Salem Cubikon 2024

Charles Amarello delivered a masterclass in ergonomics and efficiency at the Derry-Salem Elks Club, capturing the 3x3x3 One-Handed title with a 14.99 winning average and a crisp 13.03 single. The discipline strips away two-handed grip comfort and demands flawless table friction, fingertip dexterity, and algorithm economy. Amarello edged out Levi Gibson, who posted a 15.15 average, while Benjamin Costantini claimed third place with 16.28 in a competitive 53-person field. That performance set an assertive tone for Salem Cubikon 2024, a lively one-day speedcubing meet held on June 9, 2024.

The gathering in Salem, New Hampshire, USA brought together 91 competitors across six events and 11 rounds of intense action. Enthusiasts from across New England filled the venue to test their skills at this premier WCA competition. Beyond the specialist events, the classic Rubik's Cube drew 88 entrants through three distinct stages of play. When the final 3x3 results were tallied, Curtis Chai stood on top of the podium with a 7.79 winning average, backed by a best single of 7.06. Derek White earned runner-up honours with 8.17, followed by Amarello in third at 8.23.

Chandler Pike emerged as the undisputed master of the larger puzzles during the 2024 meet. In the 4x4x4 Cube, Pike led a 58-person field with a commanding 32.93 winning average and a 31.40 best single, holding off Chai, who clocked 33.42 for second place, and Margot Audero in third at 37.79. Pike maintained that momentum into the 5x5x5 Cube, breaking the minute barrier to secure first place with a 58.72 average and a 54.06 single. Chai followed in second at 1:12.46, with White securing third place with a 1:16.91 average.

Short-format speed cubing offered its own brand of drama, highlighted by blistering times in the 2x2x2 Cube. Ethan Zhuang earned the gold medal with a dominant 1.55 winning average and a best single of 1.39 over two rounds. Gibson took second on the podium with a 1.90 mark, closely pursued by Quinn Maloney at 1.93. The Clock event produced equally sharp marks, as Brendan Lee secured the victory with a 4.53 winning average and a 3.76 single, while Maloney took second with 5.23 and Chai rounded out the podium spots at 5.48.

Beneath the top steps of the podium, several competitors achieved remarkable milestones across the schedule at Salem Cubikon 2024. Izzy Gava recorded the day's steepest cut, slicing 53.1 percent off a previous Clock mark to set a personal best of 26.61. Samuel Pike tackled six different events and achieved a 51.8 percent drop in Clock with a 13.20 personal best, alongside personal bests of 1:37.57 in 5x5x5 and 17.12 in 3x3x3 One-Handed. Adam Duarte slashed his 3x3x3 One-Handed best by 49.7 percent down to 27.00, while Ren Lockwood dropped 47 percent in Clock to finish in 11.12.

Substantial progress echoed throughout the venue as Jameson Severance improved by 45.6 percent in the 4x4x4 Cube with a 54.44 personal best while also completing a first ever attempt at 5x5x5 Cube in 2:09.92. Bennett David Walsh took on six disciplines, setting a 3x3x3 One-Handed personal best of 27.71, which was 34.5 percent faster than before, and logging a first ever attempt at Clock in 34.19. Hunter McKusick-Slama completed their first WCA competition by entering three events, including a 44th-place effort in 4x4x4 Cube with a 1:22.10 first attempt. Adam Richter entered six events, logging first attempts in Clock at 13.12 and 5x5x5 Cube at 2:12.38.

The 2x2x2 Cube preliminary rounds featured an avalanche of sub-two and sub-three second performances, underscoring the deep level of talent throughout the American field. Competitors such as Maloney, Zhuang, and Chai routinely stopped the timers in under two seconds during their early attempts, while Amarello, Gibson, and Audero kept pace with swift single solves. Every single podium placement across all six events belonged to representatives from the USA, showcasing regional depth across diverse disciplines from Clock to multi-layered puzzles.

With 11 complete rounds executed over the course of a single day, Salem Cubikon 2024 delivered a packed programme of classic twists and specialist formats. From Amarello's technical victory in one-handed solving to Pike's big cube sweep and Zhuang's sprint success, the weekend highlighted the versatility required in modern tournament play. As competitors leave the Derry-Salem Elks Club with lower personal bests and fresh round experience, the energy shifts naturally toward the training sessions that will shape the upcoming season.