ROC the Cube 2024

Inside the RIT Inn and Conference Center, the hall hummed with the rhythmic snapping of plastic layers and the sharp slap of hands hitting timing mats. Timers flashed green across multiple stations as eighty-three competitors prepared their puzzles for a full slate of speedcubing action. The single-day WCA competition brought together an eager gathering of talent, filling the venue with focused energy from the opening scramble to the final podium presentations.

Held on June 15, 2024, ROC the Cube 2024 in Henrietta, New York, USA delivered eleven intense rounds across five diverse events. Solvers represented a dynamic mix of experience, but the battle at the top quickly evolved into a showcase between American and Canadian talent. By the conclusion of the day, United States competitors claimed nine podium finishes, while Canadian contenders secured six, creating a balanced and fiercely contested medal table across every discipline.

Shaun Mack from the United States spearheaded the American showing with a dominant display, claiming three separate event victories. In the premier 3x3x3 Cube event, Mack led a field of eighty-two competitors across three rounds, securing the title with a 6.52 winning average and a best single solve of 5.40. Ryan Wu of Canada took second place with a 7.07 average, while Joey Saia of the United States rounded out the podium in third with an 8.21 mark, capping off exciting 3x3 results for the division.

The classic Rubik's Cube was not the only event where Mack set the standard. In Skewb, Mack captured top honours with a winning average of 2.90, supported by a 2.51 best single, leading an all-American podium ahead of Joey Saia in second at 4.04 and Evan Waters in third at 5.57. Mack also stood atop the podium in Square-1, recording an 8.54 average and a 6.66 single, finishing ahead of Zach Ridall of the United States with 9.15 and Ryan Wu of Canada with 12.57.

Canada found its golden moment on the big cube as Ryan Wu delivered an outstanding performance in the 4x4x4 Cube. Wu clinched victory among fifty-three competitors with a 28.83 winning average and a 26.48 best single. Mack finished in second place with a 33.95 average, while Nathan Glajch secured third place for Canada with a 38.44 mark. In the Clock event, Evan Liu took first place for the United States with a 5.34 winning average and a 4.66 single, edging out Glajch at 6.03 and Wu at 6.53.

Beyond the top podium steps, this cubing competition provided fertile ground for personal breakthroughs and ambitious debuts. Max Stanton took on four events, achieving a 7.32 Skewb personal best that was 72.3 percent faster than before, alongside a first Clock attempt of 20.26 and a first 4x4x4 Cube attempt of 2:32.56. Rowan Steele tackled all five events on the schedule, registering a first Clock attempt of 21.44, a first Square-1 attempt of 47.48, and a first Skewb solve of 9.66. Conrad Kennedy also took on five events, completing a first 4x4x4 Cube attempt in 3:16.50 and a first Skewb solve of 20.95. Nicholas Spies logged a first Skewb attempt of 12.19 and a first Clock mark of 12.86 across five events.

Other competitors similarly redefined their personal benchmarks throughout the speed cubing programme. Robert Kong entered four disciplines, dropping his Clock personal best by 57.5 percent down to 12.06 and improving his 3x3x3 Cube best by 20.3 percent to 13.64. Joshua Pawlowski posted a 13.70 personal best in 3x3x3 Cube, improving by 33.6 percent, while logging a first 4x4x4 Cube effort of 1:36.38. Colin Tobin contested five events, establishing a first Clock solve of 47.06 and a first Square-1 attempt of 1:25.15. Samson Schaefer registered a 3x3x3 Cube best of 12.47, a 13.1 percent improvement, alongside a first Skewb mark of 10.11.

The depth of competition across the Henrietta region highlighted the strength of both seasoned solvers and emerging talents. With fifteen total podium positions split between the United States and Canada, the event demonstrated how closely matched the neighbouring communities remain across varied puzzle formats. As the hardware was awarded and the tables were cleared, the accomplishments across all five disciplines left a memorable mark on the 2024 season.