Kedah Cube Open 2024

A total of 101 competitors gathered on September 21, 2024, at Dewan Persatuan Pendidikan Akhlak Lip Seang Kor for a bustling day of tournament action. Stepping into the arena in Sungai Petani, Kedah, Malaysia, aspiring solvers experienced the unique thrill of taking their practice into a live environment. The excitement of a debut tournament was unmistakable as new faces learned the rhythm of the inspection clock, the prompt call of judges, and the intense focus required to solve under the stage lights across 14 packed rounds of competition.

The official schedule delivered a diverse mix of challenges, drawing participants across six different disciplines. The classic Rubik's Cube sat at the center of attention, but the roster spanned everything from lightning-fast mini cubes to the complex geometric turns of the dodecahedral challenge. For newcomers taking their first turns in an official WCA competition, managing the quick transitions between three-layered cubes, pyramids, and corner-turning puzzles added an extra layer of test to their overall tournament preparations.

In the spotlight section of the day, several emerging talents seized their opportunities to log major breakthroughs. Ong Zhi Hao competed in six events and posted a massive Pyraminx personal best of 3.89 seconds, outstripping his previous mark by 66.1 percent, alongside a Skewb best of 14.55 and an initial Megaminx attempt of 2:39.98. Osmar Aragorn Renato also produced substantial gains across his six events, dropping his Pyraminx best by 62.8 percent to 5.95 seconds, lowering his 3x3x3 Cube time by 24.3 percent to 24.10, and recording an inaugural 3x3x3 One-Handed time of 1:05.91. Nathan Ang Le Qin tackled five events, cutting his Skewb personal best by 60.2 percent down to 11.20 seconds, improving his Pyraminx best by 53.3 percent to 5.17, and logging his first 3x3x3 One-Handed mark at 1:05.13.

That same drive was evident throughout the rest of the emerging roster. Anonymous completed a 3x3x3 Cube personal best of 24.92 seconds to slash 58.3 percent off their previous time, while registering first-time official marks of 14.25 in 2x2x2 Cube and 1:18.78 in 3x3x3 One-Handed. Nur Hanis Irdina Binti Muhd Zuber posted an outstanding 5.08 Pyraminx best to beat her past mark by 56.7 percent, secured 16th place in the event, and logged first tries in Skewb at 9.09 and 3x3x3 One-Handed at 55.62. Lok Ann Qin (陆安沁) improved her 2x2x2 Cube best by 38 percent to 2.87 on the way to 14th place, while trying Megaminx and 3x3x3 One-Handed for the first time at 2:08.78 and 24.21. Mus'ab Al Khair Bin Muhamad Yazid took on four events, setting debut marks of 6.74 in 2x2x2 Cube, 9.95 in Pyraminx, and 47.25 in 3x3x3 One-Handed. Muhammad Aatif Shah Bin Mandzir Shah entered six disciplines, placing 18th in Megaminx while logging first-ever attempts in Megaminx at 1:27.85, 2x2x2 Cube at 2.08, and Skewb at 7.10.

When the headline 3x3 results arrived, China's Kangze Wang (王康泽) set the standard with exceptional speedcubing technique across three demanding rounds. Wang secured the main title with a 7.00 winning average and logged the day's best single solve of 5.98 seconds. Moy Jay Min followed closely in second place with an average of 7.81 seconds, while Muhammad Hariz Bin Azizan rounded out the podium positions for Malaysia in third place with an 8.09 average.

The 3x3x3 One-Handed division saw Wang complete a double championship performance at Kedah Cube Open 2024. Displaying rapid turning fluency and control, Wang recorded a winning average of 12.67 seconds and a best single solve of 9.85. Louis Tan Kai Jie took second place with a 14.76 average, while Terence Lai Yu Kit (黎宇杰) claimed the third podium position with a mark of 15.59 seconds.

Sprint events brought intense pace to the tables, where Tan Wei Kee (陈伟祺) topped an 82-competitor field in the 2x2x2 Cube with a winning average of 1.98 seconds, highlighted by a 1.22 single solve. Kuak Zhe Kai secured second place averaging 2.16 seconds, and Wang added to his personal haul by claiming third with 2.51. In the Pyraminx final, Hewson Kang Poh Jun (江博俊) took first place with an impressive 2.30 average and a single of 1.51, finishing ahead of Gregory Soo Jo-Huang (苏祖煌) at 3.78 and Desmond Low Kai Sheng at 4.24.

The specialized formats capped off the program with tight competition in the Megaminx and Skewb brackets. Muhammad Fitri Hakim Bin Dzulkarnain captured the Megaminx title in an average time of 47.37 seconds with a best single of 44.89, outperforming Eason Ong Yi Cheng at 51.60 and Louis Tan Kai Jie at 55.83. In Skewb, Ang Chin Xiang claimed top honors with a 3.86 average and a single of 3.08, leading Sri Ganesh Krishna at 4.10 and Kuak Zhe Kai at 4.28.

By the conclusion of Kedah Cube Open 2024, Malaysian athletes had secured 15 podium places, while competitors from China earned three. For seasoned tournament veterans and first-time participants alike, the day served as an inspiring display of speed cubing excellence. Solvers left Sungai Petani with valuable experience, personal bests, and renewed momentum for the upcoming stages of their competitive cubing journey.

101 peserta telah berhimpun di Dewan Persatuan Pendidikan Akhlak Lip Seang Kor untuk membuktikan bahawa ketekalan purata masa sentiasa mengatasi satu catatan pantas yang bernasib baik. Berlangsung pada 21 September 2024 di Sungai Petani, Kedah, Malaysia, temasya Kedah Cube Open 2024 menyaksikan 14 pusingan yang penuh dengan aksi sengit merentasi enam kategori berbeza. Setiap peserta perlu mempamerkan kestabilan mental bagi mengharungi saingan padat yang menguji kelajuan tangan serta ketajaman fikiran dalam arena speedcubing tempatan ini.

Dalam acara utama 3x3x3 Cube, konsistensi luar biasa membawa Kangze Wang dari China merangkul kejuaraan dengan catatan purata kemenangan 7.00 saat selepas mengharungi tiga pusingan. Walaupun beliau mencatatkan masa single terpantas 5.98 saat dalam kalangan 98 peserta, keupayaannya mengekalkan rentak pantas pada setiap selesaian yang memastikan kedudukan teratas. Moy Jay Min dari Malaysia menduduki tempat kedua dengan purata 7.81 saat, manakala rakan senegara Muhammad Hariz Bin Azizan melengkapkan podium utama di tempat ketiga dengan catatan 8.09 saat.

Keteguhan Kangze Wang berterusan dalam acara 3x3x3 One-Handed, di mana beliau sekali lagi muncul juara dengan purata 12.67 saat serta single terbaik 9.85 saat daripada 56 peserta. Di pentas podium sebelah tangan ini, Louis Tan Kai Jie dari Malaysia meraih tempat kedua dengan purata 14.76 saat, diekori oleh Terence Lai Yu Kit yang mencatat purata 15.59 saat di tempat ketiga. Kecekapan menyelesaikan kiub Rubik menggunakan sebelah tangan menuntut ketahanan serta kawalan jari yang jitu sepanjang tiga pusingan.

Bagi kategori 2x2x2 Cube yang melibatkan 82 peserta dan tiga pusingan, Tan Wei Kee dari Malaysia membuktikan kestabilan prestasinya dengan merangkul gelaran juara menerusi purata 1.98 saat di samping single terbaik 1.22 saat. Beliau mengatasi Kuak Zhe Kai yang menamatkan saingan di tempat kedua dengan purata 2.16 saat, sementara Kangze Wang mengambil tempat ketiga dengan purata 2.51 saat. Keputusan ini menyerlahkan kehebatan peserta tempatan bersaing di peringkat tertinggi pertandingan cubing peringkat kebangsaan.

Kejohanan ini turut menampilkan kehebatan dalam disiplin bentuk berbeza apabila Hewson Kang Poh Jun mengungguli acara Pyraminx dengan purata 2.30 saat dan single 1.51 saat daripada 62 peserta. Gregory Soo Jo-Huang berada di tempat kedua dengan purata 3.78 saat, diikuti Desmond Low Kai Sheng dengan 4.24 saat. Dalam acara Skewb, Ang Chin Xiang muncul juara dengan purata 3.86 saat mengatasi Sri Ganesh Krishna dan Kuak Zhe Kai. Sementara itu, Muhammad Fitri Hakim Bin Dzulkarnain menjuarai Megaminx dengan purata 47.37 saat di hadapan Eason Ong Yi Cheng dan Louis Tan Kai Jie.

Di sebalik perebutan takhta kejohanan, perkembangan peribadi para peserta menjadi nadi sebenar sepanjang temasya Kedah Cube Open 2024. Muhammad Qashif Bin Mohd Syukri mempamerkan peningkatan besar dengan memotong catatan peribadi 2x2x2 Cube sebanyak 61.9 peratus kepada 4.19 saat, di samping memperbaiki rekod 3x3x3 Cube kepada 14.40 saat dan membuat percubaan sulung 3x3x3 One-Handed pada 41.18 saat. Sharul Irfan Bin Shaiful Nizar pula mencatat masa peribadi baharu 4.73 saat dalam Pyraminx iaitu 61.4 peratus lebih pantas, selain mencuba Skewb buat kali pertama dengan catatan 20.16 saat. Desmond Ch'ng Khai Jie menyertai lima acara dengan catatan peribadi Skewb 11.25 saat iaitu 47.7 peratus lebih pantas serta memulakan cubaan pertama Pyraminx pada 12.16 saat. Muhammad Zharif Bin Omar turut merekodkan kemajuan 45 peratus dalam 3x3x3 One-Handed kepada 19.39 saat dan mencuba Pyraminx buat kali pertama dengan 6.53 saat.

Bagi empat peserta lain, gelanggang ini merupakan sebuah medan penampilan sulung yang amat bermakna dalam mana-mana WCA competition. Muhamad Adam Faiz Bin Mohd Yasir menyertai enam acara pada penampilan pertamanya dan merekodkan percubaan sulung 2.22 saat dalam 2x2x2 Cube, 6.89 saat dalam Pyraminx dan 11.20 saat dalam Skewb. Yeoh Song Yuan turut mencuba enam acara dengan catatan pertama 35.68 saat bagi 3x3x3 Cube, 1:35.25 bagi 3x3x3 One-Handed serta 11.57 saat bagi Skewb. Goh Jun Yong juga bersaing dalam enam kategori dengan memulakan rekod rasmi 4.44 saat dalam Pyraminx, 4.80 saat dalam 2x2x2 Cube dan 1:50.54 dalam 3x3x3 One-Handed. Luqman Al Hakim Bin Zuhairi melengkapkan lima acara dengan catatan sulung 21.82 saat bagi 3x3x3 Cube, 1:07.88 bagi 3x3x3 One-Handed serta 1:42.14 dalam Megaminx.

Pungutan podium menyaksikan atlet Malaysia mendominasi dengan 15 kedudukan manakala wakil China meraih tiga tempat, menandakan kualiti serta kedalaman bakat tempatan yang kian berkembang. Secara keseluruhannya, kejayaan edisi kali ini menyerlahkan disiplin dan ketekalan sebagai faktor penentu kejuaraan merentasi pelbagai format teka-teki pantas. Dengan tamatnya Kedah Cube Open 2024, para peserta kini membawa pulang pencapaian baharu serta pengalaman berharga untuk terus memajukan sukan menyusun kiub ini pada musim-musim akan datang.