Reno Side & Blind Summer 2024

Inside the competitive halls of the University of Nevada, Reno, a focused calm settled over the tables on June 1, 2024. Competitors adjusted their mats, inspected their puzzles under bright overhead lighting, and prepared for a demanding schedule that pushed specialized solving skills to the forefront. With championship-stakes intensity driving every round, 21 competitors from across the region gathered for a dedicated test of memory and dexterity in Reno, Nevada, USA.

The single-day schedule of Reno Side & Blind Summer 2024 packed 6 events and 9 rounds into a relentless test of focus. Unlike a standard cubing competition centered strictly around traditional 3x3 results, this specialized meet placed heavy emphasis on big cubes, unusual mechanisms, and blindfolded mastery. Every round demanded immediate precision, where a single lapse in execution during a long solve could derail an entire podium chase.

Paul Mahvi set an imposing standard across the larger layers, capturing two separate championship titles on the day. In the 5x5x5 Cube, Mahvi navigated two rounds of competition against 20 competitors, locking down the victory with an average of 53.67 seconds and a best single of 51.22. Michael Larsen took second place with an average of 1:06.98, while Jason Ostdiek secured third with 1:10.27. Mahvi followed up that dominance in the 7x7x7 Cube, posting a winning average of 2:23.91 and a single of 2:13.41 to finish ahead of Evan Millsap and Jaden Thompson.

The blindfolded events tested competitors on intricate memorization and flawless execution without visual cues. David Karalli (داود قراعلي) delivered a standout performance in 3x3x3 Blindfolded, posting a tournament-winning single time of 26.92 seconds across two rounds of play, finishing ahead of Jeremy Benik and Evan Millsap. Karalli also secured top honors in 5x5x5 Blindfolded, posting the only sub-ten-minute success with a winning mark of 9:56.83, where Benik claimed second place with a time of 22:28.00.

The complex demands of 4x4x4 Blindfolded saw Jason Ostdiek capture the title with a composed single of 7:38.12, outlasting Jeremy Benik and Evan Millsap in a field of 7 competitors. Meanwhile, fast-paced puzzle mastery was on display in Clock, where Sebastian Stone outpaced 20 competitors across two rounds to claim the title with a winning average of 5.81 seconds and a 5.09 single. Millsap followed in second at 6.47, while Benik earned third place averaging 7.09.

Beyond the championship podiums, the event highlighted massive personal milestones across the field. Brayden Scott tackled 3 events, recording a first ever attempt at 7x7x7 Cube with a mark of 6:57.98 while securing a 5x5x5 Cube personal best of 2:38.72 and a best finish of 13th in 7x7x7 Cube. Derek Cooley completed 2 events, delivering a first ever attempt at 5x5x5 Cube in 1:51.45 alongside a best finish of 5th in 3x3x3 Blindfolded. Tavia Jorjorian-Miller notched a Clock personal best of 11.74 seconds, improving 5.9 percent faster than a previous mark of 12.48. Thomas Đặng Hoàng Thịnh competed across 2 events, securing a Clock personal best of 9.64 seconds.

Other competitors delivered equally meaningful performances throughout the Reno Side & Blind Summer 2024 program. Ruby Lu (卢红) took on 3 events, logging a first ever attempt at Clock with a time of 24.17 seconds and securing a best finish of 5th in 5x5x5 Cube. Jacob Vincent Vicente Mangosing entered 4 events, establishing a 5x5x5 Cube personal best of 1:41.98 with a best finish of 14th in 7x7x7 Cube. TJ Kelly tackled 5 events, achieving a 5x5x5 Cube personal best of 1:37.56 and a best finish of 4th in 4x4x4 Blindfolded. Abhimanyu Singhal (अभिमन्यु सिंघल) competed in 2 events, posting personal bests of 1:32.38 in 5x5x5 Cube and 6.00 in Clock while placing 4th in the Clock final.

This speedcubing gathering in Nevada illustrated the deep technical skill required across modern speed cubing events. From Rubik's Cube blindfolded variants to large-cube calculations, every competitor at this WCA competition contributed to an intensely contested day of racing against the clock. As the tables cleared at the University of Nevada, Reno, the performances set a strong benchmark for the rest of the 2024 season.