Rhode Island Winter 2024

Brandon Nunez delivered the defining technical performance in Wakefield, Rhode Island, USA, conquering the 4x4x4 Cube with a blistering winning average of 27.92 seconds. The test of managing 96 colored stickers across outer layers and inner center pieces requires sustained endurance and finger dexterity, making Nunez the only competitor to average sub-28 across two demanding rounds. His best single mark of 23.80 seconds set the pace early and kept him clear of runner-up Jonah Crosby, who posted an average of 28.65, and third-place Timothy Yang, who finished at 35.39.

The one-day WCA competition brought 73 competitors together at the Wakefield Elks Lodge on January 21, 2024. Across 12 rounds spanning six varied disciplines, the speedcubing gathering showcased both high-order puzzle execution and classical agility. Larger mechanisms demand a rare balance of patience, hardware handling, and pattern recognition, but the energy in Wakefield carried seamlessly from the 4x4x4 Cube to the traditional three-layered puzzle formats.

In the classic 3x3x3 Rubik's Cube, Timothy Yang claimed the title across three rounds with a sharp final winning average of 7.22 seconds. Yang secured the single best attempt of the weekend at 6.73 seconds, finishing ahead of Nunez, who placed second with a 7.85 average, and Elijah Rain Phelps, who secured third at 8.17. The 3x3 results demonstrated intense consistency among the 71 competitors who entered the main event.

Elijah Rain Phelps emerged as the most prolific victor of the competition, securing first-place finishes in three distinct events. Phelps claimed the Pyraminx crown with a 3.13 average, edging out Viktor Pearl at 3.34 and Jacob Schwartz at 3.66. Phelps then captured the 3x3x3 One-Handed title with a 13.80 average, narrowly denying Yang, who took second at 13.82, and Nunez, who secured third at 13.94. A third victory arrived in Clock, where Phelps recorded a 6.51 average ahead of Schwartz at 6.98.

Beyond the podium battles, under-the-radar competitors achieved major breakthroughs throughout Rhode Island Winter 2024. Onur Bak trimmed down their 3x3x3 One-Handed personal record to 25.74 seconds, an improvement of 54.6 percent over their previous best, alongside a 10.00-second 3x3x3 Cube solve. Badr Miraoui saw substantial progression in the 3x3x3 Cube, recording a personal best of 15.93 seconds that was 45.2 percent faster than before. Dean Zeppelin Hunter entered three events, marking a first attempt at the 4x4x4 Cube with a 1:44.68, a first Pyraminx solve of 10.00, and a 22.74 in the 3x3x3 Cube, shaving 40.9 percent off their prior benchmark. Maximilian Stohrer tackled four events, producing a 51.73 in their first 4x4x4 Cube attempt and cutting their 3x3x3 One-Handed best by 28.3 percent to 22.68.

Fresh milestones and debuts continued across the tables as competitors embraced new disciplines. Beckett Shia improved their Clock personal record by 26.4 percent to 10.61 while also completing a first 4x4x4 Cube solve in 1:15.29. Nathan O'Donnell recorded a 14.34 personal best in the 3x3x3 Cube, an improvement of 24.1 percent, and added their first official attempts in the 4x4x4 Cube and Pyraminx. Hudson Hassan took on five events, improving their 3x3x3 One-Handed time by 20.6 percent to 22.69 and setting a 53.13 personal best on the 4x4x4 Cube. In his first WCA competition, Ryan Lavigne entered five events, earning a sixth-place finish in Pyraminx and making initial attempts in Clock, 3x3x3 One-Handed, and the 4x4x4 Cube with a 35.30.

The 3x3x3 Blindfolded division tested memory and execution without sight, challenging solvers to memorize all piece positions before donning a blindfold. Patrick Collins won the event with a single time of 40.89 seconds, leading the 14-person field. Will Russo claimed second place with a solve of 53.52 seconds, and Daniel Winterberg rounded out the top three with a time of 1:49.82.

Every podium position across the six events was claimed by United States competitors, closing out Rhode Island Winter 2024 on a high note. The speed cubing community demonstrated remarkable range, moving smoothly from the physical stamina of larger puzzles to the intense focus of blindfolded solving and the quick turns of sprint events, setting a strong standard for the year ahead.