Kirkland Pyra Fest 2024

Kevin Hays delivered an unmatched showcase in the big-cube categories, sweeping to dual victories at the Kirkland Congregational Church. Solving with absolute precision, Hays claimed gold in the 7x7x7 Cube with a commanding average of 2:05.57 and a single of 1:52.51. That performance set the standard for an intense day of Rubik's Cube action, which brought 33 solvers together in Kirkland, Washington, USA. The December 14, 2024 gathering featured 12 rounds of head-to-head pressure across 6 events, drawing competitors from across the region to test their training against the timer.

Hays extended his mastery to the 5x5x5 Cube, locking down his second title of the weekend with a winning average of 52.53 and a best single of 46.40. Nico Harper took second place on the 5x5x5 podium with an average of 55.70, while Ron G. Arama finished third in 1:01.30. In the 7x7x7 contest, Jack Anderson secured the runner-up spot behind Hays with a mark of 2:40.21, and Vikram Haldar earned third in 3:08.54. Throughout the big-cube rounds, Hays showed complete control across the complex layers, setting a benchmark no other competitor could match.

The 3x3x3 One-Handed division generated fierce competition across two rounds. Jack Desloge earned the event victory with a final average of 15.38, bolstered by a 12.67 single. Mihir A. Rai pushed the pace to take second place with a 16.01 average, while Jonathan Truchot took third step on the podium at 16.15. Across the field, solvers looking for rapid 3x3 results logged competitive numbers under strict one-handed regulations. Vikram Haldar put up a 13.87 single and a 16.63 average, while Ron G. Arama registered a 13.47 single and a 14.75 average during the elimination heats.

In the Pyraminx bracket, Tripp Peters soared through three competitive rounds to capture the title with an exceptional average of 2.17 and a best single of 1.67. Mihir A. Rai grabbed his second podium finish of the day by securing silver in 2.43, followed closely by Vikram Haldar who took bronze with 2.83. Nico Harper displayed supreme speed on the twelve-sided Megaminx, winning the final with an average of 37.19 and a standout single of 30.27. Cindy Zhang took second place in Megaminx with a 42.22 average, while Jack Anderson finished third at 48.88.

Clock solving provided a thrilling finish decided by mere fractions of a second. Ron G. Arama took the gold with an average of 3.90, edging out Greyson James who posted a 3.96 average for second. Alex Moscibroda rounded out the podium with a 4.77 average, securing a medal for Switzerland amid 17 podium spots earned by United States solvers. The technical precision required in Clock underscored the immense versatility of modern speedcubing, where mechanical accuracy across rotating dials demands identical focus to traditional twisty puzzles.

Away from the top of the podium, multiple competitors achieved remarkable milestones across the schedule. Reajnithdra Thesis Ly tackled all 6 events and delivered a massive breakthrough in the 7x7x7 Cube, cutting their personal best by 43.2 percent down to 4:16.13, while also dropping their Clock best to 5.45. Sanmannireth Ouk Kongsaisy stepped up for a first career attempt at the 5x5x5 Cube, successfully recording a mark of 4:54.50. Ethan Chen made substantial progress in Clock, taking off 30.6 percent to register an 8.68 personal best, while Gabriel Goit cut 26.5 percent from their Pyraminx mark with a 3.14 single.

The personal breakthroughs continued across every tier of the lineup. Sebastian Valdes competed across 6 events, achieving an 8th-place finish in Clock and setting a Pyraminx personal best of 3.59, which improved upon their previous mark by 22 percent. Mark Cordell dropped their Clock personal best by 9.4 percent to 10.47, while Kedar Sekhar shaved time in two disciplines, posting a 7.92 in Clock and a 1:21.13 in 5x5x5. Ishaan Bansal entered 6 events, reaching 7th in Clock while dropping personal bests to 5.72 in Clock and 3.17 in Pyraminx.

The success of this WCA competition highlighted the strength of regional speed cubing as the 2024 calendar drew toward its close. From the commanding big-cube sweep by Kevin Hays to the rapid single solves in Pyraminx and Megaminx, Kirkland Pyra Fest 2024 offered an unforgettable demonstration of dexterity, puzzle strategy, and focus. Every event pushed the roster of 33 solvers to their limits, laying down a strong marker for athletes looking ahead to next season.