Northampton Newcomers A 2024

Twenty-three competitors gathered at the Davis Ballroom on March 9, 2024, bringing high intensity and acute focus to Northampton Newcomers A 2024. In the broader landscape of speedcubing, events that isolate mental focus like blindfolded solving demand intense memorisation and strict discipline under pressure. That same level of absolute concentration was on full display in Northampton, Massachusetts, USA, where solvers tackled a tightly packed schedule of three distinct events across eight complete rounds of action.

The one-day WCA competition brought together veterans and debutants for a full slate of speed cubing excellence. Solvers had to dial in their visual recognition instantly, moving through heats without hesitation. Nipun Kisari set the standard for the day by controlling the pace across multiple events, displaying remarkable consistency and dexterity while maintaining composure through successive knockout stages.

In the classic 3x3x3 Cube event, Nipun Kisari took the top step of the podium with a winning average of 7.40 seconds, punctuated by a best single solve of 6.52 seconds over three rounds. The 3x3 results saw Charles Amarello secure second place with an average of 8.15 seconds, while Levi Gibson earned third place with an 8.65 average. Kisari delivered an 8.08 single and 8.55 average during the event, matching Amarello who posted an 8.09 single and 8.83 average, and Gibson with an 8.45 single and 9.11 average.

The 3x3x3 One-Handed division required another level of manual dexterity, and Kisari once again proved untouchable. Out of 16 competitors across three rounds, Kisari secured the gold with a winning average of 12.23 seconds and a sharp best single of 10.54. Charles Amarello claimed the silver medal with a mark of 13.96 seconds, while Levi Gibson captured his second bronze of Northampton Newcomers A 2024 by averaging 15.29 seconds.

Skewb action rounded out the disciplines with 13 competitors battling over two rounds of play. Justin Lee put together a masterclass on the corner-turning puzzle, taking the title with an average of 3.74 seconds and a best single solve of 3.09 seconds. Levi Gibson capped off a remarkably consistent day by claiming the silver medal with an average of 5.14 seconds, while Zachary Miller took bronze with a 5.42 average.

Away from the top of the podium, several competitors delivered massive personal breakthroughs that defined the spirit of the event. Elliot Voigt cut his 3x3x3 One-Handed mark by 40.5 percent down to 19.72 seconds, alongside a 28.5 percent drop in Skewb to 6.70 seconds. Neil Hughes improved his Rubik's Cube best by 37.7 percent to hit 12.63 seconds on the way to a 12th-place finish. Ana Oprea posted a 36.7 percent improvement in Skewb with a new personal best of 16.55 seconds, while also making a first career attempt at 3x3x3 One-Handed with a time of 49.22 seconds.

Daniel Garofolo showed impressive gains across multiple disciplines, trimming 29.9 percent off his Skewb best to reach 9.83 seconds and dropping his 3x3x3 One-Handed personal best by 12.2 percent to 32.87 seconds. Ryan Durette shaved 18.6 percent off his 3x3x3 One-Handed personal best to finish fifth with a time of 14.21 seconds. Dimitry Kruk achieved a 17.4 percent improvement in the 3x3x3 Cube with 23.82 seconds while logging first attempts in One-Handed at 55.70 seconds and Skewb at 24.16 seconds. Oliver Stevens dropped his One-Handed best by 13.2 percent to 16.63 seconds and his 3x3x3 Cube mark by 12.6 percent to 10.49 seconds. Samarth Prabhu made a career debut at Northampton Newcomers A 2024, competing in two events and logging first official marks of 17.18 seconds in 3x3x3 Cube and 18.61 seconds in Skewb.

All nine podium positions across the tournament were claimed by competitors representing the USA, closing out an exceptional single-day cubing competition in Northampton. As the 2024 season progresses, the blend of veteran precision and rapid personal development seen on the tables will undoubtedly fuel the next round of regional contests.