Perth Puzzle Party 2024

A razor-thin margin in the final round of the 3x3x3 Cube delivered a thrilling finish at Perth Puzzle Party 2024, where Lachlan Stephens held off relentless pressure on the final solve to secure first place. With 75 competitors converging on the South Perth Community Hall, the three-round main event reached a dramatic climax as Stephens closed out a winning average of 7.53 seconds, barely ahead of Joshua Hounslow's 7.82. The tension at the timing stations highlighted an intense day of Rubik's Cube action, with Stephens registering a best single of 6.54 seconds to cement his place atop the standings.

The one-day WCA competition on January 13, 2024, showcased three distinct disciplines across nine intense rounds in Perth, Western Australia, Australia. Across the board, Australian competitors swept every podium spot on offer during the gathering. In addition to Stephens and Hounslow, Jay Calter delivered a remarkable showing to take third place in the 3x3x3 Cube with an 8.75 average, ensuring the premier event remained fiercely contested until the final stops of the timer.

Beyond the main event, the Pyraminx competition provided another masterclass in quick turning. Joshua Hounslow took the top step on the podium with a decisive winning average of 3.29 seconds, highlighted by an event-best single of 2.07 seconds. Lucas Buckley pushed hard throughout the final round to secure second place with an average of 3.69 seconds, while Amy Smith rounded out the top three by posting an average of 4.62 seconds across the five-solve concluding round.

Amy Smith found her moment at the top of the podium in Skewb, claiming victory with a consistent winning average of 4.47 seconds and a best single of 3.95 seconds. The Skewb final was exceptionally tight, as Regan Roberts took second place with an average of 4.82 seconds, just edging Hounslow, who earned his third podium of the meet by taking third place with a 4.88 average. The close spread underscored the competitive depth present across the entire roster in every puzzle format.

Behind the battle for top honours, several competitors made substantial progress on their personal records throughout the event. Logan Jansma produced massive personal bests across three events, cutting his Pyraminx mark to 3.95 seconds, a 70.7 percent drop from 13.48, and lowering his Skewb best to 4.43 seconds, 60.3 percent faster than 11.17, on the way to a 7th-place finish in Pyraminx. Thomas Kong completed his first ever attempt at Pyraminx in 10.39 seconds and improved his Skewb best to 7.63 seconds, a 67.8 percent reduction from 23.66. Xavier Nielsen logged his first attempts in Pyraminx at 9.72 seconds and Skewb at 9.06 seconds while taking his 3x3x3 Cube best down by 37.3 percent to 27.22 seconds.

The depth of progress at Perth Puzzle Party 2024 was further reflected in the achievements of Brooklyn Williams, who posted a first Skewb solve of 17.05 seconds, a first Pyraminx solve of 9.70 seconds, and a 22.6 percent cut to his 3x3x3 Cube personal best with 28.52 seconds. Burhan Ashraf trimmed his 3x3x3 Cube personal best to 43.44 seconds, which was 38.6 percent faster than his previous mark of 1:10.70, while attempting Pyraminx for the first time with 13.03 seconds. Nicholas Wei Tung Ku carved 64.5 percent off his 3x3x3 Cube personal best down to 19.06 seconds. First-time competitors also made their mark, with Jacob Drum recording a first 3x3x3 Cube result of 15.96 seconds and a first Skewb solve of 10.31 seconds, while Daniel Chok logged his maiden attempts with 10.51 seconds in Pyraminx and 32.64 seconds in 3x3x3 Cube.

The 3x3 results from this cubing competition also featured significant personal milestone times from top performers. Jay Calter registered an individual single of 7.65 seconds alongside an 8.36 average, while Stephens delivered an impressive 6.35 single and an 8.48 average earlier in the rounds. Hounslow also clocked a 6.85 single and an 8.69 average. Aaron Espiritu broke through with a 7.74 single and 9.89 average, Charlie van Ooran recorded an 8.42 single and 10.03 average, and Amy Smith turned in an 8.16 single and 10.48 average.

Additional notable single and average combinations included Oliver Wright with a 9.12 single and 10.80 average, Regan Roberts recording a 10.65 single and 11.14 average, Zak Kenny posting an 8.42 single and 11.16 average, and Eshiel Benzion Narayanan securing a 10.78 single and 11.77 average. These results from the tournament floor highlighted the extensive preparation brought to South Perth.

By the time the final timers were packed away, the speed cubing showcase proved to be a resounding success for Western Australian solvers. Perth Puzzle Party 2024 demonstrated how rapid turning and composure under pressure continue to define competitive speedcubing at the highest levels, setting a high standard for future meets across the region.