Minnesota Cube Melt 2024

A single hundredth of a second can alter an entire weekend of speedcubing. In the final round of the 6x6x6 Cube, Kaius Young and Carter Kucala delivered identical average times of 1:48.87, creating a dead heat behind champion Nathan Phillips. Phillips secured the title with a commanding 1:31.98 average and a 1:26.84 single, but the razor-thin margin behind him highlighted the intense drama unfolding at the Hennepin Technical College tables.

Held on May 11, Minnesota Cube Melt 2024 brought 106 competitors to Eden Prairie, Minnesota, USA. The single-day speed cubing tournament delivered 11 rounds of action across six diverse disciplines. While the larger cubes brought tense ties, the event showcased elite dexterity from top-tier solvers and fresh personal records across every stage of the competition.

Brian Johnson established himself as the premier force of the gathering, claiming three separate championships. In the standard Rubik's Cube, Johnson topped a field of 105 competitors with a winning average of 7.08 seconds across three rounds, backed by the best single time of the event at 5.99. Carter Kucala applied continuous pressure to finish in second place with a 7.58 average, while Simon Kellum locked down third place averaging 7.65. The 3x3 results demonstrated remarkable consistency at the absolute top of the standings.

Johnson extended his dominance into specialty categories, taking the 3x3x3 One-Handed title with an 11.71 average and a 9.69 single across two rounds. Andy Wong challenged fiercely to earn second place at 12.16, narrowly staying ahead of Kucala, who picked up third at 12.32. In Square-1, Johnson completed his triple-title haul with a 6.28 average and a 5.32 single, outlasting Joseph Ong who averaged 7.25, while Nathan Rahn took third with an 8.00 mark.

Kucala found his own gold medal in the rapid-fire 2x2x2 Cube, leading a 97-competitor bracket across three rounds. He clinched victory with a blistering 1.65 average and a 1.20 single, reversing the top two order as Johnson followed in second place with 1.96. Rahn earned another podium finish, capturing third with 2.03. In the 12-sided Megaminx, Tyler Robinson dominated 39 rivals in a direct final, securing first place with a 41.84 average and a 34.12 single over Carl Overbye at 45.31 and Johnson at 48.11.

Away from the top steps of the podium, Minnesota Cube Melt 2024 served as a breakthrough stage for competitors achieving massive personal milestones. Leeland Miller delivered one of the steepest progressions of the day, dropping his 2x2x2 Cube personal best by 70.9 percent to 5.01 seconds while also shaving his 3x3x3 mark down to 25.42. Bennett Rule took on five events, improving his 3x3x3 One-Handed best by 67.8 percent to 26.91, alongside a Megaminx time of 1:57.41 and a Square-1 time of 28.31. Keegan Joyce cut his 2x2x2 Cube record by 44.8 percent to 3.13 and recorded a 24.31 in his first ever attempt at 3x3x3 One-Handed.

The depth of progress continued across the lineup at this WCA competition. Jack Miller improved his 3x3x3 personal best by 43.8 percent to 14.55 seconds and logged a 4.91 in his first 2x2x2 Cube event. Ansley Otto dropped their 3x3x3 time by 35.8 percent to 36.60 while adding a first official 2x2x2 solve of 13.95. William Speake advanced his 3x3x3 best by 31.6 percent to 19.45 and posted a 1:13.60 in his one-handed debut. Peter Schwoch lowered his 3x3x3 mark by 28.1 percent to 13.48, and Khoa Nguyen achieved an 11.51 personal best on 3x3x3 alongside a first one-handed attempt of 28.24.

The 2024 gathering in Eden Prairie demonstrated the dynamic spirit that characterizes a high-level cubing competition. From dead heats on the 6x6x6 timer to clean sweeps across classic twisty puzzles, every solve contributed to a memorable day at the tables. Competitors now carry their hardware, personal bests, and renewed momentum into the remainder of the tournament season.