Miami Skewbed 2024

The competition hall at Florida International University was filled with the rhythmic clatter of plastic mechanisms and timer pads as solvers took their places. Across twelve packed rounds on November 16, 2024, competitors gathered in Miami, Florida, USA for a full day of head-to-head solving. With five distinct puzzles on the schedule, the atmosphere inside the venue remained focused and energized from the opening heats to the late afternoon showdowns.

Among the 109 entrants present, one competitor established total command across the event roster. Owen Brooks put together a commanding performance at Miami Skewbed 2024, taking top honors in multiple events and earning spots on four separate podiums. The American competitor set the pace early and maintained his standard through every round, leaving a decisive mark across both standard and specialty puzzles during the busy one-day meeting.

In the classic 3x3x3 Cube, Brooks faced a field of 107 entrants across three rigorous rounds. He captured first place with a winning average of 7.77 seconds, backed by a best single time of 5.92 seconds. The standard Rubik's Cube final featured a tight chase, with Alexander Persaud taking second place with an average of 8.58 seconds and Crimson Rizzo finishing third at 8.85 seconds. The 3x3 results capped a high-speed series of elimination rounds.

Brooks also excelled on Pyraminx, leading a 68-competitor bracket over two rounds to claim another gold medal. He delivered a winning average of 2.87 seconds and recorded a tournament-best single of 2.17 seconds in the event. Kellan Butler secured second place with an average of 4.32 seconds, while Canada's Jacob Lam took the third step on the podium with a mark of 4.55 seconds.

Beyond the headline victories, Miami Skewbed 2024 offered an important proving ground for emerging talent making massive technical leaps. Fredy Strickland took on five events, registering a first ever attempt at Square-1 of 50.00 seconds, an initial Clock run of 9.87 seconds, and a Skewb personal best of 6.26 seconds that cut his previous standard by 63.8 percent. Edwin Sebastian Villafane Martinez chopped his Skewb best by 62.3 percent down to 6.69 seconds, improved his 3x3x3 time by 55.8 percent to 19.85 seconds, and dropped his Clock mark by 40.2 percent to 19.19 seconds. William Lin lowered his Clock best by 59.8 percent to 25.79 seconds and took his Pyraminx single to 7.20 seconds, while Branko Kwan advanced his Skewb personal best by 53.3 percent to 9.76 seconds.

Other competitors marked milestone firsts on the competition floor. Joshua Joevany Fradestin competed across five events, logging first attempts in Clock at 56.52 seconds, Pyraminx at 14.37 seconds, and Square-1 at 2:29.66. Zachary Erstein logged a first Pyraminx mark of 7.16 seconds and cut his 3x3x3 Cube personal best by exactly 50 percent down to 15.91 seconds. Oliver Copeland recorded initial attempts in Skewb at 5.34 seconds, Square-1 at 47.52 seconds, and Pyraminx at 11.42 seconds. Bryce Chase completed their first official speedcubing event appearance, taking on four disciplines and recording initial attempts of 6.22 seconds on Pyraminx, 23.55 seconds on Skewb, and 24.68 seconds on Clock.

The remaining podium battles showcased sharp execution throughout the afternoon. In Skewb, Linus Vork earned the title among 60 competitors with a winning average of 3.19 seconds and a 2.28 single, followed by Daniel Guerra in second at 3.83 seconds and Brooks adding a bronze with 5.62 seconds. Eddie Artze captured the Clock title over 53 entrants with an average of 4.88 seconds, ahead of Daniel Josue Maradiaga at 5.95 seconds and Jackson Lewis at 5.98 seconds.

The Square-1 competition concluded with CJ Dresdner securing victory across two rounds of play, posting a winning average of 12.31 seconds and a top single of 11.03 seconds. Ali Jawad Parpia of Pakistan finished as the runner-up with an average of 13.46 seconds, while Brooks completed his versatile medal haul by taking third in 13.78 seconds. In total, United States competitors collected 13 podium places, with Canada and Pakistan taking one each.

With brisk turnarounds and decisive finishes, this speed cubing showcase delivered high-caliber action from its opening turns to the trophy presentations. The tournament highlighted both elite mastery and rapid personal growth within the Florida cubing competition community. As the gear was packed away, competitors left FIU with personal bests, hardware, and solid momentum heading into the upcoming season of WCA competition fixtures.