SacQuiet Spring 2024

Graham Siggins delivered an extraordinary blindfolded display in North Highlands, California, USA, solving 53 out of 64 cubes in 1:00:02 during 3x3x3 Multi-Blind to establish the defining performance of the weekend. That massive tally anchored a three-event sweep across the blindfolded disciplines on May 19, 2024. The single-day WCA competition brought together 16 competitors at a private venue to test their memory, spatial reasoning, and efficiency across four distinct rounds on the official calendar.

The specialised schedule at SacQuiet Spring 2024 rewarded extreme focus rather than raw turning speed. Alongside the memory events, 3x3x3 Fewest Moves delivered high-calibre results on the classic Rubik's Cube. Calvin Nielson set the pace for the event by delivering a winning single of 22 moves and securing the top overall average of 24.67. The performance proved untouchable across the 14-competitor field, where every rotation counted toward the final standings.

The 3x3 results in Fewest Moves saw Michael Larsen claim the runner-up position with a 36.67 average and a best single of 34 moves. Nico Harper secured third place with a 37.67 average and a 33-move single. Behind them, several competitors logged notable personal bests and single-attempt benchmarks, including Graham Siggins with a 33 single and 39.00 average, Jason Ostdiek with a 37 single and 40.67 average, and Chris Martin with a 46 single and 49.00 average. Sub-35 singles were also logged by Abhimanyu Singhal at 30, Dan Pastushkov at 33, David Karalli at 34, and Jacob Marinas at 34.

Siggins extended his dominance to the larger blindfolded puzzles, capturing first place in 4x4x4 Blindfolded with a single of 2:17.52. Michael Larsen took second place with a successful completion in 13:28.00. The grueling discipline tested the entire ten-person field, leaving all eight other competitors, including Jason Ostdiek, David Karalli, Mason Wong, Jacob Marinas, Jeremy Benik, Nico Harper, Abhimanyu Singhal, and Emmett O'Leary-Liu, tied for third place with uncompleted DNF results.

In 5x5x5 Blindfolded, Siggins completed his sweep by posting a winning single of 3:51.69 in an event where complex piece tracing demands total concentration. Jeremy Benik earned second place with a time of 23:29.00, while Michael Larsen completed the podium in third place with 26:36.00 across seven registered contenders. Combined with his multi-cube achievement, Siggins demonstrated exceptional consistency across all three memory-intensive formats held during the 2024 tournament.

Away from the top steps of the podium, several experienced speedcubing veterans added meaningful milestones to their careers at SacQuiet Spring 2024. Denis Reimer took on two separate events on the day, securing a best finish of 6th place in 3x3x3 Multi-Blind. Goodwin Liu concentrated his efforts entirely on memory solving, also finishing 6th in 3x3x3 Multi-Blind in his sole appearance at the gathering. Their dedication to the quiet events highlighted the deep technical commitment present throughout the California field.

In the analysis-driven Fewest Moves circle, long-time community fixtures demonstrated their depth of technique. Chris Martin entered the event to earn a 6th place finish among 14 participants. Dan Pastushkov took on the same analytical challenge, achieving an 8th place finish on the official scorecard. Lucas Aubin also focused solely on the efficiency discipline, securing a 12th place finish to round out an impressive group of enduring speed cubing competitors who continue to test themselves across varied formats.

The multi-cube discipline concluded with podium finishes behind Siggins, as Abhimanyu Singhal achieved a flawless 6 out of 6 cubes solved in 48:12 to claim second place. Jeremy Benik secured third place with 6 out of 7 cubes resolved in 37:00, outpacing a twelve-competitor roster. Together with Larsen and Harper, these solvers highlighted the precision required when sight is entirely removed from the equation.

All 19 podium positions awarded across the four disciplines went to United States representatives. From Nielson's surgical 22-move solve to Siggins's mastery of the blindfolded categories, SacQuiet Spring 2024 demonstrated the technical depth of the regional scene. As the competitive season advances, the benchmarks registered in North Highlands stand as a testament to the discipline, memorisation, and patience inherent in top-tier cubing competition.