3位には平均29.19でYuki Nomura (野村優希)選手が入賞を果たしました。

Pyraminx部門ではHajime Miyazaki (宮崎朔)選手が圧倒的な実力を示しました。62人が参加した争いの中で、Hajime Miyazaki (宮崎朔)選手は平均1.82、単発1.34という圧巻の記録をマークして優勝を手にしました。2位には平均2.23のTakahiro Aoki (青木尊弘)選手、3位には平均2.70のMinjun Kim (김민俊)選手が食い込みました。

回転機構が特殊なSquare-1部門では37人が技を競い合いました。Makoto Takaoka (高岡誠)選手が平均8.25、単発7.34というハイレベルな試技を揃えて頂点に立ちました。2位には平均9.40を記録したYasunari Kumekawa (粂川泰成)選手、3位には平均12.40のIvan Li Ka Leong (李嘉亮)選手が名を連ねました。

表彰台争いの外側でも、多くの選手が素晴らしい自己ベスト更新や新たな挑戦を成し遂げました。Haruki Tsutsui (筒井遥規)選手は4種目に出場し、Pyraminxで従来記録を50.3パーセント縮める3.20の自己新をマークして11位に入ったほか、Square-1にも初挑戦して24.46を残しました。Masaaki Kobayashi (小林誠明)選手は3x3x3 Cubeで自己記録を30.4パーセント向上させる20.44を樹立し、4x4x4 Cube初挑戦でも1:13.01を記録しました。

Daichi Asanuma (淺沼大地)選手はPyraminxで25.9パーセント短縮の4.63、3x3x3 Cubeで11.50をマークしつつ4x4x4 Cubeに初参戦して51.76を残しました。Masaki Shinagawa (品川将輝)選手は3x3x3 Cubeで24.8パーセント更新となる9.28を出し、初挑戦の4x4x4 Cubeで47.14を記録しました。Yusei Kawasaki (川崎悠生)選手は3x3x3 Cubeで9.50を出したほかPyraminx初挑戦で7.27を記録し、Yoshika Ito (伊藤良華)選手も3x3x3 Cubeの23.27に加えPyraminx初挑戦で16.23を記録しました。

合計4種目7ラウンドにわたって繰り広げられたWCA公認大会は、盤石の安定感を見せたトップ選手たちの活躍と、挑戦を重ねる参加者たちの熱気とともに幕を閉じました。ルービックキューブの奥深さと各競技者の確かな成長が随所に刻まれた素晴らしいキューブ大会となりました。