Kubing in Kapiti 2024

A single hundredth of a second stood between second and third place in the main event, delivering the tensest finish of the entire weekend. That razor-thin margin came at the conclusion of the 3x3x3 Cube final, where James Macdiarmid locked down the runner-up spot with a 9.09 average, edging past Jack McDougall who settled for third place at 9.10. It was the sharpest climax of Kubing in Kapiti 2024, a one-day gathering that brought high-pressure speedcubing to the Kapiti Coast.

Held on November 9, 2024, the competition unfolded at the Paraparaumu Memorial Hall in Paraparaumu, New Zealand. A total of 44 competitors gathered to contest 11 rounds across 6 events, creating a packed schedule for the local Rubik's Cube community. While the battle for minor podium steps kept scorekeepers on edge, the overall title in the showcase event went decisively to Adrien Auvray Matyn, who posted a blistering 6.50 winning average to lead the field of 43 solvers.

The 3x3 results across three rounds of the classic puzzle demonstrated remarkable depth in Paraparaumu, New Zealand. Adrien Auvray Matyn set the benchmark early with the best single of the weekend at 6.26. Both Macdiarmid and McDougall maintained relentless consistency across their five solves to secure their spots on the rostrum, ensuring the final round of the signature event ended on the tightest possible split between podium finishers.

Beyond his victory on the standard cube, Adrien Auvray Matyn orchestrated a dominant multi-discipline campaign throughout the day. In the Pyraminx, he took the top spot across two rounds with a 2.16 average and a best single of 1.84, finishing ahead of Jules Graham with 2.43 and Riley Wicks with 2.93. He followed that performance with another triumph in Square-1, recording a 5.81 winning average to outpace Jack McDougall and James Moore.

Away from the top of the standings, the spirit of the speed cubing weekend shone brightest in the personal milestones achieved across the venue. Harry Davies delivered a massive leap in Skewb, shaving 47.4 percent off his previous mark to log a personal best of 6.49 while also finishing 7th in Pyraminx. Zachary Doblas tackled five events, finishing 6th in 3x3x3 Cube while dropping his Square-1 personal best to 29.25, a 33.4 percent improvement, and lowering his Skewb mark to 7.19. Leo Holland took 31.2 percent off his Pyraminx time to hit 9.18, and Karthik Manikandan Sethuramalingam improved his Skewb standard by 26.8 percent down to 9.24.

The tournament also offered an open stage for new puzzle attempts and first-time attendees at Kubing in Kapiti 2024. Richie Stanford cut 20 percent from his standard cube mark with a 14.90 personal best. Maxwell de Jardine entered four events, posting a Pyraminx personal best of 4.52 and taking 10th place in Skewb. Debutants made their mark as well, with Archie Houston contesting his first WCA competition across three events, posting an initial 9.01 in Skewb, 15.97 in 3x3x3 Cube, and 11.11 in Pyraminx, while Te Rakaherea Reweti registered first-time official results in Skewb, 3x3x3 Cube, and Pyraminx.

Specialist solving events brought additional drama to the timetable. The Skewb tournament was claimed by William Jackson, who took the crown with a 3.67 average, holding off Jack McDougall at 4.02 and Beckett Burton Rushbrook at 4.37. The win added another varied challenge to a cubing competition that tested dexterity, spatial planning, and turn speed across diverse mechanisms throughout the afternoon.

The blindfolded categories became the domain of James Macdiarmid, who showcased complete mastery without sight. In the 3x3x3 Blindfolded discipline, Macdiarmid secured first place with a 19.56 single, ahead of Tom Nelson and Jack McDougall. In 3x3x3 Multi-Blind, which requires extensive memorisation before attempting multiple cubes without looking, Macdiarmid triumphed by solving 46 out of 52 cubes in a time of 59:38, leading Jack McDougall and Jack Maddigan on the podium.

Every single one of the 18 podium positions awarded throughout the day went to competitors representing New Zealand, capping a memorable showcase of domestic speedcubing. From the one-hundredth-of-a-second split in the 3x3 final to the deep memory feats in blindfolded solving, Kubing in Kapiti 2024 delivered an intense and rewarding conclusion to the regional competitive year in Paraparaumu.