Pas de 3x3 à Gatineau 2024

Diego Rodriguez-Ramirez delivered a commanding performance across the larger puzzles on January 20, 2024, sweeping the 4x4x4 Cube, 5x5x5 Cube, and 6x6x6 Cube titles in a single afternoon. Held at Légion royale Canadienne Filiale Norris in Gatineau, Quebec, Canada, Pas de 3x3 à Gatineau 2024 provided a dedicated stage for alternative disciplines, intentionally excluding the standard Rubik's Cube to place side events squarely at the center of the arena. Across 12 rounds of action, 39 competitors gathered to test their skills and speed on a brisk winter day.

The distinctive atmosphere of a debut WCA competition resonated across the tables as several newcomers stepped into an official cubing competition setting for the very first time. Walking into an unfamiliar venue to face inspection timers and official judges marks an unforgettable transition from bedroom practice to sanctioned play. With no classic 3x3 results to lean on, these first-timers jumped directly into high-pressure bracket play across diverse puzzles, setting their baseline marks within the broader international speedcubing community.

Among the tournament debutants, Catherine Basaly from Egypt took on 5 events, recording a notable best finish of 8th place in the 5x5x5 Cube, while logging a first ever attempt at 4x4x4 Cube in 55.10 seconds and registering marks in Clock and 2x2x2 Cube. Lukas Léonard entered 4 events in his opening appearance, securing 14th place in Megaminx and recording first marks of 2:13.16 on the 4x4x4 Cube and 8.02 seconds on the 2x2x2 Cube. Fellow debutant Antoine Villemaire tackled two events, posting a 10.10 in Skewb and a 5.33 in 2x2x2 Cube, while Alexandre Gabriel Paraschiv opened his official ledger with a 6.27 single on the 2x2x2 Cube.

Beyond the newcomers, established speed cubing regulars expanded their repertoires and logged dramatic personal gains during Pas de 3x3 à Gatineau 2024. Reid Robblee entered 7 events, notching a Skewb personal best of 2.62 seconds that was 65.3 percent faster than his prior mark, alongside debut attempts in Megaminx at 1:22.70 and the 6x6x6 Cube at 2:32.94. Eris McElroy carved huge chunks off their Clock history, recording a personal best of 11.26 seconds to show a 44.3 percent improvement. Benjamin Abbott finished 8th in Megaminx with a personal best average of 1:39.40, while Alexandre Dion shaved 29.9 percent off his 2x2x2 Cube best to hit 6.13 seconds.

The short-format events generated fast-paced drama, led by the 2x2x2 Cube where Sam Mehmani of Iran captured the title with a 2.22 winning average over three rounds of competition, complemented by an event-best single of 1.61 seconds. Ben Davies took second place on the 2x2x2 Cube podium with an average of 2.83 seconds, while Rémi Chrétien secured third with 2.85 seconds. Breton MacDonald led the 27 competitors in Skewb, taking first place with a 5.14 average ahead of Sophie Desgagne at 5.37 and Rémi Chrétien at 5.68 seconds.

MacDonald duplicated his championship form in the Megaminx division, taking the victory with a 51.07 average and a best single solve of 46.26 seconds. Rodriguez-Ramirez claimed the runner-up spot on the dodecahedral puzzle with a 1:08.15 average, followed by Gabrielle Morasse in third place at 1:17.40. Clock action saw Jack Chicoine take first place with a winning average of 5.58 seconds, narrowly holding off Gabrielle Morasse at 5.80 seconds, while Dominic Deschamps completed the podium with a 9.21 average.

The big cube program belonged entirely to Rodriguez-Ramirez, who showed remarkable consistency across all three multi-layer disciplines. In the 4x4x4 Cube, his 35.94 average secured the title ahead of Louis Meunier of the United States at 36.58 seconds and Ben Davies at 39.72 seconds. In the 5x5x5 Cube, Rodriguez-Ramirez logged a winning mark of 56.22 seconds, with Davies claiming second place in 1:07.85 and Meunier taking third in 1:11.19.

Rodriguez-Ramirez closed his triple-crown showing in the 6x6x6 Cube, recording a winning average of 1:38.33 and a top single of 1:37.11 to lead Davies at 2:02.07 and Morasse at 2:45.03. Host nation Canada claimed 18 total podium places across the 7 events, while the United States earned two and Iran captured one. Pas de 3x3 à Gatineau 2024 stood as a testament to the depth of regional talent and the vibrant arrival of new competitors to the competitive scene in Gatineau.