Open de Gatineau A 2024

A commanding multi-event performance by Omar Ellabban defined the action in Gatineau, Quebec, Canada, highlighted by a sharp 8.88 winning average in the final of the traditional Rubik's Cube. Ellabban held off a tightly packed field to secure the premier title of the tournament, completing a sensational triple-gold showcase on April 6, 2024. Across eleven rounds of intense speedcubing, competitors from across the region gathered for a packed day of twisting puzzles and record-setting milestones at the Légion royale Canadienne Filiale Norris.

The one-day program at Open de Gatineau A 2024 offered a rigorous test across five official disciplines, drawing an enthusiastic field of 20 participants. With three rounds of 3x3x3 Cube alongside double-round structures in four other puzzles, the schedule tested both endurance and precision. The 2024 gathering brought together experienced contenders and ambitious newcomers under the World Cube Association banner, with Canadian competitors capturing all 15 podium places available throughout the tournament.

Ellabban set the standard early in the larger cubes, delivering an exceptional 30.05 average to capture top honors in the 4x4x4 Cube ahead of Diego Rodriguez-Ramirez, who took second in 34.18, and Ben Davies in third with 35.96. The momentum carried directly into the 5x5x5 Cube, where Ellabban once again stood atop the podium by recording a winning average of 46.19 and a best single of 43.02. Rodriguez-Ramirez claimed the silver medal with a 58.62 average, while Davies earned another podium finish with 1:01.63.

Breton MacDonald proved equally dominant in the specialty puzzles, sweeping the top of the podium in both Megaminx and Skewb. In the Megaminx event, MacDonald paced the 17-competitor field with a winning mark of 45.97, outdistancing Ellabban, who finished second in 1:06.80, and Matt Hudon in third with 1:11.27. MacDonald followed up in the Skewb competition by securing gold with a 5.13 average, topping Hudon's 5.97 and Bruno Ielo's 6.45 in the second and final round.

Beyond the championship trophies, the event saw widespread individual milestones throughout the ranks. Lukas Léonard recorded a massive personal best in Megaminx of 2:20.89, which was 40.8 percent faster than their previous mark of 3:57.99, while also taking on five events including first attempts in the 3x3x3 Cube and Skewb. Olivier Gareau cut 36.5 percent off their previous best in Skewb to finish with a 13.13 personal best, while Julia Fitzner improved her 3x3x3 Cube benchmark by 30.8 percent to 57.58. Ethan Wang tackled five categories, posting a 4x4x4 Cube personal best of 42.23, an improvement of 30.3 percent over their prior best time.

Several other competitors expanded their repertoires with ambitious entries across the schedule. Antoine Villemaire took on five disciplines and improved their 3x3x3 Cube personal best to 13.63, a 26.2 percent jump, while making first career attempts in Megaminx and 5x5x5 Cube. Silas Dove posted a personal best of 1:21.91 in the 4x4x4 Cube, 22.6 percent faster than before, while entering five events on the day. Sahaj Shrivastava recorded a 4x4x4 Cube personal best of 1:13.30, an 18.5 percent improvement, and Brogan Morris trimmed 12.9 percent off their previous 4x4x4 mark to reach 1:30.37 while taking fifth in Skewb.

The culminating round of the competition brought the spotlight back to the 3x3 results, with twenty contenders battling across three rounds for the championship. The final round turned into a dramatic duel between Ellabban and Davies, with Ellabban clinching victory by a mere four-hundredths of a second with an 8.88 average to Davies' 8.92. Carson Carrasco secured third position with a consistent 10.13 average, concluding a thrilling set of races at the top of the standings.

As the final timers stopped, Open de Gatineau A 2024 wrapped up a memorable chapter of speed cubing excellence in the Outaouais region. From triple-title sweeps on the main stage to huge leaps forward in the standings, every participant contributed to an engaging cubing competition. With personal milestones established across all five puzzles, the local community now looks ahead to carrying this momentum into future seasons on the circuit.