Reno Spring 2024

Inside Earl Wooster High School, the atmosphere carried the focused intensity of a high-stakes championship as competitors took their places on March 9, 2024. Table stations were readied, digital timers glowed, and judges stood on alert across 12 full rounds of action. With six official events packed into a single demanding day, every round offered an immediate test of nerves, skill, and precision under tournament pressure.

The 2024 gathering brought 46 competitors to Reno, Nevada, USA, drawing solvers ready to compete across puzzles ranging from handheld quick-turners to complex multi-layered challenges. As an official WCA competition, Reno Spring 2024 promised intense races where hundredths of a second separated podium hopefuls from the rest of the field, creating a charged atmosphere from the first scrambles onward.

The 3x3x3 Cube final provided the day with its most dramatic showdown. Across three tightly contested rounds among 45 competitors, Ruby Lu captured the title with a tournament-winning average of 8.75 seconds, backed by a best single of 8.37. The top of the 3x3 results table was settled by microscopic margins, as Paul Mahvi took second place with an 8.77 average, just two hundredths of a second behind Lu. Mason Langenderfer secured third with an 8.92 average to complete a remarkable three-way battle for the classic Rubik's Cube crown.

Lu was not done leaving a mark on the tournament ledger. In the Megaminx division, Lu powered through two rounds against 28 competitors to take another gold medal, posting a winning average of 55.60 seconds alongside a single of 53.51. Mason Langenderfer claimed the silver spot on the Megaminx podium with a 1:00.62 average, while Paul Mahvi locked in the bronze with a time of 1:04.92.

The 2x2x2 Cube final mirrored the razor-thin margins of the day, featuring 44 competitors across two rounds. Kenji Gipson-Nahman claimed the championship victory with an average of 2.69 seconds and a standout single of 1.32. Sebastian Stone pushed the pace all the way to the end, taking second place with an average of 2.70 seconds, just one hundredth behind the winner. Jaidon Poraminthara Lin followed closely to claim third place on the podium with an average of 2.93 seconds.

Beyond the fight for titles, the cubing competition saw standout milestones throughout the field. Lukas Gubista took on six events and achieved a massive Skewb personal best of 6.21 seconds, which was 62.4 percent faster than their previous mark, alongside an 8.94 Clock personal best that cut 35.7 percent off their prior best. Samuel Martin tackled six events and logged a 2.80 Skewb personal best, improving by 57.2 percent, in addition to personal bests in 3x3x3 Cube at 9.46 and Megaminx at 1:29.50. Brayden Hanrion delivered a 2x2x2 Cube personal best of 1.23, cutting their prior mark by 44.1 percent, along with a 2.60 Skewb personal best. Victoria Nguyen registered a 6.83 personal best in 2x2x2 Cube, an improvement of 36.7 percent, and completed a first ever attempt at Clock with 39.41.

First-time event entries added further depth to the program. Mason Forster took on six events, recording a first ever attempt at Megaminx with 1:29.44, a first Skewb attempt of 8.36, and a first 5x5x5 Cube solve of 1:51.85 to earn a 20th-place finish. Jacob Kotik took on five events and placed 12th in 5x5x5 Cube with a debut 1:16.70, while also posting first attempts in Skewb at 8.41 and Megaminx at 1:44.33. Ahana Praveen contested six events, registering a first 5x5x5 Cube attempt of 2:22.31 and a 5.55 Skewb personal best. Wyatt Park took on four events, logging a first 2x2x2 Cube attempt of 5.59 and a debut Clock mark of 33.61.

Heavy puzzles and specialised mechanics expanded the day of speedcubing. In the 5x5x5 Cube, Paul Mahvi dominated the 31-competitor field with a winning average of 51.00 seconds and a single of 50.12. Michael Larsen took second in 1:06.19, with Jason Ostdiek claiming third in 1:12.22. In Clock, Evan Millsap secured victory with an average of 5.04 seconds and a single of 3.78, leading Mahvi in second at 7.10 and Taj Bressert in third at 7.46. Bressert then topped the Skewb final with an average of 3.79, ahead of Langenderfer at 3.89 and Mahvi at 4.46.

With United States competitors earning all 18 podium positions across the six disciplines, Reno Spring 2024 proved to be an exceptional showcase of speed cubing excellence in the Nevada region. From decisive triumphs on the main stage to hard-earned personal milestones across the auditorium, the competition demonstrated the standard of focus and speed required to excel in modern tournament play as participants look ahead to the next phase of the competitive season.