Michigan Mini 25 2024

Jack Pfeifer delivered a blistering 6.37 single on the 3x3x3 Cube to set the pace in Plymouth, Michigan, USA, capping an action-packed schedule at Michigan Mini 25 2024. Held on December 2, 2024 at the Plymouth Arts and Recreation Center, the single-day gathering brought together 35 competitors across three events and six fast-moving rounds. While Pfeifer produced top-tier speed throughout the day, the headline battle on the classic puzzle came down to hundredths of a second, setting the tone for an event marked by rapid progress and sharp solving.

The 3x3 results delivered the tightest podium battle of the entire cubing competition. Ansel de Jong captured the 3x3x3 Cube title with a winning average of 9.13, holding off Pfeifer by just two hundredths of a second as Pfeifer finished second with a 9.15 mark. Blake Thompson took third place close behind with a 9.21 average, while Owen Widdis also notched sub-ten marks across the event, putting on a clinic of high-level speedcubing in the final round.

Pfeifer made his presence felt across the rest of the roster, capturing gold in the other two categories. In the 4x4x4 Cube, Pfeifer claimed first place with an average of 29.68, leading a field of 26 competitors and posting the round best single of 26.46. Ansel de Jong followed in second position with a 34.02 average, while Owen Widdis secured third place with a 34.28 average in an all-American podium.

The 12-sided Megaminx event provided another display of Pfeifer mastery at Michigan Mini 25 2024. Pfeifer finished atop the 19-competitor field with a winning average of 45.88 and a best single solve of 41.31. Elijah Layne took second place with an average of 53.04, and Owen Widdis earned another podium finish on the day by grabbing third place with an average of 58.68, rounding out a dominant sequence of performances across multiple puzzle disciplines.

Beyond the trophies, the competition floor served as a launchpad for massive personal improvements and notable tournament debuts. Emmett Eckert delivered one of the steepest drops of the meeting, cutting their 3x3x3 Cube personal best by 33.7 percent down to 21.21 from a prior best of 32.01, while also logging a first ever attempt at Megaminx with a 3:19.32. Bo Bluhm shaved substantial time in two disciplines, posting a 3x3x3 Cube personal best of 17.11 to improve by 20.7 percent and a 4x4x4 Cube personal best of 2:22.32 to drop 20.2 percent. Raghav Ranganathan recorded a 20.2 percent improvement on the Rubik's Cube with a personal best of 23.46, and Bryce Moore improved by 11.4 percent on the 4x4x4 Cube to register a 2:02.44 personal best.

First-time event attempts and fresh arrivals highlighted the deeper stories beneath the standings. Luke Monasmith tackled three events, posting a first ever attempt at 3x3x3 Cube in 22.58, a first ever attempt at Megaminx in 2:27.43, and a first ever attempt at 4x4x4 Cube in 2:04.47. Brian Dumouchelle took on three events, achieving a best finish of 10th in 3x3x3 Cube alongside a personal best of 10.50 and a first ever attempt at Megaminx in 2:05.10. Arnav Patel logged a first ever attempt at 4x4x4 Cube of 1:54.98 across two events. Mithran Thakkar stepped into their first WCA competition, recording a first ever attempt at 4x4x4 Cube in 1:45.04 and a first ever attempt at 3x3x3 Cube in 26.30.

The depth of progress across the 2024 event also saw Owen Hale drop their personal best on the main puzzle by 11 percent down to 16.75, finishing 19th in the discipline. James Holowinski advanced to a sixth-place finish in the 4x4x4 Cube and registered a personal best single of 9.36 on the 3x3x3 Cube, proving that the competitive speed cubing scene in the Plymouth region continues to push times ever lower across all experience levels.

With 9 podium spots secured by United States competitors across the three featured disciplines, Michigan Mini 25 2024 concluded as a showcase of individual milestones and high-efficiency execution. From top-tier championship averages to breakthroughs across every round, the gathering at the Plymouth Arts and Recreation Center demonstrated the steady evolution of solving standards as competitors look ahead to the next stops on the circuit.