OKC Cube-Off Winter 2024

The vast floor of the Oklahoma City Convention Center was alive with intense focus on February 24, 2024, as competitors settled into their solving stations across Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA. While blindfolded solving in the broader sport requires extraordinary memorisation and complete sensory isolation where a solver cannot look at the puzzle during execution, that same quiet, absolute discipline set the tone across all tables. The room remained completely attuned to the quick inspect-and-solve rhythm that defines every major speedcubing gathering.

A total of 95 competitors arrived to test their skills at OKC Cube-Off Winter 2024, taking on a packed schedule featuring seven distinct events and 14 rounds of action. Solvers navigated everything from the lightning sprints of the smaller puzzles to the endurance challenges of the big cubes. The single-day WCA competition brought together regional talent and dedicated puzzle enthusiasts aiming to shave fractions of a second off their personal marks.

The classic Rubik's Cube drew a massive field of 92 competitors across three rounds of fierce play. In the final, Ryan Pilat secured the victory with a world-class winning average of 6.22 seconds, having also posted the best single of the event at 5.71. Ray Bai claimed the runner-up spot with an average of 6.98, while Jake Maddox took third place on the podium with an 8.14 average. These standout 3x3 results highlighted the elite standard at the top of the standings.

Ryan Pilat continued his dominant run throughout OKC Cube-Off Winter 2024, capturing top honours in three additional events. In the 2x2x2 Cube final, Pilat posted a winning average of 1.70 seconds, edging out Kaden Christopher Dockins at 1.90 and Jake Maddox at 2.07. Pilat also earned gold in Pyraminx with a 2.66 average ahead of Jaxon Wright at 3.87 and Dockins at 4.75, before taking the 6x6x6 Cube title with a mark of 1:37.74 over Ray Bai at 1:43.79 and Lydia Workman at 1:45.50.

Away from the top steps of the podium, several competitors achieved remarkable milestones across their chosen events. Malachi Gentry delivered substantial breakthroughs across four events, cutting his 2x2x2 Cube personal best by 78.6 percent to 4.86 seconds, reducing his 3x3x3 Cube mark by 43.5 percent to 24.15, and lowering his Pyraminx best by 30.9 percent to 8.60. Nathan Ross took on six events, achieving a personal best of 2.62 in the 2x2x2 Cube that was 60.2 percent faster than his previous mark, improving his 3x3x3 One-Handed time by 36.6 percent to 32.01, and recording a first ever attempt of 19.34 in Clock on the way to 26th place. Thaddeus Kleehammer tackled five disciplines, dropping his Pyraminx best by 39 percent down to 15.26 seconds, cutting his 3x3x3 Cube time by 13.9 percent to 26.34, and posting a 25.92 on his first ever attempt in Clock to finish 27th. Nash Wiser entered five events, slicing 38.9 percent off his 4x4x4 Cube personal best to hit 1:21.85 while also putting up a first ever attempt of 9.43 in Pyraminx and 49.04 in 3x3x3 One-Handed.

The depth of progress across the roster continued with Jonah C. Wineinger, who completed five events including a first ever attempt of 5.28 seconds in Pyraminx to earn a 9th-place finish, alongside first attempts of 35.07 in 3x3x3 One-Handed and 51.12 in the 4x4x4 Cube. Elijah Armstrong competed in three events, posting a 35.9 percent personal best improvement in the 2x2x2 Cube with a 5.12, a 33.3 percent improvement in the 3x3x3 Cube at 21.73, and a first ever attempt of 9.14 in Pyraminx. Nickolai Jones took on five events and secured 11th place in the 2x2x2 Cube, logged a 4x4x4 Cube personal best of 1:00.45 that was 9.4 percent faster, and registered first attempts of 9.46 in Pyraminx and 27.19 in 3x3x3 One-Handed. Meanwhile, first-time competitor Andrew Bessonov entered four disciplines at his debut cubing competition, setting initial benchmarks of 14.79 seconds in the 3x3x3 Cube, 34.81 in 3x3x3 One-Handed, and 1:06.67 in the 4x4x4 Cube.

Ray Bai captured two event titles during the competition, taking victory in the 4x4x4 Cube with a winning average of 28.06 seconds to finish ahead of Ryan Pilat at 29.13 and Jadon Castillo at 31.61. Bai also clinched first place in 3x3x3 One-Handed, averaging 11.31 seconds to beat Pilat at 11.61 and Zachary Walden at 15.77. In Clock, Trenton Cuzick secured the gold with an average of 6.12 seconds, followed by Kaden Christopher Dockins at 7.11 and Vyom Sharma of India at 7.31.

The single-day meet highlighted the expansive variety of the speed cubing circuit, spanning small mechanical puzzles, complex multi-layered cubes, and single-handed execution. United States competitors collected 20 podium places over the course of the day, with India securing one podium finish. The smooth running of 14 rounds across seven events offered an engaging showcase of precision and talent.

As the final timers were reset and gear was packed away, OKC Cube-Off Winter 2024 concluded as a resounding success for the Oklahoma cubing community. Solvers departed the convention floor with personal milestones, podium finishes, and valuable stage experience to build upon as the 2024 season progresses.