McMinnville Cubing Fall 2024

Sixty-four competitors gathered on September 21, 2024, at the McMinnville Community Center for McMinnville Cubing Fall 2024, tackling 12 rounds of action across five distinct disciplines. In high-stakes speedcubing, a blistering single solve can turn heads, but the podium is ultimately decided by unyielding consistency across complete rounds. This one-day WCA competition in McMinnville, Oregon, USA, proved that steady control and minimal mistakes are the true hallmarks of victory when the pressure mounts.

The premier 3x3x3 Cube event drew a packed field of 62 entrants, navigating three rounds of tense solves on the classic Rubik's Cube. Michael Lee delivered a textbook demonstration of consistency to capture first place in the finals, recording a winning average of 7.29 seconds alongside the best single solve of the event at 6.79 seconds. Ezra Fish pushed hard all the way to secure the silver medal with an average of 7.56 seconds, while Hudson Allen Moore claimed the bronze medal with a 7.70 average. The final 3x3 results highlighted how narrow the margins can be at the top level of speed cubing.

In the 2x2x2 Cube event, Hudson Allen Moore demonstrated remarkable composure through two rounds, capturing the championship title with a decisive 2.21-second average and a best single solve of 1.72 seconds. Ian Cantius Fredric took the second step on the podium with a 2.40 average, while Michael Lee earned third place with a 2.74 average. The 55 competitors in the event generated intense action, with Moore holding his nerve to keep each solve fast and controlled to secure the gold.

Tripp Peters dominated the Pyraminx contest, maintaining an exceptional standard across three grueling rounds to take first place. Peters produced a winning average of 2.28 seconds along with the best single of the event at 1.79 seconds, outdistancing the 43-competitor field. Hudson Allen Moore secured another medal on the day, taking second place with an average of 3.85 seconds, followed closely by Abhay Cheemalapati in third place with an average of 4.06 seconds.

The one-handed contest delivered one of the closest battles of McMinnville Cubing Fall 2024, where Ezra Fish narrowly edged out Michael Lee for top honors in 3x3x3 One-Handed. Fish logged a winning average of 14.39 seconds, complemented by a best single of 12.54 seconds, finishing just ahead of Lee who posted a 14.46 average. Daniel Mullen rounded out the podium in third place with a 16.68 average, bringing an exciting conclusion to the two-round, 31-competitor bracket.

Benjamin Gottschalk took control of the Square-1 competition, capturing the gold medal with an impressive 7.59-second winning average and a best single solve of 6.08 seconds across two rounds. Ezra Fish added another podium finish to his day by taking second place with an average of 9.37 seconds, while Hudson Allen Moore finished third with a 12.26 average. Gottschalk proved unmatched on the complex puzzle, maintaining quick executions from start to finish.

Away from the top of the podium, several competitors delivered massive personal breakthroughs at McMinnville Cubing Fall 2024. Matthew Michael Stastny cut his Pyraminx personal best down to 7.88 seconds, an improvement of 51.5 percent, while also recording his first ever attempt at 2x2x2 Cube with a 7.17 average. Ambriel Kaizen Crespo dropped their 2x2x2 Cube mark by 49 percent to 6.23 seconds and tackled their first 3x3x3 One-Handed attempt at 57.86. Eli Hodgson shattered his previous 3x3x3 One-Handed best by 44.2 percent to finish with 1:24.26, and Jude Turk improved his Pyraminx personal best by 43.5 percent to reach 4.74 seconds.

New milestones continued throughout the day as Carter Waibel lowered his 3x3x3 Cube personal best by 27 percent down to 22.07 seconds and posted his first ever official 2x2x2 Cube result at 4.78 seconds. Duncan Litvin improved his Pyraminx personal best by 26.8 percent to 9.84 seconds. Making their official debut in competitive solving, Daniel Rogers contested five separate events, achieving a best finish of 14th in Pyraminx and posting his first ever attempts in Square-1 at 26.71, Pyraminx at 6.43, and 3x3x3 One-Handed at 28.85. Daniel Cancelliere-Kolish also made his debut, tackling four events including a first 3x3x3 Cube average of 46.29 and a first Square-1 attempt of 1:37.16.

Across five disciplines and 12 total rounds, this Oregon cubing competition highlighted the value of poise, precision, and reliable execution. With 14 podium positions captured by United States solvers and one by India, the competition provided memorable moments for seasoned frontrunners and debutants alike. As the 2024 schedule rolls on, the lessons of McMinnville Cubing Fall 2024 will serve every participant well heading into the next competitive season.