Northampton Newcomers D 2024

Elijah Rain Phelps delivered a masterclass on the main stage, securing two titles and posting a standout 8.95 winning average in the 3x3x3 Cube to highlight an intense day of championship-level action. Held on March 10, 2024, at the Davis Ballroom in Northampton, Massachusetts, USA, Northampton Newcomers D 2024 brought together a dedicated field of 26 competitors. Across seven rounds of high-pressure solving, contenders fought for decisive margins in an atmosphere where every single turn carried tournament weight.

The 3x3x3 Cube contest stood as the premier proving ground of the weekend, drawing 23 competitors through three demanding rounds of competition. Phelps took control early, posting a blistering single of 6.98 alongside an 8.62 average in earlier play before locking down the title with an 8.95 finals average. Evan Liu pushed Phelps all the way to the end, posting a 7.95 best single and a 9.92 final average to claim second place. Brando Fusco rounded out the podium in third place with a 15.34 average.

Beyond the traditional Rubik's Cube, the Pyraminx event featured a tense duel that went down to mere hundredths of a second. Phelps completed a double-gold performance by taking top honors with a 3.70 winning average and a lightning-fast single of 2.70 across two rounds. Clem Tucker kept the pressure on throughout the final round, taking the runner-up spot with an average of 3.83. Liu earned another podium appearance on the day, securing third place with an average of 4.75.

The Clock event provided an entirely different mechanical challenge, requiring swift gear manipulation and sharp focus across two competitive rounds. Liu took command of the ten-person field, claiming victory with a 5.10 winning average and a 4.73 single. Fusco earned his second podium finish of the event by claiming the silver medal with a 6.59 mark. Tyler Wolkowicz delivered consistent solves to claim the third step on the podium with a 9.55 average, completing a clean sweep of podium spots by United States competitors.

While the top steps of the podium demanded elite consistency, Northampton Newcomers D 2024 showcased remarkable breakthroughs across the entire tournament roster. Samuel Krasne put together massive personal bests across multiple events, cutting his Clock single to 10.47, which was 42.8% faster than his previous mark, while lowering his 3x3x3 Cube best to 10.44, an improvement of 17.1%, on his way to fourth in the main event. William Krebs took on three events, achieving a Clock first attempt of 17.79 while dropping his 3x3x3 single to 20.00, 27% faster than before, and his Pyraminx best to 6.66, which was 21% faster, earning a 6th place finish in Pyraminx. Gabriel Wilson entered three events, cutting his Clock time to 16.54 for a 13.8% drop and his 3x3x3 mark to 15.44, 9.6% faster, to take fifth in the 3x3 final. David Krasne entered three disciplines, recording a first ever attempt of 25.07 in Pyraminx and lowering his 3x3x3 single to 46.59, an 11.6% improvement, while finishing sixth in Clock.

The event was equally memorable for those making their debuts on the tournament stage. William Neuman entered the 3x3x3 Cube and achieved a personal best of 18.82, an improvement of 13%, on the way to a sixth-place finish. Simon Steinberg tackled two events in his first WCA competition, recording a first attempt of 10.96 in Pyraminx and a first attempt of 20.26 in 3x3x3 to claim eighth place in the main final. Jacob Michael Wieland also made his official debut, logging a first attempt of 10.93 in Pyraminx to place seventh overall, along with a 22.30 in 3x3x3. Alexander Maliawco launched his speed cubing career by recording a 9.87 first attempt in Pyraminx for ninth place, alongside a 25.20 first attempt in 3x3x3.

As the day wrapped up in Northampton, Massachusetts, USA, the full breadth of the speedcubing community was on display across all three events. From the technical mastery required in Clock to the lightning turns of the Pyraminx, each competitor navigated the bracket system with sharp focus. The 3x3 results demonstrated a rising standard of execution, where single-digit averages separated title contenders from the chasing pack. For veteran competitors and newcomers alike, the standard of play raised the bar across every discipline.

With Northampton Newcomers D 2024 coming to a close, the tournament served as an emphatic showcase of regional speedcubing talent in 2024. The depth of execution across three rounds of Rubik's Cube action and two rounds of specialty puzzles proved that local competition remains fiercely contested. Every participant who stepped onto the tournament floor added a critical chapter to their ongoing athletic journey. As the competitive calendar progresses into another season, the marks set at Davis Ballroom establish a high benchmark for future tournaments.