Michigan Mini 23 2024

A blistering 28.07 single and 29.69 winning average in the 4x4x4 Cube set the benchmark at the Plymouth Arts and Recreation Center, spearheading an afternoon packed with sharp progress and rapid times. The single-day tournament brought together 35 competitors in Plymouth, Michigan, USA on September 23, 2024. Across six rounds of action in three distinct disciplines, participants pushed their marks lower in a high-tempo cubing competition that showcased both seasoned contenders and fresh talent.

The 2024 gathering at Michigan Mini 23 2024 provided a stage for relentless progression across the tables. Across the 3x3x3 Cube, 4x4x4 Cube, and Square-1, competitors made the most of their attempts to rewrite their career numbers. From top-tier battles to individual milestones, the tournament stood as an energetic showcase of speedcubing at its sharpest, drawing entrants from across the region to test their preparation.

In the classic 3x3x3 Cube, Jack Pfeifer secured top honors with a final winning average of 7.53, backed by a best single of 6.23 across three rounds. Jacob Dyland Bennett kept the pressure high to finish second with a 7.75 average, having earlier laid down an exceptional 5.92 single and a 7.90 average. Sean Cutshaw rounded out the podium in third place with an average of 8.79. The 3x3 results demonstrated extreme depth across the 35 entrants, with Jack Pfeifer also posting marks of 7.04 and 8.06 along the way.

The 4x4x4 Cube unfolded over a single high-stakes round featuring 23 competitors, and Jack Pfeifer once again topped the standings. His 29.69 average and sub-30 consistency sealed his second victory of the day. Jacob Dyland Bennett captured second place with an average of 34.34, while Sean Cutshaw earned another podium spot by taking third in 34.65. The event tested both speed and puzzle transition, demanding total precision on the larger layers.

Square-1 action brought a shift at the top of the podium as Jacob Dyland Bennett claimed victory across two rounds of play among 14 competitors. Bennett registered a winning average of 8.79 and delivered the fastest single of the event at 5.81. Jack Pfeifer followed closely behind to claim the runner-up position with a 9.62 average, and James Hildreth secured third place with an average of 12.21, completing an all-USA podium sweep at Michigan Mini 23 2024.

Beyond the trophy races, the gathering highlighted remarkable individual leaps from competitors climbing the ranks. James Holowinski produced a massive breakthrough in Square-1, logging a personal best of 19.92 to improve on his previous mark of 33.49 by 40.5 percent, while also securing an eighth-place finish in the 4x4x4 Cube. Sulayman Siddiqi shaved 28.4 percent off his previous 3x3x3 Cube benchmark by recording a 21.04 single, alongside making a first career attempt at the 4x4x4 Cube in 2:59.17. Isa Siddiqi cut 19 percent off his previous mark in the 4x4x4 Cube with a new personal best of 1:53.94, finishing 19th in the discipline. Adam Zhang took on two events and dropped his 3x3x3 Cube best to 14.25, an improvement of 12.1 percent.

First-time event entries and debuts also added plenty of momentum to the day. Edison Ma Zhang posted a 3x3x3 Cube personal best of 7.85 for an 11.5 percent drop and completed a first career attempt in the 4x4x4 Cube with a time of 41.25 to place fifth. Brandon Michael Kszywonos tackled three events, improving his Square-1 personal best by 5.1 percent to 11.46 for a fourth-place finish while adding a 40.55 mark in the 4x4x4 Cube. Brayden Colon tackled three events, recording his first official attempts in Square-1 at 19.49 and the 4x4x4 Cube at 1:28.63. Stuart Sobeske also took on three events at Michigan Mini 23 2024, completing his first attempts in the 4x4x4 Cube in 1:59.68 and Square-1 in 1:19.07.

Several newcomers stepped onto the official floor for the first time during the WCA competition. Emil Stachyra marked a debut appearance by recording an 11.14 on the 3x3x3 Cube and a 1:22.40 on the 4x4x4 Cube to finish 16th. Emmett Eckert completed first official solves of 32.01 in the Rubik's Cube and 2:04.03 in the 4x4x4 Cube, while Ryan Dunning posted initial marks of 18.37 and 2:08.84 across the same two events. Leon Zhang logged his first official solve with a 51.70 effort.

A steady stream of personal achievements highlighted the entire program, from Ansel de Jong logging a 7.93 single and 9.08 average to James Hildreth clocking an 8.72 single and 9.90 average on the standard cube. Miles Reavis turned in an 8.93 single alongside a 10.33 average, while Brandon Michael Kszywonos delivered a 9.53 single. Aahan Anand recorded marks of 10.18 and 10.90, Seth Rowell posted a 10.23 single and 11.08 average, and Edison Ma Zhang added a 12.17 average.

With nine total podium positions claimed across the three events, Michigan Mini 23 2024 wrapped up as a concise yet impactful display of speed cubing excellence. Competitors departed Plymouth with fresh milestones, valuable stage experience, and lower marks in the books, establishing a strong standard of performance as the community looks ahead to future challenges on the calendar.