Queensland Open 2024

Inside the bustling sports hall at Brisbane State High School, the weekend air carried the steady clatter of turning plastic, timer beeps, and focused concentration. Over three full days from June 28 to June 30, a massive field of 265 solvers gathered in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia to put their practice to the test. Across 15 events and 28 distinct rounds, every competitor faced the ticking clock, yet nowhere was the pressure heavier than in the demanding mean-of-3 formats where a single mistake instantly ends any hope of a solid overall standing.

In the large-cube disciplines, the mean-of-3 setup leaves zero margin for error. Unlike the standard average-of-five format where the fastest and slowest solves are discarded, all three attempts count directly toward the final score in 6x6x6 Cube and 7x7x7 Cube. One lockup, popped piece, or counting error ruins the entire trio. Hayden Ng (吳宇晞) mastered that knife-edge balance brilliantly, capturing first place in 6x6x6 Cube with a winning mean of 1:36.30 and taking the 7x7x7 Cube title with an average of 2:13.00, outlasting Liam Highducheck at 2:52.34 and Harrison Jonathan Newbery-Chunn at 3:00.39.

The blindfolded categories offered an even more dramatic display of high-risk solving where three attempts dictate success. In blindfold events, any uncompleted solve results in a Did Not Finish, making safe execution essential for an overall mean. Charlie Eggins dominated the discipline, claiming victory across all three blindfold events. Eggins secured the 3x3x3 Blindfolded crown with a rapid best single of 15.10 seconds ahead of Theodore Chan at 22.18 and Chenhao Sun (孙晨皓) at 36.16, while also taking top honours in 4x4x4 Blindfolded with a 1:23.00 single and 5x5x5 Blindfolded in 5:56.68.

The premier classic Rubik's Cube competition drew 259 entrants across four relentless stages of eliminations. New Zealand speedcubing standout Jasper Murray swept to the top of the 3x3 results, capturing the 3x3x3 Cube final with a crisp 6.59 winning average and a single of 5.72. Murray finished ahead of Charlie Eggins who secured second at 7.08 and Yibo Wang (王奕博) in third at 7.23. Murray also proved virtually unstoppable across multiple formats, winning 4x4x4 Cube with a 29.42 average, 5x5x5 Cube in 50.81, and Pyraminx with an exceptional 1.62 mark.

Short-puzzle action remained intensely competitive across every bracket. In 2x2x2 Cube, Jode Brewster took the title with an average of 1.80 seconds, narrowly edging out Ram Thakkar (राम ठक्कर) at 1.86 and Lachlan Adams-Romyn at 2.06. Brewster added a second gold in 3x3x3 One-Handed with a 10.30 average, besting Murray's 10.61 and Wang's 11.72. Meanwhile, Lachlan Adams-Romyn earned the Clock crown with a 3.34 average, Connor Theodore claimed Skewb in 3.69, Yibo Wang (王奕博) took Megaminx in 38.47, and Hayden Ng (吳宇晞) added Square-1 victory with 9.12.

Away from the top steps of the podium, Queensland Open 2024 provided the stage for numerous personal milestones and ambitious program expansions. Thomas Kuswadi entered 10 separate events, taking on his first ever official attempt at 3x3x3 Blindfolded with a 5:04.25 single, alongside his first attempts at 5x5x5 Cube in 2:03.25 and Megaminx in 1:28.21, ultimately placing 9th in blindfolded solving. Alessio Visca tackled an expansive 11-event schedule, recording a best finish of 43rd in 6x6x6 Cube with a 5:23.16 debut while registering first attempts in Square-1 at 48.25 and 5x5x5 Cube at 3:24.72.

Expanding into brand new events was a common theme throughout the weekend. Hudson Walker logged 8 events, registering debut times of 2:01.74 in 4x4x4 Cube, 3:45.49 in 5x5x5 Cube, and 1:24.00 in 3x3x3 One-Handed. Antonín Pařízek took on 8 disciplines, securing his first official marks in Skewb at 14.09, Square-1 at 59.88, and Clock at 19.22. Edward Lane completed 8 events with debut finishes in 4x4x4 Cube at 1:29.57 and 3x3x3 One-Handed at 48.76, while Henry Pascoe tackled 5 events with initial attempts in 4x4x4 Cube at 2:05.76 and Pyraminx at 13.81. Marcus Kerr recorded a 7.86 debut in Skewb across 6 events, and Liam Snowdon logged 5 events including a first 12.59 attempt in Pyraminx.

With 265 entrants navigating 28 rounds of high-pressure speed cubing, this WCA competition delivered world-class precision alongside dozens of individual breakthroughs. Australian competitors led the overall medal haul with 30 podium finishes, supported by podium appearances from China, New Zealand, Singapore, India, and Malaysia. As timers reset and scorecards closed in Brisbane for 2024, the tournament stood as a testament to the nerve required to execute when every single turn counts.