Selangor Niche 2024

Three big-cube victories by Seung Hyuk Nahm defined the weekend as 30 competitors gathered at The Box Event Space for Selangor Niche 2024. The single-day WCA competition took place on April 21, 2024, in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia, delivering 12 packed rounds across four specialized disciplines. While standard 3x3 results often command the spotlight, this program placed heavy emphasis on big cubes and side events, testing stamina, precision, and hardware handling across each grueling stage of the tournament.

Seung Hyuk Nahm of Korea staged a masterclass in the big-cube categories, sweeping the top step in every layered puzzle on the schedule. Nahm opened his assault in the 5x5x5 Cube, where 30 competitors battled through three rounds. He captured the title with a winning average of 38.58 seconds alongside a best single of 37.40 seconds in the final round. Ivan Li Ka Leong from Hong Kong took the second position with an average of 46.20 seconds, while Malaysia's Lim Hung secured third place with 48.19 seconds.

The 6x6x6 Cube saw Seung Hyuk Nahm continue his flawless run through Petaling Jaya. Outlasting a field of 27 competitors across three demanding rounds, Nahm secured first place with an impressive winning average of 1:12.94 and a best single of 1:10.59. Lim Hung stepped up to the second spot on the podium for Malaysia with an average of 1:20.34, while Ivan Li Ka Leong claimed third place with an average of 1:21.15 in a tight duel for the silver.

Nahm completed his big-cube hat trick in the 7x7x7 Cube, besting 23 entrants across three full rounds of turning. In the final, Nahm delivered a commanding winning average of 1:51.25 and recorded a best single of 1:45.96 to seal the victory. Lim Hung earned his third podium finish of the meet by taking second place with an average of 1:53.07, while Anyu Zhang of China took third on the podium with an average of 2:00.04.

Beyond the massive layers of the large cubes, the Square-1 event offered a rapid change of pace for 21 participants. Andrew Tan Jing Bang of Singapore put together a clinical performance across three rounds to take the championship with a winning average of 9.88 seconds and a best single of 8.05 seconds. Aaron Ariff placed second for Malaysia with an average of 11.16 seconds, narrowly finishing ahead of Lim Hung, who collected his fourth medal of the day with an average of 11.45 seconds.

Away from the championship tier, several competitors achieved remarkable milestones on the competition floor. Charles Chong Wen Jian tackled four events, highlighted by a notable 31.5 percent drop in Square-1 to set a personal best of 17.46 seconds, alongside an 11th-place finish; he also shaved 28.4 percent off his 7x7x7 Cube mark to reach 3:55.43 and improved his 6x6x6 Cube time by 18 percent to 2:37.71. Janson Bi Jun Xiong registered three events, earning 12th place in 7x7x7 Cube with a first-ever attempt of 2:55.58, logging a debut 6x6x6 Cube result of 2:01.80, and cutting 26.5 percent off his 5x5x5 Cube best down to 1:08.28.

Wong Yoong Ho also made major strides across four events, slashing 24.7 percent off his 5x5x5 Cube mark to record 1:07.46 while posting debut official attempts in the 6x6x6 Cube at 2:37.87 and the 7x7x7 Cube at 4:03.87. Muhammad Fateh Akhir Bin Mohd Taib took on four events, completing his first official Square-1 attempt in 1:03.68 and improving his 7x7x7 Cube best by 13.5 percent to 4:52.41. Cayden Teo completed first-ever attempts in three events, posting 1:57.64 in 5x5x5 Cube, 1:02.99 in Square-1, and 3:50.05 in 6x6x6 Cube, while Enson Lau Yin Shing logged first-ever attempts in 6x6x6 Cube at 7:10.75 and 5x5x5 Cube at 3:20.19.

Across the entire cubing competition, the distribution of podium places showcased strong international depth, with Malaysia collecting five top-three finishes, Korea taking three, Hong Kong earning two, and Singapore and China capturing one each. The broad participation across big-cube formats demonstrated the enduring popularity of speed cubing in the region, drawing both seasoned specialists and rising talents to test their limits under tournament conditions.

The successful conclusion of Selangor Niche 2024 highlighted the technical skill and stamina required to excel at modern speedcubing, from the complex alignment of Square-1 to the mechanical endurance of the 7x7x7 Rubik's Cube. As the 2024 season progresses, the performances registered in Petaling Jaya establish high benchmarks for upcoming tournaments across Southeast Asia and the wider international community.

30 peserta telah berkumpul di Petaling Jaya, Malaysia bagi mengharungi saingan padat yang menguji ketahanan mental dan kepantasan jari. Berlangsung pada 21 April 2024 di The Box Event Space, kejohanan Selangor Niche 2024 hadir pada fasa pertengahan musim yang penting apabila para peserta mencari rentak terbaik bagi acara khusus. Penganjuran ini mengetengahkan 4 acara terpilih merangkumi sejumlah 12 pusingan, menyediakan pentas kompetitif yang sengit untuk peminat tegar kiub Rubik dan sukan speedcubing serantau.

Bintang Korea, Seung Hyuk Nahm, mempamerkan penguasaan luar biasa dalam kategori kiub besar dengan menyapu bersih ketiga-tiga kejuaraan yang disertainya. Dalam acara 5x5x5 Cube, beliau mengungguli 30 peserta menerusi purata kemenangan 38.58 saat serta catatan masa perseorangan terbaik 37.40 saat di pusingan akhir. Ivan Li Ka Leong dari Hong Kong menamatkan saingan di tempat kedua dengan purata 46.20 saat, manakala wakil tuan rumah Lim Hung menduduki tempat ketiga dengan purata 48.19 saat.

Penguasaan Seung Hyuk Nahm berterusan dalam acara 6x6x6 Cube yang membabitkan 27 peserta merentasi tiga pusingan. Beliau mencatatkan purata kemenangan 1:12.94 serta masa perseorangan terbaik 1:10.59 untuk dinobatkan selaku juara. Lim Hung terus mempamerkan ketekalan tinggi untuk meraih kedudukan kedua dengan purata 1:20.34, manakala Ivan Li Ka Leong melengkapkan kedudukan podium di tangga ketiga dengan purata 1:21.15.

Melengkapkan kejuaraan ketiga beliau, Seung Hyuk Nahm menguasai acara 7x7x7 Cube menewaskan 23 peserta lain melalui purata kemenangan 1:51.25 dan masa perseorangan terbaik 1:45.96. Lim Hung sekali lagi mengibarkan cabaran Malaysia dengan membawa pulang tempat kedua menerusi purata 1:53.07. Anyu Zhang dari China menduduki tempat ketiga dengan catatan purata 2:00.04 dalam saingan yang menuntut fokus serta stamina tinggi ini.

Bagi kategori bukan kiub besar, acara Square-1 menyaksikan saingan menarik membabitkan seramai 21 peserta. Wakil Singapura, Andrew Tan Jing Bang, berjaya merangkul gelaran juara menerusi purata kemenangan 9.88 saat bersama catatan perseorangan terbaik 8.05 saat. Aaron Ariff dari Malaysia menduduki tempat kedua dengan purata 11.16 saat, diekori rapat oleh Lim Hung yang mencatat purata 11.45 saat untuk menambah koleksi podium keempat peribadinya sepanjang hujung minggu tersebut.

Di sebalik perebutan takhta kejuaraan, Selangor Niche 2024 turut menyaksikan lonjakan prestasi cemerlang daripada peserta yang bekerja keras memperbaiki rekod peribadi. Adam Harits Bin Mohd Hairy menyertai 2 acara dan mencipta kemajuan luar biasa dalam 5x5x5 Cube dengan catatan terbaik 1:32.75, iaitu peningkatan 27.8 peratus lebih pantas berbanding rekod lamanya 2:08.48 di samping mencatat 20.86 saat dalam Square-1. Hishwararao Krishnamorthy pula menyertai 3 acara dan merakamkan masa 1:11.53 dalam 5x5x5 Cube yang 15.1 peratus lebih pantas daripada rekod 1:24.29, selain catatan 2:37.41 dalam 6x6x6 Cube iaitu 3 peratus lebih pantas serta merekodkan 4:21.96 dalam 7x7x7 Cube. Boying Li yang bersaing dalam 4 acara berjaya menduduki tempat ke-14 dalam 5x5x5 Cube dengan masa 1:09.80, memperbaiki rekod lamanya 1:18.75 sebanyak 11.4 peratus.

Kecemerlangan peribadi ini turut diteruskan oleh Wong Ming Liang yang menyertai 3 acara dan menamatkan saingan di tempat ke-8 dalam Square-1, sambil mencatatkan 2:57.30 dalam 6x6x6 Cube iaitu 10.4 peratus lebih pantas daripada 3:17.96 dan 1:11.05 dalam 5x5x5 Cube yang 7.3 peratus lebih laju daripada 1:16.64. Ng Si Xian mengambil bahagian dalam 3 acara dan mempertajam rekod 7x7x7 Cube miliknya kepada 3:34.53, mengatasi catatan lama 3:51.00 sebanyak 7.1 peratus. Bryan Gan Tze Yang turut cemerlang menyertai 4 acara dengan menamatkan saingan di tempat ke-6 dalam Square-1 dan merekodkan masa peribadi 1:02.62 dalam 5x5x5 Cube.

Secara keseluruhan, pungutan podium memperlihatkan penguasaan Malaysia dengan 5 tempat podium, diikuti Korea dengan 3 podium, Hong Kong dengan 2 podium, serta Singapura dan China masing-masing meraih 1 podium. Kejohanan cubing competition ini membuktikan kepelbagaian bakat serta daya saing tinggi para peserta di pentas serantau.

Penganjuran Selangor Niche 2024 yang tersusun rapi di Petaling Jaya ini melabuhkan tirainya dengan meninggalkan impak besar bagi kalendar pertandingan WCA competition tahun 2024. Setiap pusingan dan keputusan yang tercipta menjadi penanda aras penting untuk para peserta menilai kemajuan teknik masing-masing sebelum melangkah ke cabaran musim seterusnya.