North Branch Campfire 2024

Seventeen competitors gathered on August 10, 2024, facing an intense lineup that put maximum pressure on every single turn. In mean-of-3 formats and blindfolded events, speedcubing offers no safety net or dropped solves. A single lapse or misplaced sequence instantly ruins an entire average, demanding absolute precision from start to finish. North Branch Campfire 2024 embraced these razor-thin margins at a private residence in North Branch, Michigan, USA, hosting a packed six-event slate where concentration decided every podium place across the board.

The 3x3x3 Blindfolded event exemplified the relentless nature of the format, where memorisation and flawless execution must align three times in a row. Gabriel Williams V conquered the tension, capturing first place with a winning average of 29.63 seconds and a top single solve of 25.22 seconds. Mason Langenderfer took second place with a 32.65 average, while Caleb Lalik secured the third spot with a 51.16 average. With eight competitors recording a DNF average, the results table proved how unforgiving the discipline remains at every tier.

Gabriel Williams V extended his mastery to 4x4x4 Blindfolded, claiming victory with a fast single solve of 2:26.38. Because mean-of-3 blindfolded formats require three successful attempts for an average, no competitor managed a complete set, leaving the podium decided purely by best singles. Mason Langenderfer placed second with a 2:42.44 single, and Wesley Barwinski locked up third place with a time of 7:53.95, completing a grueling test of spatial memory and mental stamina.

Beyond the blindfolded challenges, Gabriel Williams V sealed a third title in Clock. Across five solves, he posted a winning average of 5.48 seconds alongside the fastest single of the round at 4.16 seconds. Mason Langenderfer earned another runner-up finish with an average of 7.11 seconds, followed closely by Caleb Lalik in third at 7.70 seconds. The sweep highlighted an exceptional display of multi-event versatility throughout the single-round schedule at this speed cubing gathering.

Big cubes brought their own endurance tests to the cubing competition, featuring mean-of-3 rankings where consistency across large puzzle layers is essential. In 6x6x6 Cube, Mason Langenderfer earned the championship by averaging 2:09.36, aided by a best single of 1:58.39. Seth Rowell took second place with a 2:23.40 average, narrowly edging out Quinn Lawson, who finished third with a 2:23.65 average. The 7x7x7 Cube saw Quinn Lawson rise to the top of the podium with a winning average of 3:22.81, holding off Caleb Lalik at 3:41.16 and Hunter Mackler at 3:41.48.

Away from the top of the podium, several competitors delivered remarkable milestones and massive personal bests across the schedule. Eli Fox took on four events, securing a 5th place finish in 4x4x4 Blindfolded while dropping his Clock personal best down to 8.87 seconds, which was 31.6 percent faster than his previous mark. Andrew Lloyd improved his 7x7x7 Cube best by 14.6 percent with a time of 4:30.33, added a 9.6 percent improvement in 6x6x6 Cube at 2:52.29, and completed his first ever Megaminx attempt in 2:27.33. Tyler Rose lowered his 6x6x6 Cube personal best by 5.1 percent to 3:21.24 while competing across six distinct events.

First-time event attempts highlighted the depth of effort throughout the field. Trenton Klaty tackled six events, earning 4th place in 4x4x4 Blindfolded with a 17:33.00 result, alongside first attempts in 6x6x6 Cube at 2:53.61 and Clock at 10.65 seconds. Mae Igwe took part in her first WCA competition, recording a Megaminx time of 2:56.92 and a Clock single of 14.53. Cole Smith posted his first official Clock time of 15.39 seconds and a 3x3x3 Blindfolded time of 4:56.01, while Conor Mays clocked his first Megaminx solve at 2:18.70. Stephen Griggs took on five disciplines, highlighted by a strong 4th place finish in Megaminx.

The Megaminx event provided another display of stamina and mechanical control across 15 competitors. Hunter Mackler seized the title with a dominant 49.84 average and a round-best single of 44.98 seconds. Mason Langenderfer claimed second place with an average of 1:04.04, narrowly ahead of Caleb Lalik in third at 1:04.97. The twelve-sided puzzle rounded out a diverse schedule that tested competitor focus across varying geometries and solving styles.

With all six events concluded in a single day, North Branch Campfire 2024 demonstrated the skill required to thrive under uncompromising formats. Without standard 3x3 results or traditional Rubik's Cube rounds to lean on, competitors faced specialized puzzles where every single turn carried full weight. The successful solves and personal milestones achieved in Michigan provide a solid foundation as the speedcubing community prepares for the next season of competitive action.