Leicestershire Autumn 2024

When the final round of the classic Rubik's Cube drew to a close, it was steadfast consistency rather than a single fleeting burst of speed that decided the title. Nicholas Archer secured top honours in the main event with a commanding 6.59 winning average, backed by a best single of 6.13, holding off a formidable field of 90 competitors. Over the course of the September 28 to September 29 weekend at Lutterworth College, that theme resonated through every round. Lightning single solves turned heads, but unwavering discipline through complete averages defined the champions across the entire schedule.

Held in Lutterworth, Leicestershire, United Kingdom, Leicestershire Autumn 2024 gathered 95 competitors across 20 rounds of high-calibre speedcubing action. The tournament showcased nine distinct events, testing dexterity, spatial awareness, and mental endurance. Archer made consistency his calling card throughout the gathering, parlaying his reliable execution into multiple tournament victories and stamping his authority across several puzzle sizes during the busy 2024 contest.

Beyond his victory in the traditional 3x3 results, Archer claimed the top spot in 4x4x4 Cube with a winning average of 30.93 and a best single of 27.81 across two rounds of 61 competitors. He followed that performance with another controlled demonstration in 3x3x3 One-Handed, averaging 9.98 to finish as the only finalist under ten seconds. In both disciplines, second place went to Daniel Partridge, who delivered steady averages of 31.00 and 13.56 respectively, pushing the leader across every solve in this demanding cubing competition.

Partridge assembled his own remarkable display of sustained precision across a slate of alternative puzzles. In Pyraminx, he captured victory among 67 competitors with a 2.06 average, anchored by a best single of 1.59. He also claimed the Skewb title with an average of 3.68, narrowly edging Matt Stephenson's 3.70 average in a razor-thin final round. Demonstrating remarkable range across the weekend, Partridge added a first-place finish in 5x5x5 Cube, averaging 49.85 with a best single of 47.93 in the single-round contest of 39 entrants.

Short-format speed cubing demanded absolute focus where the slightest error proves costly. Dan Turner mastered the rapid pace of 2x2x2 Cube, topping a field of 71 competitors with a winning average of 1.84 and a single of 1.41 to finish ahead of Luke Burns at 1.94 and Max Tully at 2.09. Megaminx saw Matt Stephenson triumph among 39 solvers, averaging 46.56 with a best single of 42.68. In 3x3x3 Blindfolded, Max Kwok U Sam secured victory with a best single of 1:03.17 across two rounds requiring complete memorisation and execution in darkness.

While the podium battles took the main stage, the heart of the tournament flourished across the full entry lists. Bailey Lawlor produced a massive leap forward in 3x3x3 One-Handed, dropping their personal best down to 22.68, a substantial 56.3 percent improvement over their prior 51.87 mark, while also recording a first official Skewb time of 13.74. Hayron Ling mirrored that rapid progression by logging a 20.63 in 3x3x3 One-Handed, 55.9 percent faster than their previous 46.75 best, alongside a first Megaminx attempt of 1:29.42. Leanne Yeung tackled all nine events on the schedule, achieving a Skewb personal best of 8.42 to outpace her old 19.21 standard by 56.2 percent and recording a first 5x5x5 Cube solve of 3:16.16. Reuben Lee sliced 30.1 percent from his 4x4x4 Cube mark to post 1:14.73 and logged a first Megaminx attempt of 2:50.38.

First-time disciplines and debuts brought widespread milestones throughout the hall. Soham Kumar lowered his 2x2x2 Cube standard to 2.59, a 34.8 percent improvement, and notched a first attempt in 3x3x3 One-Handed at 27.43. Nathan Chau Yat Shun made his WCA competition debut by entering seven events, recording a 16.93 in his first 3x3x3 Cube solve and finishing 38th in Skewb with 10.98. Sammy Humphreys also stepped up for an official debut across six events, posting a first Skewb solve of 12.49 and a 51.76 in one-handed solving. Deacon Sharp navigated his first official tournament by taking on six disciplines, delivering a 27.47 in 3x3x3 Cube and finishing 22nd in Skewb.

The overall medal breakdown reflected broad international participation, with United Kingdom solvers earning 22 podium spots, Macau taking 4, and Canada securing 1. Across two intense days in Lutterworth, every bracket proved that composure under the timer remains the ultimate differentiator. As the final equipment was packed away, Leicestershire Autumn 2024 stood as an emphatic showcase of steady hands, calculated execution, and the enduring power of rock-solid averages.