Open de Gatineau B 2024

A blistering 1.94 winning average in the 2x2x2 Cube final by Rémi Chrétien stood as the defining mark of the day, setting an electric tone for a critical fixture in the 2024 Canadian cubing schedule. As the competitive season gained momentum across Eastern Canada throughout the spring, the single-day gathering in Gatineau, Quebec, Canada provided an intense, compact battleground for top talent and emerging prospects alike. Held on April 7, 2024 at the Légion royale Canadienne Filiale Norris, the tournament brought together 29 competitors across five events and 12 rounds of intense speedcubing.

The 2x2x2 Cube showdown served as an early centerpiece of the weekend. Chrétien topped a field of 28 entrants across three rounds, locking in a 1.70 best single alongside his sub-two second 1.94 average. Rex Li finished as the runner-up with an average of 2.27 and a 1.83 single, while Jonathan Proulx took third place with a 2.68 mark. The event saw a barrage of personal milestones through every stage of the bracket, illustrating the depth of skill on display at this competitive WCA competition as racers shaved fractions off short-format solves.

In the flagship 3x3x3 Cube, Rex Li delivered commanding form throughout all three rounds to secure the title. Out of 29 competitors tackling the classic Rubik's Cube puzzle, Li registered a standout 7.21 single on the way to an 8.28 winning average. The race for the remaining spots on the podium stayed exceptionally tight, with Reid Robblee posting a 10.87 average to edge Rémi Chrétien, who captured bronze at 10.90. The final 3x3 results encapsulated a day where seasoned execution made all the difference amid rapid-fire rounds.

Beyond the traditional twisty puzzles, Reid Robblee claimed the Pyraminx title with an impressive 4.97 average, backed by a 4.20 single across two rounds featuring 23 competitors. Chrétien followed in second with a 5.87 average, while Max Décarie earned third place with a 6.02 mark. Robblee set a blistering pace from the start, demonstrating smooth turning and quick recognition on the triangular puzzle to earn his place atop the standings in one of the day's most competitive disciplines.

Specialty events rounded out the schedule with fierce rivalries on the timers. In Clock, Jonathan Proulx prevailed in a tightly contested final, posting a winning average of 5.43 alongside a 4.54 single across two rounds of 16 competitors. Jack Chicoine pushed closely behind, taking second place with a 5.54 average, while Chrétien secured third at 8.26. Chicoine bounced back emphatically in Square-1, dominating the 12-competitor bracket across two rounds with a 13.09 winning average and a 10.95 single, ahead of Sophie Desgagne at 21.45 and Skye Mcfadzen at 27.93.

Away from the top of the podium, several competitors achieved remarkable milestones that highlighted the broader competitive growth within the venue. Dominic Deschamps tackled five separate disciplines, securing eighth place in Clock, making a first career attempt at Square-1 with a 1:02.97 mark, and dropping his 2x2x2 Cube personal best to 2.36, which was 47.4 percent faster than his prior mark. Dirdh Modi delivered massive reductions across two events, cutting his 2x2x2 Cube single to 9.34 for a 42.7 percent improvement and trimming his 3x3x3 Cube best to 29.71, an improvement of 22.1 percent. Thomas Dumouchel entered four events and notched a 2x2x2 Cube personal best of 5.06, running 45.6 percent faster than before.

That spirit of personal progress continued across the roster as competitors explored new events and lower personal baselines. Avery Babineau contested four events, carving out a 37.2 percent personal improvement in Square-1 with a 47.04 single alongside a 25.4 percent drop in Pyraminx to 10.28. Charlie Mulholland took on three events, finishing sixth in Clock with a first attempt time of 10.06 while dropping his 2x2x2 Cube single to 3.22. Emerson Drolet logged a first attempt in Pyraminx with a 10.60 single, while Ethan O'Malley made his debut appearance with initial official marks in Clock at 17.70, 3x3x3 Cube at 33.74, and 2x2x2 Cube at 14.98. Liam Matt Curtis also debuted, recording opening career marks of 4.69 in 2x2x2 Cube, 18.65 in 3x3x3 Cube, and 25.00 in Pyraminx.

By the conclusion of the event, host nation athletes had claimed 13 podium positions, with China earning two. The tight scheduling and spirited community atmosphere at Open de Gatineau B 2024 reaffirmed the strength of regional speed cubing in Quebec. With fresh benchmarks established across five distinct events, the competitors leave the Gatineau tables well prepared for the next wave of challenges in the unfolding 2024 competitive season.