No 3x3s in Perth 2024

Twenty-nine competitors gathered at the Gibson Park Community Centre on June 1, 2024, stepping away from the standard Rubik's Cube to test their endurance across larger mechanisms and varied geometries. The single-day WCA competition brought a sharp focus to events that demand deep patience, sustained concentration, and mechanical stamina. Across eleven rounds of action in Perth, Western Australia, Australia, participants took on a distinct program where traditional 3x3 results made way for layered complexity and technical mastery.

Big-cube speedcubing demands an entirely different level of mental focus and physical resilience compared to shorter events. The 4x4x4 Cube challenged competitors with complex edge pairing and parity issues, where a single lapse in lookahead can add seconds to an attempt. Zak Kenny rose to the challenge in 4x4x4 Cube, posting a winning single of 27.09 and securing first place with a 32.19 average. Jaxon Foster followed closely in second place with a 33.35 average, while Tyler Williams completed the podium in third with 36.72.

The 12-sided Megaminx provided the ultimate test of physical endurance, requiring competitors to navigate dozens of pieces across multiple turning layers without losing their rhythm. James Holdsworth dominated the event, delivering a standout 45.36 single on his way to victory with an average of 47.59. Lucius Leong took the runner-up position with a steady 54.10 mark, while Kenny returned to the podium steps to claim third place with an average of 57.64.

The competitive schedule at No 3x3s in Perth 2024 also highlighted fast-paced side events that tested sheer dexterity and spatial adaptability. In the Pyraminx event, Williams produced an impressive 3.19 single to capture the title with a 3.36 average. Marco Campitelli pushed hard to claim second place averaging 3.60, while Amy Smith took third with 4.06. Williams also excelled in Square-1, a shapeshifting puzzle requiring rapid algorithmic problem solving, taking first place with a 15.38 average ahead of Smith at 17.05 and Foster at 19.19.

Smith claimed the top honours in the 2x2x2 Cube, displaying precision and quick execution across three rounds of competition. Her winning average of 2.12 and best single of 1.80 held off Campitelli, who finished second with a 2.46 average, and Lachlan Stephens, who took third with 2.62. The event drew the largest field of the day with twenty-eight competitors battling for positions in the final rounds of the cubing competition.

Beyond the podium finishes, No 3x3s in Perth 2024 delivered significant personal milestones for competitors throughout the field. Joshua Bumstead chopped substantial time from his previous best in Square-1, recording a 43.64 single that was 41.3 percent faster than his prior 1:14.31 mark. Daniel Good made vast progress across two events, dropping his Pyraminx personal best by 40.9 percent to 6.83 and his 2x2x2 Cube time by 21.9 percent to 4.21. George Pedigo took on five separate events and secured a 7th-place finish in Square-1 with a personal best of 16.16, which was 33.6 percent faster than before.

Other competitors marked memorable debuts and major time drops across the day. Tyler Nell completed his first WCA competition by logging a 7.04 in 2x2x2 Cube. Oscar Lee entered four disciplines and registered first-ever attempts in both the 4x4x4 Cube with 1:08.63 and 2x2x2 Cube with 3.72. Krishiv Srivatsn recorded first-ever attempts in Pyraminx at 19.52 and 2x2x2 Cube at 12.29. Guot Kuan made his first 4x4x4 Cube attempt in 1:23.53 and set a Pyraminx personal best of 7.30, while Brooklyn Williams took 33.5 percent off his previous Pyraminx best by finishing in 5.43.

With fifteen podium places earned across five varied disciplines, the gathering highlighted the incredible depth of talent in the local speed cubing scene. Competitors navigated shifting shapes and multi-layered challenges without relying on standard events. As No 3x3s in Perth 2024 came to a close, the weekend demonstrated the rewarding nature of endurance solving and set a high standard for the competitive year ahead.