Ohio State Spring 2024

A blistering 1.30-second average on the 2x2x2 Cube set an electric pace at Ohio State Spring 2024, signaling one of the most dominant speedcubing displays of the season. Luke Garrett orchestrated a masterclass across the shortest formats, pairing that unmatched speed with a commanding 6.94 winning mark on the traditional 3x3x3 Cube. Held at the Recreation and Physical Activity Center in Columbus, Ohio, USA, on April 21, the single-day WCA competition brought together 67 competitors across seven distinct disciplines and 12 total rounds of intense action.

The 2x2x2 Cube bracket delivered frantic pacing from the opening turns of the first round straight through the finals. Garrett captured the title by logging an average of 1.30 seconds alongside a best single of 1.12 seconds, staying just ahead of Sujan Feist who secured the runner-up spot with a rapid 1.38 average. Nolan Wood completed the podium in third place with an average of 2.06 seconds. The depth of talent in Columbus was on full display as 63 competitors tackled the sprint discipline, generating rapid-fire solutions that pushed the field to its limits.

Garrett carried that high-velocity momentum directly into the premier Rubik's Cube division, navigating two rounds against 66 challengers. In the finals, Garrett posted a 6.94 winning average backed by a blistering 5.05 single solve to seal the top spot on the podium. Wood took second place with a tight 7.00 average, trailing the lead by only six hundredths of a second, while Chris Chi claimed third with a steady 7.36 average. The 3x3 results capped a weekend where turning precision under the spotlight dictated the outcome of every round.

Beyond the core sprint puzzles, Garrett expanded his collection of victories into the mechanical complexity of Clock and the heavyweight test of the 4x4x4 Cube. In Clock, Garrett won with an average of 4.35 seconds, leading Evan Brown at 6.03 seconds and Jacob Dyland Bennett at 6.80 seconds. In the 4x4x4 Cube, Garrett secured first place with an average of 28.01 seconds, where Bennett claimed second in 33.67 seconds and Darshan Bhavanasi earned third for India with a 34.49 average, representing the sole international podium finish in Columbus.

Across the remaining events, competitors showcased specialized problem-solving skills in both rotational and non-standard twisty puzzles. Chris Chi captured the Skewb crown with an average of 3.52 seconds, edging out Evan Wright at 3.71 seconds and Bennett at 3.81 seconds. Wright answered back in Square-1 by taking the victory with an average of 7.93 seconds over Bennett with 8.64 seconds and Chi with 9.34 seconds. In the 3x3x3 Blindfolded division, Mason Langenderfer secured the win with a single of 32.59 seconds, besting Garrett at 43.48 seconds and Braden Richards at 1:10.67.

Away from the championship podiums, several competitors logged monumental breakthroughs that reshaped their personal records. Benjamin Holm-Bertelsen delivered a dramatic drop in Clock, securing a personal best of 7.72 seconds to improve by 75.3 percent over his previous mark, while also lopping 42.4 percent off his Square-1 best with a 25.18. Cooper Work debuted in Square-1 with an impressive 8.18 single on the way to a 7th place finish, while shaving 40.3 percent off his Rubik's Cube best with a 9.32. Stavro Ghally cut his Skewb best down by 58.1 percent to 7.74 seconds, and Justice Peng dropped 41.5 percent off his 3x3 best down to 21.09 seconds.

The competition floor also saw daring versatility and notable tournament debuts across multiple brackets. Jameson Swick improved his 3x3x3 Cube best by 32.7 percent with a 9.88 single while competing in five events. Braeden Dunsmoor undertook seven events across the schedule, recording first-time marks of 13.24 in Skewb, 1:41.05 in 4x4x4, and 21.02 in Clock alongside a 9th place finish in Blindfolded. Josiah Weesner took on four events, setting new personal baselines with a 1:38.31 in 4x4x4 and 7.99 in Skewb. Debutant Gideon Frincke completed his first official solves with a 4.67 on 2x2 and a 17.30 on 3x3.

The collective performance throughout Ohio State Spring 2024 reaffirmed the Midwest as a thriving hub for high-level speed cubing. United States competitors secured 20 of the 21 available podium spots, showcasing both established frontrunners and emerging contenders at the tables. With personal milestones achieved across all seven events, the 2024 cubing competition in Columbus concluded on a high note, leaving participants ready to build on their times as the tournament calendar progresses.