Kenosha First B 2024

While cerebral disciplines like Fewest Moves reduce solving to quiet pen-and-paper calculation, speedcubing brings pure physical intensity to the timer, and Zeke Mackay delivered the weekend standout performance by locking in a 6.12 second winning average in the 3x3x3 Cube. Held at the Todd Wehr Center in Kenosha, Wisconsin, USA on November 17, 2024, the one-day gathering drew 55 competitors across 13 rounds of action. Mackay set the standard early in the main event, posting a sharp 5.88 single on his way to the top of the podium, setting a blistering pace that defined the rhythm of the entire cubing competition.

The contrast between meticulous planning and sheer turn speed was visible throughout the schedule, but the traditional three-by-three remained the centerpiece. Henry Lichner pushed hard in the final round of the classic Rubik's Cube with a 7.14 average for second place, while Mihir Narayan took third with a 7.62 mark. The deep 3x3 results across 54 competitors featured solid progression through three full rounds, showcasing rapid execution from the field as solvers pushed their limits against the clock in front of a busy venue floor.

Mackay added two more gold finishes to his tally, capturing the 3x3x3 One-Handed title with a 12.88 average and a 10.41 single. Lichner chased closely in second with a 15.16 average, and Simon Kellum rounded out the podium at 15.46. In the twelve-sided Megaminx, Mackay proved equally dominant across two rounds, securing first place with a 38.27 average and a 35.05 single. Austin Worley claimed silver with 44.66, followed by Lucy Grace Bryson taking bronze with an average of 46.05.

Lichner made his own major statement in the larger puzzles, sweeping both big cube disciplines on the schedule. In the 4x4x4 Cube, Lichner recorded a winning average of 25.00 alongside a quick 22.37 single, outpacing Narayan who posted 28.33 and Mackay who finished third in 28.41. Lichner then dominated the single-round 6x6x6 Cube with a 1:26.70 average and a 1:23.02 best single, finishing ahead of Max Walaszek at 1:39.29 and Mackay at 1:44.51 to solidify his control over the multi-layered events.

The Pyraminx provided high-frequency speed cubing action over two rounds, where Simon Kellum captured victory with a decisive 1.87 average and a 1.62 single. Leah Hamende secured second place with a 3.63 average, edging Daniel Perez who placed third at 3.68. United States solvers captured 16 podium positions across the tournament, while India secured two podium spots courtesy of Narayan. The rapid progression through the brackets demonstrated the technical breadth required across varied puzzle shapes.

Beyond the podium battles, Kenosha First B 2024 served as a breakthrough stage for several competitors making dramatic individual strides. Elijah Kurcz delivered massive personal bests across the board, dropping his 3x3x3 One-Handed mark to 47.62 to go 56.1 percent faster, cutting Pyraminx to 9.51 for a 38.7 percent improvement, and improving his 4x4x4 Cube time by 15.4 percent to 1:36.45. Steven Johnston took on five events, achieving an 8th-place finish in 3x3x3 One-Handed, setting a Megaminx personal best of 1:00.67 which was 32.4 percent faster, improving his one-handed mark by 29.2 percent to 18.99, and completing his first ever attempt at 4x4x4 Cube in 50.14.

Van Goudy entered four events, posting a 12th-place finish in Pyraminx, logging his first ever attempt at 3x3x3 One-Handed in 26.19, his first ever attempt at 4x4x4 Cube in 1:15.52, and dropping his 3x3x3 Cube personal best by 25 percent down to 12.87. Jackson Dempsey registered a 3.43 personal best in Pyraminx to go 27.5 percent faster, alongside a 39.73 in 4x4x4 Cube and a 3:23.36 in 6x6x6 Cube. Benjamin Previte improved his 3x3x3 Cube best by 26.4 percent to 13.99 and completed his first ever attempt at 3x3x3 One-Handed in 45.81, while Bennett Kowalski made his first ever attempt at Megaminx in 3:25.60. Luca Block and Margaret Leopold each took part in their first WCA competition, with Block recording a 6.49 first attempt on Pyraminx and Leopold logging a 23.64 first attempt on the 3x3x3 Cube.

The efficient single-day schedule delivered intense competition across six diverse disciplines, combining fast-paced technical solving with strategic precision. As the equipment was packed away at the Todd Wehr Center, Kenosha First B 2024 highlighted the depth of local talent and set a high competitive benchmark as solvers prepare for the upcoming stages of the next season.