NoVA Megaminx Melee 2024

Griffin Kim captured top honours in Clock with a blistering winning average of 4.72 seconds, edging out international challenger Anvesh Reddy Chinnapu to headline an intense day of competition. Speedcubers journeyed from across the region and beyond to assemble at University Mall in Fairfax, Virginia, USA on December 29, 2024. The single-day gathering brought together 20 dedicated competitors who travelled near and far to close out their competitive calendar on the final weekend of the year.

The journey proved well worth the effort as the tournament unfolded across four rounds in two distinct disciplines. While traditional speedcubing fans often monitor standard Rubik's Cube events and search for 3x3 results, this specialized meet shifted the spotlight entirely onto the twelve-sided Megaminx and the dual-faced Clock. The focused schedule gave every entrant the opportunity to test their technical preparation in front of an appreciative community of peers.

Declan Wilhelm staged a masterclass on the twelve-sided puzzle, capturing the Megaminx title with an average of 40.13 seconds in the final round. Wilhelm posted a best single of 37.54 seconds during his campaign, leading the field through three demanding elimination rounds. Daniel Goodman secured the runner-up position on the podium with an average of 45.53 seconds, while Drew Duong rounded out the top three by logging a 53.71-second average.

The Clock event proved to be a rapid-fire showdown packed with precision. Griffin Kim claimed the gold with his 4.72-second average and a single solve of 4.51 seconds. Anvesh Reddy Chinnapu, representing India, secured silver with an average of 4.84 seconds and delivered a stunning 4.07-second single. Evan Liu took the third podium spot with an average of 5.30 seconds after putting up the quickest single solve of the entire round at 4.04 seconds.

Away from the top of the podium, several competitors achieved remarkable milestones on the competition floor. Adam Beatty produced one of the most striking leaps of the day, securing an 8th-place finish in Megaminx while recording a personal best of 54.69 seconds, improving his prior benchmark by 26.9 percent. Ian Martinson also enjoyed a standout day across two events, claiming 8th in Clock and dropping his Megaminx personal best to 1:06.43, which was 17.2 percent faster than his previous mark. Stone Payne entered both events and earned 10th in Megaminx with a personal best of 1:02.38, a 17.2 percent reduction, while Dallas Carter placed 14th in Clock thanks to a personal best of 15.63 seconds, shaving 16.1 percent off his record.

The steady progress continued throughout the rest of the roster as solvers took on full schedules. Warren Morris finished 10th in Clock and established a fresh Megaminx personal best of 1:16.48, which was 8.9 percent faster than his previous standard. Panashe Sharma entered two events, finishing 7th in Clock while posting a personal best single of 5.46 seconds. Anderson Hong earned a strong 4th-place finish in Clock across his two disciplines, and Rich Tayag capped off his day with an 11th-place showing in the same event.

Across the entire day, the podium distribution reflected fierce competition, with solvers representing the United States claiming five podium positions alongside one podium finish for India. Every heat demanded rapid turning and total focus, offering a true test of speed cubing fundamentals as athletes navigated the unique mechanical quirks of their hardware under tournament conditions.

The final round at NoVA Megaminx Melee 2024 brought a fitting end to the competitive season in Fairfax. Whether travelling across state lines or making a regional trek to University Mall, the entrants made every solve count at this WCA competition. As the year drew to a close, NoVA Megaminx Melee 2024 stood as a testament to the dedication of the community, setting an inspiring foundation for the upcoming season of cubing competition fixtures.