Manhattan Mini PM 2024

Twenty-three competitors gathered at the Little Dreams Event Space on December 15, 2024, for a focused afternoon of competitive speedcubing in New York, New York, USA. Across six rounds and three distinct disciplines, the single-day WCA competition delivered high-intensity solving in a compact setting. Ayden Dincher emerged as the standout performer of the gathering, capturing top honours in two separate events and reaching the podium in all three. The event provided a fast-paced environment where seasoned solvers and developing talents pushed their limits through a condensed schedule.

The 2x2x2 Cube event proved to be the statistical focal point of the competition, generating a series of rapid marks across its two rounds. Ayden Dincher clinched first place with a winning average of 1.48 seconds, bolstered by a best single solve of 1.24 seconds. The final round saw intense pressure at the top of the standings, with Zayn Khanani securing the second spot on the podium with a 1.53 average, while Hassan Khanani rounded out the top three with an average of 1.65 seconds.

Beyond the podium positions, the 2x2x2 Cube round rewrote personal benchmarks across the entire roster. Zayn Khanani posted the fastest single of the discipline with a blistering 0.88-second effort to accompany a 1.51 average. Chris Chi registered a sharp 1.45 single and a 1.83 average, while Eli Rogers recorded a 1.47 single alongside a 2.48 average. Hassan Khanani also added a 1.49 single and 2.36 average, while Nico Ozsvath locked in a 1.95 single and 2.36 average. Austin Reed notched a 1.97 single and 2.60 average, Lauren Phung delivered a 1.87 single and 3.68 average, Jack Berman logged a 3.41 single and 3.77 average, Matthew Liong earned a 2.98 single and 3.88 average, and Ian Liong finished with a 2.19 single and 4.29 average.

In the 5x5x5 Cube, where 22 competitors took to the tables for a single decisive round, Ayden Dincher once again set the standard. Navigating the complex layers of the big cube, Dincher posted a winning average of 54.94 seconds, which featured the event's best single solve at 49.76 seconds. Ishaan Lal claimed the silver medal position with a solid 56.70 average, and Kymberlyn Calderon earned bronze with a time of 1:00.23, ensuring an all-United States podium sweep in the category.

The Square-1 competition spanned three complete rounds and saw Hassan Khanani take the title following an exceptionally close final contest. Khanani secured the victory with a 6.39 average, driven by a tournament-best single of 4.66 seconds. Samuel Fang finished a mere three hundredths of a second behind in second place with a 6.42 average, while Dincher added to his medal haul by claiming third place with an 8.48 average. Although enthusiasts often search for 3x3 results, the focus at this cubing competition remained entirely on the specialized mechanics of the 5x5x5, 2x2x2, and Square-1 puzzles.

Beneath the top podium battles, several competitors achieved meaningful milestones across their chosen disciplines. Ryan Huang delivered a breakthrough performance by cutting his 2x2x2 Cube mark down to 3.16 seconds, an improvement of 30.4 percent over his previous best of 4.54, while also tackling his first ever attempt at Square-1 with an 18.47 and setting a 5x5x5 Cube mark of 1:35.91. Matthew Liong chopped 17 percent off his previous 5x5x5 Cube benchmark to finish in 1:07.68, bettering his old 1:21.54 mark and earning seventh in Square-1. Jack Berman reduced his Square-1 best by 15.9 percent down to 20.48 seconds from 24.36, while Tyler Lindow Tsao improved his 2x2x2 Cube time by 11.5 percent to 2.99 seconds and lowered his Square-1 standard by 7.2 percent to 26.13.

The personal milestones continued throughout the afternoon as participants took on varied challenges across all three events. Isaac Werthheimer improved his 5x5x5 Cube best by 3.8 percent to 3:53.59, outperforming his previous 4:02.74, while Megan Kuo trimmed her 5x5x5 Cube time by 3.1 percent to 1:38.37 from an earlier 1:41.48. David Wang logged a significant achievement by completing his first ever attempt at 5x5x5 Cube in competition with a time of 3:10.97. Daniyal Weitzman rounded out a busy day by posting a 5x5x5 Cube mark of 2:02.61 and setting a Square-1 personal best of 13.15 seconds across three entered events.

The efficient structure of Manhattan Mini PM 2024 highlighted the deep talent pool present in the metropolitan speed cubing community. With competitors representing both the United States and Indonesia, the gathering showcased clean execution on every solve. From the rapid turns of the smaller cubes to the strategic demands of larger hardware and shape-shifting mechanisms, the event offered a comprehensive display of modern puzzle dexterity.

As the final scores were entered and verified, Manhattan Mini PM 2024 concluded a successful slate of competition in New York City. The single-day tournament demonstrated the enduring popularity of Rubik's Cube variants, offering participants valuable official experience. With records logged and new personal benchmarks established, the competitors turn their sights toward the next chapter on the tournament calendar.