PBQ at MSU 2024

Fourteen competitors gathered on June 28, 2024, with high championship stakes on the line across four specialized disciplines. Held at the MSU Union venue in East Lansing, Michigan, USA, PBQ at MSU 2024 brought together dedicated solvers aiming for precision and efficiency. With no standard speed events on the schedule, every single turn carried immense weight, demanding unmatched concentration across blindfolded solving and move optimization. The single-day WCA competition provided an intense battleground where every decision shaped the final standings.

The 3x3x3 Multi-Blind event delivered one of the standout performances of the entire weekend. Rowe Hessler took first place with a remarkable result of 61 out of 66 cubes solved in a time of 58:29. Solving dozens of puzzles while blindfolded requires extraordinary memorization and stamina, and Hessler managed the massive attempt within the strict time cap. Gabriel Williams V earned second place by completing 12 out of 15 cubes in 31:21, while Caleb Lalik rounded out the podium in third place after securing 11 out of 13 cubes in 36:40.

Hessler continued his dominant run in the big blindfolded disciplines, capturing titles in both 4x4x4 Blindfolded and 5x5x5 Blindfolded. In the 4x4x4 Blindfolded round, Hessler posted a winning single time of 2:43.07, finishing ahead of Gabriel Williams V, who claimed second place with a mark of 3:58.65. The remaining finalists, Layne VanSiegel, Caleb Lalik, and Tyler Rose, each recorded a DNF in their third-place tie, highlighting the unforgiving margin for error inherent in high-order blind solving.

The 5x5x5 Blindfolded event proved equally demanding, with Hessler securing the top step of the podium with a single solve of 4:47.60. Gabriel Williams V finished in second place with a time of 6:54.66, and Caleb Lalik earned third place with a time of 12:45.00. Both big cube blindfolded categories tested the limits of recall and execution, where a single misplaced slice move can undo minutes of careful mental mapping, making Hessler's sweep across blind categories a major highlight of the tournament.

In the 3x3x3 Fewest Moves contest, Gabriel Williams V topped the field of 14 participants by delivering a winning average of 27.67 along with a best single of 27. Solvers spent their allocated time seeking the most efficient path to solve the classic Rubik's Cube, scrutinizing every scramble. Caleb Lalik followed in second place with a 36.00 average and a single of 35, while Tyler Rose achieved third place with a 43.00 average and a single of 40. The technical battle showed the depth of strategic planning present at PBQ at MSU 2024.

Beyond the top podium steps, several dedicated solvers achieved major milestones that the standard leaderboards often overlook. Stephen Narwold stepped up to tackle two events, delivering a clean 3 out of 3 result in 26:41 during his first ever attempt at 3x3x3 Multi-Blind, which earned him a 5th place finish, while also recording a 57 in his first ever attempt at 3x3x3 Fewest Moves. Jack Hamilton made significant progress in 3x3x3 Fewest Moves, recording a personal best of 34 moves that was 5.6 percent faster than his prior mark of 36 to finish 9th. Elijah Layne also took on 3x3x3 Fewest Moves for the first time, securing a 34 for a 9th place result.

Other competitors also made their mark across the four rounds in East Lansing. Jolyne Kraepel stepped onto the competition floor for the very first time in their speedcubing journey, finishing 14th in 3x3x3 Fewest Moves. Seth Rowell took on two events during the meet and earned a best finish of 5th place in 3x3x3 Fewest Moves. Blake Thompson entered the move-efficiency discipline and finished 6th with a best single of 26, while Owen Widdis placed 7th. Abdullah Gulab contested two events, capturing 7th place in 3x3x3 Multi-Blind, and Doug Li earned an 11th place finish in Fewest Moves.

The competitive action across the four events demonstrated the technical skill required in modern speed cubing, where mental discipline matches physical agility. United States competitors swept all 14 podium positions across the tournament, reflecting the strong regional talent present in Michigan. The unique slate offered a distinct change of pace from traditional 3x3 results, putting the spotlight entirely on extended focus and analytical problem-solving.

As the final attempts concluded at the MSU Union, PBQ at MSU 2024 wrapped up a memorable day of specialized cubing competition. Solvers pushed their limits against the clock and the scrambles, producing high-level marks across blindfolded and move-count events. The achievements set in East Lansing provide strong momentum for all 14 participants as they prepare for the next season of competition.