Palmerston North 2024

Henry Eyles put on an extraordinary display of speedcubing mastery at Palmerston North 2024, seizing victory in the premier 3x3x3 Cube with a winning average of 7.77 seconds and a best single of 6.56. The two-day contest, held across May 4 and May 5 at the Community Leisure Centre in Palmerston North, New Zealand, brought together 43 competitors for a fierce test across 11 different events. Across 26 rounds, top rivals from across the nation pushed each other to their limits, turning the main arena into a battleground for domestic bragging rights.

The rivalry between Henry Eyles, James Macdiarmid, and Jack McDougall defined the top steps of nearly every podium throughout the weekend. In the 3x3x3 Cube, Eyles held off Macdiarmid, who claimed the runner-up spot with an average of 8.97 seconds, while Vincent Da Col secured third place with an average of 9.29. The main 3x3 results highlighted an elite standard of play, but the battle between these standout competitors extended deep into every tier of big cubes and twisty side events at this packed cubing competition.

The big-cube events turned into a masterclass from Eyles, though Macdiarmid and McDougall offered unrelenting pressure. In the 4x4x4 Cube, Eyles captured the gold with an average of 35.66 seconds, edging out McDougall at 36.41 and Macdiarmid at 37.63. Moving up to the 5x5x5 Cube, Eyles stood atop the podium in 58.82 seconds, while Macdiarmid took second in 1:14.51 and Oscar Hansen reached third in 1:15.65. Eyles maintained his supremacy in the largest formats, capturing the 6x6x6 Cube in 1:41.11 ahead of Alex Asbery and taking the 7x7x7 Cube with an average of 2:55.78.

Macdiarmid struck back in the specialized disciplines where precision and concentration reign supreme. He claimed the 3x3x3 Blindfolded crown with a stunning single of 20.00 seconds, outpacing McDougall, who secured second with a time of 1:02.41, and James Moore in third at 1:31.60. Macdiarmid also demonstrated superior control on the twelve-sided Megaminx, winning with an average of 46.44 seconds. Eyles placed second at 51.78 seconds, and McDougall locked in third at 58.65, demonstrating how closely matched New Zealand competitors remain across different categories of the classic Rubik's Cube.

Short-format puzzles provided intense drama, starting with the 2x2x2 Cube final where McDougall captured a hard-earned victory. Posting a winning average of 1.99 seconds, McDougall outperformed Jack Maddigan, who averaged 2.21, and Aneurin Hunt, who clocked 3.09 for third place. Eyles added two more golds to his massive collection by winning the 3x3x3 One-Handed final with a 14.97 average, Pyraminx with a 3.48 average, and Clock with a 7.35 mark. Altogether, Palmerston North 2024 served as a comprehensive showcase of national talent, with home competitors securing all 33 podium places available.

Away from the title fights, several competitors achieved remarkable milestones across their individual schedules. Elijah Raumati made huge strides by dropping his Pyraminx personal best to 4.72 seconds, an improvement of 47.8 percent over his previous 9.04 mark, while also recording his first ever attempts in Megaminx and 3x3x3 One-Handed. Freddy Brighton cut his 3x3x3 One-Handed best down to 21.28 seconds, which was 44.4 percent faster than his prior mark, and placed 8th in Pyraminx. Terence Brown logged his first official 5x5x5 Cube time of 2:48.06 and improved his Clock personal best by 37.6 percent with a time of 15.03 seconds. Yoichi Styles tackled Megaminx and 3x3x3 One-Handed for the first time while improving his 2x2x2 Cube best by 30.1 percent to 3.99 seconds.

The spirit of development was equally evident in the heavy multi-event schedules undertaken by other participants at this WCA competition. Abigail Dixon tackled 11 events across the weekend, taking 6th in 3x3x3 Blindfolded with a 3:11.45 single in her first attempt at the discipline, along with maiden marks in Clock and 6x6x6 Cube. Henry Rutland competed in 10 events, finishing 5th in the 7x7x7 Cube with a debut time of 3:48.88. Christian De Jesus Jr. earned a 4th-place finish in 3x3x3 Blindfolded with a debut single of 1:34.90, and Benjamin Kimber improved his 3x3x3 Cube best by 9.6 percent down to 8.89 seconds across seven events.

With full brackets spanning the spectrum from standard speed cubing to memory-intensive blindfolded solving, Palmerston North 2024 proved how vibrant the scene is in 2024. The clash between established stars like Eyles, Macdiarmid, and McDougall raised the competitive ceiling, while dozens of improving solvers pushed their boundaries on the official stage. As the regional calendar continues, the performances in Palmerston North set a high benchmark for the rivalries and friendships that drive the sport forward.