Minnesota Meetup IV Tuesday 2024

The tables at the Lakeville Heritage Center were filled with the steady rhythm of turning plastic, timer resets, and focused problem solving as 49 competitors gathered in Lakeville, Minnesota, USA on August 13, 2024. Long before the final rounds were contested, the room carried the distinct energy of a local speedcubing gathering where seasoned solvers shared workspace with nervous first-timers. For those stepping into a World Cube Association environment for the very first time, the simple act of placing both hands onto the timer mat marked an unforgettable milestone in their speed cubing journey.

A total of three events and six rounds were scheduled across the single-day cubing competition, offering participants a focused test on the classic Rubik's Cube, the rapid 2x2x2 Cube, and the dynamic Skewb. Throughout the day, the atmosphere balanced serious competitive drive with the welcoming community spirit typical of an open WCA competition. Whether chasing regional rankings or simply recording a first official mark, every entrant had their own distinct goals as the competition got underway.

First-time competitors brought remarkable energy to the floor as they tackled their initial official attempts. Nathan Haedam Kim competed in his first WCA competition, taking on all three events and posting a single of 5.29 seconds in 2x2x2, 20.85 seconds in 3x3x3, and 14.10 seconds in Skewb while earning a 25th-place finish in 3x3x3. Elise Nygaard also made her official debut, entering three events and logging first attempts of 10.56 seconds in 2x2x2, 18.75 seconds in Skewb, and 37.17 seconds on the 3x3x3 puzzle. Brooks Nelsen registered his debut by completing three events, including a 7.63-second 2x2x2 solve, a 16.64-second Skewb attempt, and a 39.43-second 3x3x3 single. Elliott Johnson rounded out the debutantes across three disciplines, capturing a 19th-place finish in Skewb alongside single solves of 5.22 seconds in 2x2x2, 11.31 seconds in Skewb, and 23.19 seconds in 3x3x3.

Several returning solvers recorded immense individual breakthroughs away from the podium spotlight. Austin Sabers delivered a massive leap in Skewb with a personal best single of 3.69 seconds, improving by 60.5 percent over his previous mark of 9.35, while finishing 5th overall in the event and improving his 2x2x2 best to 3.58 seconds. Hugo Thompson shattered his earlier benchmarks across two events, dropping his 2x2x2 best by 42.4 percent to 9.48 seconds and trimming his 3x3x3 mark by 35.8 percent down to 42.40 seconds. Eli Starry cut 46.4 percent off his Skewb standard with an 8.67-second single and lowered his 3x3x3 record to 26.20 seconds. Beck Winter took on three events, posting a first official Skewb attempt of 11.11 seconds while improving his 2x2x2 personal best by 37.5 percent to 3.72 seconds and setting a 3x3x3 best of 15.14 seconds.

When the final rounds commenced, Carter Kucala asserted full command over the tournament podiums. In the 3x3x3 Cube, which drew 48 competitors over two rounds, Kucala secured top honours with a winning average of 7.41 seconds and the round best single of 6.60 seconds. Brody Meschke captured second place in the 3x3 results with an 8.45-second average, while Tyler Robinson earned third place with an average of 8.75 seconds to complete an all-American podium.

The 2x2x2 Cube event featured 41 solvers and showcased blistering turn rates across two complete rounds. Kucala completed the double by claiming victory with an exceptional 1.80-second winning average alongside the event best single of 1.35 seconds. Robinson secured his second podium finish of the meet by taking second place with an average of 2.96 seconds, narrowly edging Joseph Ong who finished third with an average of 3.20 seconds.

The Skewb contest saw 28 competitors take to the tables, where Kucala capped off a flawless day by earning his third victory. He posted a winning average of 2.86 seconds and the fastest single of the event at 1.50 seconds. Robinson continued his strong showing across multiple formats by securing the runner-up position with an average of 3.70 seconds, while Boyd Mayfield locked in third place with an average of 4.88 seconds.

By the time the final scores were entered into the system, Minnesota Meetup IV Tuesday 2024 had delivered both elite execution and inspiring milestones. With nine podium spots claimed by United States competitors and numerous personal bests set throughout the field, the day stood as a testament to the thriving local scene. Solvers of all experience levels packed away their puzzles with fresh benchmarks established and clear targets set for future fixtures on the speedcubing calendar.