KCKC 6 Cubing for Cake 2024

Benjamin J. Dunn stole the show in Kansas City, Missouri, USA on October 12, 2024, by blasting his way to a sub-two-second victory in the 2x2x2 Cube final with a remarkable 1.95-second winning average. That lightning-quick sequence set the standard for a thrilling one-day speedcubing gathering where rapid-fire solutions and tight finishes kept the venue electric from morning until evening.

Held at the KC First Church of the Nazarene, KCKC 6 Cubing for Cake 2024 brought together 83 competitors across 6 official events and 11 rounds of action. The gathering offered a full test of versatility, from the micro-scale mechanics of pocket puzzles to the expansive layers of big cubes, drawing puzzle solvers from across the region to celebrate top-tier Rubik's Cube speed and technique.

The 2x2x2 Cube event stood out as a premier showcase of reaction time and execution. Following Dunn onto the podium was Braxton Lee Fowler, who claimed second place with an average of 2.21 seconds after logging a blistering 1.58 single earlier in the rounds. Zachary Johnson rounded out the top three with an average of 2.99 seconds, while Dunn added a best single of 1.61 to cement his dominance in the shortest event on the schedule.

In the flagship 3x3x3 Cube, Anton Angeletti delivered the decisive 3x3 results across three competitive rounds to take the overall title. Angeletti posted a tournament-winning average of 8.59 seconds in the final, punctuated by the fastest single solve of the entire discipline at 7.53 seconds. Zachary Shaw claimed the runner-up spot with an average of 9.71 seconds, and Fowler collected another podium appearance by taking third place with an even 10.00-second average.

Away from the main stage, the heart of this cubing competition emerged in the personal milestones achieved across the 83-person field. Winslow Parker made one of the most drastic single-day jumps of the tournament, taking 54.2% off their previous Clock benchmark to record a personal best of 40.01 seconds while also establishing a 3x3x3 Cube personal best of 19.00 seconds. Dexter Doremus slashed 52% off their prior 2x2x2 Cube standard to reach a personal best of 8.50 seconds alongside a first-ever attempt at Pyraminx with a 9.53 single. Kyle Kirk improved their 3x3x3 Cube personal best by 41.2% to 32.39 seconds while also entering the 2x2x2 Cube for the first time with an 8.88 single, and Zebediah Yongo shaved 36.4% off their 3x3x3 Cube best with an 18.23-second result across six entered events.

Debut attempts and broader multi-event programs highlighted the depth of the roster throughout the afternoon. First-time competitor Jeffrey Boor tackled five separate disciplines in their first WCA competition, securing 31st place in Clock with a first attempt of 24.34 seconds. Jack Tarter took on five events, registering a first-ever 6x6x6 Cube single of 8:32.52 and an 18.9% Pyraminx personal best of 6.78 seconds. Zachary Jennings entered five events to log a first-ever 4x4x4 Cube attempt of 1:15.93 and a Clock debut of 15.64 seconds, while Landon Bailey posted a first-time 2x2x2 Cube result of 4.19 seconds among five disciplines entered at the weekend meet.

The bigger puzzles belonged entirely to Zachary Johnson, who completed an impressive double victory in the higher-order cubes. In the 4x4x4 Cube, Johnson led the 56-competitor field over two rounds, winning the final with an average of 37.52 seconds and a sharp 33.28 single. Wesley Grady secured second place with a 39.93 average, just ahead of Fowler, who earned third with a mark of 40.40 seconds.

Johnson carried that form over to the 6x6x6 Cube, taking top honors with a 2:26.99 average and a best single of 2:25.18. Liam O'Leary challenged closely to finish second at 2:28.31, while Fowler secured another bronze with a 2:31.31 average. In side events, Trenton Cuzick captured the Clock championship with an average of 6.22 seconds and a best single of 4.20 seconds over Fowler's 6.91 and Kaden Christopher Dockins's 7.66. Josiah Bell rounded out the event winners by seizing the Pyraminx title with a 3.11 average, outpacing Fowler at 4.21 and Teddy Stilwell at 5.21.

The tournament highlighted how speed cubing continues to thrive through tight rivalries, deep event schedules, and personal growth for both podium contenders and newcomers. As the final round of KCKC 6 Cubing for Cake 2024 concluded, the memorable finishes across the sprint events established a high bar for the region heading into the next chapter of the season.