Lexington Weeknights V 2024

Thirty-six competitors gathered on August 5, 2024, at the Lexington Knights of Columbus for an evening of focused solves and shared passion. The gathering in Lexington, Massachusetts, USA, offered five rounds of action across three distinct disciplines. Beyond the race against the timer, the venue fostered an inviting environment where solvers of varying experience levels compared techniques and cheered each other on. This single-evening WCA competition highlighted how a tight-knit community thrives within the fast-paced world of speedcubing.

The atmosphere between rounds remained energetic as competitors gathered around warmup tables to discuss turning styles and hardware setups. Side events and alternative puzzles provided plenty of engaging moments throughout the schedule. Whether someone was stepping up to the timer for their very first official solve or chasing podium positions, the gathering served as a reminder that speed cubing flourishes on mutual encouragement and camaraderie as much as sheer speed.

The spotlight shone brightly on several determined solvers making notable strides across the evening. Theo Kamon delivered a huge leap forward on the 2x2x2 Cube, recording a personal best of 3.90 seconds, which was 54.8 percent faster than their previous mark. Cordelia Hu had an exceptional night across three events, posting a first ever attempt at Square-1 of 20.11 seconds to take 10th place, while slashing personal bests on the 3x3x3 Cube to 12.76 seconds (43.4 percent faster) and on the 2x2x2 Cube to 3.97 seconds (41 percent faster). Binesh Moghadaszadeh improved their 3x3x3 Cube personal best by 38.4 percent to 25.09 seconds, while Jonah Mathew dropped their Square-1 personal best by 35 percent down to 36.15 seconds.

Fresh faces and dedicated regulars continued to make their presence felt across the tables. Tucker J. Nielson competed in three events and achieved three new personal bests, including a 2x2x2 Cube mark of 3.57 seconds (27.1 percent faster), a 3x3x3 Cube time of 10.19 seconds (17.8 percent faster), and a Square-1 time of 31.70 seconds (15.8 percent faster). Danesh Moghadaszadeh took 19th place in the 3x3x3 Cube with an improved personal best of 11.32 seconds, a 21.8 percent drop. Meanwhile, newcomers embraced the challenge, with Preston Brown making their first appearance across three events and posting an initial Square-1 attempt of 1:16.09, and Theodore Chen debuting with an 11th-place finish in Square-1 behind a first attempt of 17.83 seconds.

Turning to the main stage, the classic Rubik's Cube drew a full field of 36 participants in a single high-stakes round. Joshua Broderick Phillips claimed top honors in the 3x3x3 Cube, putting together a winning average of 7.99 seconds alongside the best single of the event at 7.01 seconds. The 3x3 results also saw Quinn Maloney secure second place with an average of 8.82 seconds, while Peter Ha locked down the third spot on the podium with a 9.58-second average.

The smaller 2x2x2 Cube featured 34 competitors battling through two intense rounds of quick-fire turning. Quinn Maloney took victory in the event, logging a winning average of 2.49 seconds in the final and securing the best single of 1.30 seconds. Saisabari Ramesh finished just behind in second place with a 2.57-second average, while Lichia Huang rounded out the podium in third with a 2.59-second average in a remarkably close contest.

The unique mechanics of Square-1 rounded out the schedule, requiring 21 competitors to navigate its shifting geometric layers across two rounds. Quinn Maloney proved dominant once again, clinching first place with a winning average of 11.49 seconds and the round's best single of 9.15 seconds. Lichia Huang took the second spot on the podium with an average of 12.34 seconds, narrowly edging Tommy Szeliga, who claimed third with an average of 12.35 seconds.

Across all events, competitors from the United States secured seven podium finishes, with solvers representing Taiwan earning two. Lexington Weeknights V 2024 showcased the depth of local talent while keeping the community feel front and center throughout the evening. As the tables cleared and times entered the official record books, Lexington Weeknights V 2024 reaffirmed the camaraderie and excitement that make every local cubing competition a memorable milestone for everyone involved.