Please Be Qualified Ireland 2024

Inside the function rooms of the Abbey Court Hotel Nenagh, the steady rhythm of twisting plastic and clicking timers echoed across two packed days of action. A total of 76 competitors gathered on May 18 and 19 for a demanding weekend of speedcubing across 13 distinct disciplines and 21 separate rounds. The atmosphere throughout the venue was defined by intense focus as participants tackled everything from the classic Rubik's Cube to intricate polyhedral puzzles, testing their preparation against the clock.

The primary story across the competition tables was one of personal progression, with solvers across every skill level making major leaps forward. This cubing competition delivered rapid progress, as both seasoned finalists and rising contenders saw their previous benchmarks tumble. Across 2024, the standard of play in Nenagh, Ireland has continued to climb, and Please Be Qualified Ireland 2024 served as a prime showcase for athletes looking to lower their averages and secure breakthrough times in high-stakes tournament conditions.

In the spotlight event, the 3x3 results culminated in an exciting three-round contest among 73 competitors. CJ Furey took the title on the 3x3x3 Cube with a winning average of 7.86 seconds, complemented by a tournament best single of 6.64. The final round proved extraordinarily tight, as Enda Loftus matched the pace with an 8.63 average and a 7.97 single, while Onome Brownly-Otiede delivered a blazing 6.66 single alongside a 10.49 average. Namuun Natsagdorj also stayed in the sub-ten mix with a 9.50 average.

Away from the main podium battles, the open rounds saw remarkable leaps from competitors chasing substantial personal drops. Mairéad Togher produced one of the sharpest improvements of the weekend, cutting her Clock personal best to 31.39 seconds, an improvement of 64.6 percent. Tadhg Beckett dropped his 3x3x3 One-Handed mark by 54.5 percent to 25.60 seconds, while also taking on his first ever attempt at Square-1 with a 54.88. In Clock, Said Shytaj took 40 percent off his personal best to finish in 16.58 seconds, and Diarmuid O'Donovan shaved 37.3 percent from his one-handed mark with a 45.64.

First attempts at demanding events highlighted the ambition across the field at this WCA competition. Peter Taylor achieved his first ever attempt at Clock with a 28.67 and lowered his Megaminx mark by 32.5 percent down to 2:10.28. Jonah O'Driscoll tackled his first 3x3x3 Fewest Moves attempt with 53 moves, while also dropping 21.5 percent in one-handed solving. Efrain Tharian cut his 6x6x6 Cube personal best by 28.3 percent down to 3:07.10, and Lee Dearn completed his first ever attempt at 3x3x3 Fewest Moves with 46 alongside first-time marks in both Megaminx and the 6x6x6 Cube.

The multi-layered schedule offered extensive variety for enthusiasts of larger cubes and specialty events. Vincenzo Maria Gammino captured a demanding double across the big cubes, winning the 6x6x6 Cube with a 2:06.43 average and the 7x7x7 Cube with a 3:01.05 average. Mikołaj Molski matched that multi-event dominance in the mid-size puzzles, securing victories in both the 4x4x4 Cube with a 38.41 average and the 5x5x5 Cube with a 1:14.68 mark.

Specialist solving delivered further standout moments, particularly in precision and memory events. In Clock, Jack Corr topped a field of 45 competitors with a 3.50 winning average, edging out Namuun Natsagdorj who finished second in 4.21. Michał Nikiel took top honours in 3x3x3 Fewest Moves with a 27.67 average, while Adam Bermingham claimed the Square-1 title with an 11.54 average, ahead of Rían Burke in 12.20. Onome Brownly-Otiede secured victory in 3x3x3 One-Handed with an impressive 13.04 average.

Blindfolded solving added its unique tension to the venue, demanding complete memorisation before competitors shielded their eyes. Adam Bermingham led the 3x3x3 Blindfolded field with a single of 55.69 seconds, while Enda Loftus took the 4x4x4 Blindfolded win with an 8:04.58 single to go along with a Megaminx victory in 45.30. Simon Kelly closed out the blindfolded roster by taking first in 5x5x5 Blindfolded with a 17:31.00 mark.

As the final timers stopped, Please Be Qualified Ireland 2024 left a lasting mark through its sheer breadth of personal milestones and competitive depth. Across thirteen events, Irish competitors collected 25 podium placements, supported by strong showings from international solvers representing Mongolia, Italy, and Poland. The weekend demonstrated the sustained growth of speed cubing in the region, offering every participant measurable progress to build upon as the competitive calendar moves forward into the season.