Nub Open Lake Forest 2024

134 competitors converged on El Toro High School as Nub Open Lake Forest 2024 got underway in Lake Forest, California, USA on December 15, 2024. Across five distinct disciplines and 11 rounds of high-intensity speedcubing, the single-day gathering pushed contenders to their limits. With titles hanging on thin margins and the final rotations of decisive rounds, the atmosphere inside the venue captured the relentless focus demanded by competitive puzzle solving.

The 3x3x3 Cube final delivered drama right down to the decisive concluding turns. With 133 competitors vying for the podium across three grueling rounds, Kyeongmin Choi secured victory by assembling a 7.09 winning average, backed by an electric 5.98 best single. Ethan Yeh captured second place with an 8.33 average, while Alexander Anikin took third on an 8.67 mark. Fans tracking the 3x3 results witnessed a masterclass in poise during the closing solves.

Kyeongmin Choi was far from finished after securing the classic Rubik's Cube crown. In the Megaminx event, featuring 62 competitors across two rounds, Choi posted an extraordinary 32.99 average along with a 31.95 single to capture top honors over Jack Flynn Stewart, who finished second at 44.98, and Novaleigh Bui in third at 46.75. Choi then added a third gold medal in Square-1, leading the 47-player field with an 8.43 average and 7.01 single, ahead of Michael Young at 9.85 and Ethan Yeh at 9.96.

The Skewb contest featured 76 entrants and proved to be one of the sharpest clashes of the day. Jack Flynn Stewart produced a remarkable performance, taking the victory with a 3.03 average and a lightning 2.58 single. Choi remained in the hunt, securing second place on a 3.57 mark, while Jusun Choi locked up the bronze step with a 3.66 average. Stewart demonstrated incredible speed on the dynamic mechanism to keep the rest of the field at bay.

In the 3x3x3 Blindfolded division, the mental strain was evident as 29 solvers tackled the event over two rounds. Solving without sight requires complete spatial memorisation and flawless execution under the timer. Graham Siggins claimed the title on the strength of a 24.75 single. Choi earned another podium finish by taking second with a 38.96 effort, while Cary Huang took third place with a 52.81 single, closing out an intense blind solving bracket.

Beyond the championship battles, Nub Open Lake Forest 2024 saw remarkable personal breakthroughs across the floor. Caleb Castro showed immense determination in Square-1, recording a personal best of 30.38 seconds, which was 67.7 percent faster than his previous mark of 1:34.06. Priyanshu Sharma took on four events and sliced 48.6 percent off his Skewb standard with a 10.10 single. Warren Choi also entered four disciplines and took his Skewb best down to 8.49, a 42.2 percent improvement, while cutting his Square-1 time to 48.30. Dylan Garcia tackled three events, posting a first ever attempt at Megaminx of 1:55.42 and securing a 6th place best finish in 3x3x3 Cube.

First-time event appearances added tremendous depth to this speed cubing weekend. Justin Oh achieved a first ever attempt at Megaminx of 1:42.10 while improving his 3x3x3 Cube best by 25.2 percent to 13.21. Ricky Hill made a first ever attempt at Skewb in 6.90 seconds and lowered his 3x3x3 mark to 14.19. Ryder Ballinger recorded a first ever attempt at Skewb of 7.91 alongside a 16.48 personal best in 3x3x3 Cube. Nicolas Chan entered three events, logging a first ever attempt at Megaminx of 3:56.47, a first ever attempt at Skewb of 11.20, and a 19.7 percent drop in 3x3x3 Cube to 14.24.

The overall medal tally reflected the broad international presence at this WCA competition, with USA competitors collecting seven podiums, Korea earning six, and Russia and Vietnam taking one apiece. From new personal milestones to multi-event victories, Nub Open Lake Forest 2024 provided a fitting showcase for southern California cubing talent, concluding an action-packed cubing competition that tested every facet of solver precision.

As competitors packed their gear at El Toro High School, the day left behind a ledger full of standout numbers and memorable finishes. With 11 completed rounds across varied disciplines, the 2024 tournament demonstrated the vibrant state of speedcubing, setting an inspiring foundation for competitors preparing for their next season on the official circuit.