Ottawa 3x3x3 Winter C 2024

Rex Li delivered a commanding 7.97 winning average in the final round to secure the top step of the podium, punctuated by a weekend-best single solve of 6.85 seconds. That sub-eight average stood out as the defining performance of the entire gathering, signaling high-level form right out of the gate. Taking place on January 13, 2024, the one-day Ottawa 3x3x3 Winter C 2024 served as an important early-year marker for the regional speedcubing community, offering competitors an immediate opportunity to test their winter training against the clock and establish their baseline marks for the newly commenced competitive calendar.

Hosted at A.Y. Jackson S.S. in Kanata, Ontario, Canada, the event brought together a dedicated field of 51 competitors focused purely on the classic puzzle. As an early stop on the 2024 calendar, the cubing competition provided three full rounds of head-to-head Rubik's Cube action. Across all three rounds, the single-event format concentrated the energy of the venue, ensuring that every participant had repeated chances to refine their timing, manage the competition table environment, and push their speed cubing limits in front of the judges.

The battle on the final podium saw Rex Li of China finish ahead of a pair of strong Canadian solvers who pushed deep into sub-ten territory. Ben Davies claimed the runner-up position with a final average of 9.75 seconds, while Reid Robblee rounded out the top three by posting an average of 9.86 seconds. The podium places by country were divided between Canada with two spots and China with one, highlighting how tightly contested the upper echelon of the final round proved to be among the leading contenders.

Throughout the stages of the WCA competition, several competitors produced impressive marks across the three rounds. Ben Davies logged a single of 7.49 and an average of 8.73, while Rex Li put up an 8.44 single and a 9.86 average. Reid Robblee posted an 8.87 single and a 10.37 average, and Charles-Olivier Rivard contributed a 9.47 single and a 10.91 average. Hayden Ma of Hong Kong registered a 9.44 single and an 11.26 average, with Sophie Desgagne turning in a 9.70 single alongside an 11.38 average. Jonathan Proulx logged a 10.33 single and an 11.56 average, while Nathan Liang registered an 11.05 single and a 12.22 average.

Beyond the final round standings, the real depth of Ottawa 3x3x3 Winter C 2024 was demonstrated by the remarkable surges made across the roster. Benedict MacDonald sliced a massive 44.7 percent off their previous best to secure a new personal record of 10.64 seconds, having entered with a 19.23 benchmark. Matthew Lingard dropped their personal record by 38.2 percent, finishing with a 20.95 solve compared to a prior 33.89 mark. Neekaan Hejazi improved by 25.5 percent with a personal best of 35.27 seconds down from 47.34, while Twyla Renée McElroy recorded a 27.00 personal best, representing a 25.4 percent drop from 36.19.

The progress continued across all experience levels throughout the afternoon. Thomas Ferguson set a new personal record of 19.23 seconds, improving by 24.3 percent from a prior mark of 25.39. Abdou El Barri I. H. Boudjeltia of Algeria secured a 4th-place finish in the event while logging a personal best of 7.97 seconds, a 22.9 percent leap over their previous 10.34 standard. Julian Jalovaara of Finland entered their first WCA competition and delivered a first ever attempt of 13.82 seconds, while Mikey Hendry took on their first career official appearance with an opening solve of 23.16 seconds in the event.

With 51 competitors taking part across three complete rounds, the Ottawa 3x3x3 Winter C 2024 provided a comprehensive snapshot of regional talent in early 2024. In addition to the leading contenders, Yingzhuo Zhang produced a single of 11.01 and an average of 12.60, and Sarah Strong recorded a single of 11.24 along with a 12.72 average. The structured format ensured that every solver, regardless of their starting seed, had a clean platform to chase personal progression.

As the day wrapped up at A.Y. Jackson S.S., the official 3x3 results from Kanata set a high standard for the months ahead. The focused structure of Ottawa 3x3x3 Winter C 2024 enabled both established frontrunners and emerging competitors to log meaningful times in the opening chapter of the new season, leaving the Canadian speedcubing circuit on solid footing as future gatherings approach.