Lexington Weeknights VI 2024

A single blindfolded solve of 45.96 seconds stood out as the defining performance of the evening, handing Will Russo a decisive victory in 3x3x3 Blindfolded and setting the tone for an exceptional multi-event display. Competing across the schedule, Russo established control over the competition roster by securing top-tier results in every discipline he contested. The performance set the standard for an intensive evening of speedcubing at Lexington Knights of Columbus, where contenders pushed each other down to fractions of a second across five rounds.

Held on August 19, 2024, in Lexington, Massachusetts, USA, Lexington Weeknights VI 2024 drew a focused field of 36 competitors. The tournament challenged participants through three distinct events, providing a dense showcase of traditional solving, one-handed turning, and sightless execution. Russo was central to the story throughout the evening, demonstrating a commanding presence that extended well beyond his victory without sight, challenging front-runners in both standard and modified disciplines.

In the 3x3x3 One-Handed event, Peter Ha claimed the top step of the podium with a winning average of 10.19 seconds across two rounds, also posting the category best single of 9.02 seconds. Russo kept the pressure on the leader, taking second place with an average of 13.92 seconds, while Samuel Anes rounded out the podium in third place with a mark of 14.14 seconds. The 21 competitors in the event navigated technical one-handed turns, with Ha maintaining consistency to take the title.

The 3x3x3 Blindfolded division demanded pure memory and flawless execution, drawing 16 competitors into the battle across two rounds. Russo captured the title on the strength of his 45.96 single solve, outperforming Elliot Wiecek, who secured second place with a time of 47.98 seconds. Caleb Retik followed in third place with a time of 56.70 seconds. The blindfolded event stood out as a high-stakes discipline, where even small lapses result in an uncompleted attempt.

The standard Rubik's Cube category delivered the tightest finish of the entire WCA competition, decided by the absolute slimmest margins. Ethan Zhuang captured first place in the 3x3x3 Cube event with an average of 9.66 seconds and a best single of 7.91 seconds. Saisabari Ramesh matched Zhuang with an identical winning-bracket average of 9.66 seconds to claim second, while David Andron-Silva finished just a hundredth of a second back in third place with an average of 9.67 seconds. These remarkable 3x3 results topped a single round featuring all 36 competitors.

Beyond the podium battles, several competitors achieved remarkable milestones in Lexington. Jonah Mathew delivered a massive improvement in 3x3x3 One-Handed, setting a personal best of 48.20 seconds, which was 29 percent faster than his previous mark of 1:07.89. Charlie McEneaney also dropped significant time in one-handed solving, clocking a personal best of 24.28 seconds to beat his previous mark by 14.1 percent, alongside a seventh-place finish in 3x3x3 Cube. Meanwhile, Kei Onishi lowered his 3x3x3 Cube personal best to 27.45 seconds, an 18.3 percent improvement over his prior 33.59 result.

First-time event entries also fueled the momentum of the evening. Silas Saab took on his first ever attempt at 3x3x3 One-Handed, recording a time of 2:59.86 while simultaneously carving 14.9 percent off his standard cube personal best with a time of 32.71 seconds. Noah Angelis registered his first ever attempt at 3x3x3 One-Handed with a time of 1:15.68 and notched a 3x3x3 Cube personal best of 20.78 seconds. Kai Routhier completed his first ever attempt at 3x3x3 One-Handed in 32.55 seconds across three events. Among new participants, Samarrah Tracy made her cubing competition debut, posting a 16.61-second mark on her first ever attempt at the 3x3x3 Cube, while Pranit Mathur also completed his first WCA competition with an initial 3x3x3 Cube attempt of 44.46 seconds.

The evening served as a classic example of competitive speed cubing, packing intense rivalries, tactical adjustments, and career milestones into a single weeknight gathering. With 9 podium spots secured by competitors from the USA, the event concluded with rapid solves across all three formats. Lexington Weeknights VI 2024 wrapped up with Ethan Zhuang, Peter Ha, and Will Russo standing as the headline champions of a fast-paced 2024 season contest.