Minnesota Slice 2024

Inside the Maple Grove Community Center, the distinct clicking of turning layers echoed across the hall as competitors gathered around the timing stations. Across six different events, a lively mix of seasoned solvers and newcomers filled the room, taking their seats to inspect scrambled puzzles and await the green lights on their timers. With 78 competitors registered to take part in the one-day gathering on April 20, 2024, the atmosphere in Maple Grove, Minnesota, USA reflected the enduring energy of the regional speedcubing community.

A major storyline throughout Minnesota Slice 2024 was the influx of fresh talent stepping onto the competitive stage for the first time. First-time participants made up a noticeable portion of the field, navigating their official warmups and inspections alongside seasoned tournament regulars. This cubing competition provided a full day of action, testing both precision and composure across 13 scheduled rounds.

At the front of the pack, the premier 3x3x3 Cube event drew a field of 76 competitors across two intense rounds. Zeke Mackay captured first place in the final with a winning average of 6.59 seconds, supported by the day's best single solve of 5.43 seconds. Brian Johnson finished closely behind in second place with an average of 6.65 seconds, while Simon Kellum locked in third place with a mark of 7.87 seconds. The official 3x3 results highlighted the razor-thin margins separating the leading solvers in the region.

The spotlight across the tournament floor shone brightly on solvers achieving meaningful personal milestones away from the podium. Otto Schroeder delivered an exceptional performance in Skewb, cutting his personal best down to 8.07 seconds, which was 60.8 percent faster than his previous mark. Natalie Carino made her first official attempts at Megaminx with a time of 2:36.15 and Square-1 at 47.59 seconds, while improving her Skewb personal best to 8.36 seconds, an improvement of 49.3 percent. Bret Collins dropped his Skewb personal best to 4.24 seconds, moving 44 percent faster than before. Ethan Anderson tackled a full slate of six events, logging his first ever attempt at 3x3x3 Blindfolded in 4:26.89 to take an 8th-place finish, while also trimming his Square-1 best to 13.98 seconds, 40.2 percent faster than his previous record.

Other competitors marked significant firsts across new categories. Steven Carino entered five events, logging his first attempts at Megaminx with 3:59.16 and Square-1 with 33.98 seconds, alongside dropping his 3x3x3 Cube best to 27.31 seconds, which was 32.1 percent faster. Peter Schwoch recorded his first official tries at Pyraminx in 6.91 seconds and Megaminx in 3:36.89, while shaving his Skewb best down to 5.75 seconds, an improvement of 30.5 percent. Peter Klassen made his first ever attempt at Skewb with a time of 6.45 seconds and cut his 3x3x3 Cube personal best to 18.57 seconds, 27.7 percent faster. Meanwhile, Ethan Paddock took on his very first WCA competition, entering three separate puzzles and establishing opening marks of 23.03 in Skewb, 52.73 in the classic Rubik's Cube, and 21.01 in Pyraminx.

In the side events, Simon Kellum enjoyed a standout afternoon by sweeping the speed rounds for two separate disciplines. Kellum claimed the top spot in Pyraminx with a winning average of 1.99 seconds after posting a best single of 1.69 seconds across 63 competitors. Brian Johnson and Carl Overbye completed the Pyraminx podium in second and third with averages of 2.45 and 2.57 seconds. Kellum followed that victory by winning Skewb with an average of 2.38 seconds, edging out Lucas Lippman-Bruno at 2.52 seconds and Tyler Robinson at 2.53 seconds.

Complex puzzles rounded out the roster at Minnesota Slice 2024, providing a thorough test of algorithmic mastery and spatial reasoning. Brian Johnson led the 39-competitor Square-1 field through three rounds to secure victory with an average of 5.82 seconds and a single solve of 5.50 seconds. Nathan Rahn and Lucas Lippman-Bruno earned second and third with averages of 7.76 and 8.05 seconds. In Megaminx, Zeke Mackay collected another gold medal by averaging 41.28 seconds over two rounds, besting Tyler Robinson's 41.42 average and Carl Overbye's 48.05.

The mental challenge reached its peak in the 3x3x3 Blindfolded category, where nineteen competitors relied purely on memory and tactile execution. Andy Wong secured victory with a best single solve of 30.24 seconds in the final round. Carter Kucala took second place with a single of 35.44 seconds, and Zeke Mackay earned third place with a time of 50.26 seconds, completing a podium sweep for United States competitors.

With all six disciplines concluded, the single-day gathering demonstrated the tremendous depth present across the local speed cubing circuit. From elite sub-seven second averages in the main event to ambitious first-time solves across various twisting puzzles, Minnesota Slice 2024 provided an unforgettable day of competition in Maple Grove as competitors look forward to their next opportunity on the tournament schedule.