Shonan AM 2024

A total of 77 competitors gathered on December 7, 2024, bringing energy and shared passion to the competition tables in Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan. Held at the アイクロス湘南 venue, the single-day gathering offered a focused lineup designed for swift pacing and maximum interaction among peers. Across two official rounds covering two essential puzzles, participants found plenty of time between their attempts to share techniques, inspect hardware, and catch up with fellow enthusiasts. The welcoming environment set an upbeat tone that carried throughout the entire morning.

Shonan AM 2024 delivered an exciting showcase of speedcubing talent, highlighting both the classic 3x3x3 puzzle and the rapid-fire 2x2x2 contest. With 72 competitors taking part in the main event, the venue buzzed with activity from the opening group. A cubing competition serves not only as a proving ground for podium contenders but also as a hub for friendships forged across solve stations and judging tables. The atmosphere in Fujisawa remained supportive and collaborative from the first solve to the final awards presentation.

In the marquee 3x3x3 Cube event, Kantaro Sakamoto captured first place with an impressive winning average of 7.31 seconds. Sakamoto demonstrated remarkable consistency across his solves, also securing the round best single of 6.88 seconds. Sho Ogata earned the second step on the podium with a solid average of 8.43 seconds, while Tomáš Nguyen of the Czech Republic took third place by averaging 8.56 seconds. The final 3x3 results reflected high quality across the board in this tightly contested single-round format.

The 2x2x2 Cube event brought sheer speed to the floor as 57 competitors tackled the smaller puzzle. Shuto Ueno emerged victorious after delivering a sharp 2.57-second average, anchored by a best single of 2.42 seconds. Tomáš Nguyen secured his second podium finish of the meet by taking second place with an average of 2.59 seconds, bolstered by a lightning-fast 1.79-second single. Yui Tomita completed the top three with an average of 2.70 seconds, featuring a best single of 2.11 seconds.

Beyond the podium battles, the heart of this WCA competition belonged to the competitors pushing their personal limits and reaching new milestones. Kai Zhang entered two events and achieved a 36.2 percent improvement on the 3x3x3 Cube with a personal best of 13.33 seconds, while also making a first official attempt at 2x2x2 Cube with an average of 5.55 seconds for a 29th-place finish. Hugo Tara took on both events, cutting his 3x3x3 Cube mark by 34.7 percent down to 10.34 seconds for a 27th-place finish and posting a first attempt of 6.59 seconds in 2x2x2 Cube. Yotaro Chiba improved his 3x3x3 Cube best by 20.1 percent to 35.38 seconds and recorded a 6.21-second mark in his debut 2x2x2 Cube effort, finishing 46th.

The progress continued across the scorecards as Ryosei Yamashita notched an 18.5 percent drop to a 16.51-second personal best in the main event alongside a first 2x2x2 Cube result of 4.29 seconds to take 34th place. Kazuhiko Kusano, competing in his 27th career tournament, improved his 3x3x3 Cube personal record by 14.6 percent to 19.45 seconds and logged a first 2x2x2 Cube average of 7.69 seconds for 51st place. Yuri Kobayashi lowered their 3x3x3 Cube record by 13.5 percent to 11.24 seconds, placing 23rd, while registering a 4.36-second mark in a 2x2x2 Cube debut. Kanata Yamada finished ninth in 3x3x3 Cube with a personal best of 7.23 seconds, an 8.4 percent cut, and turned in a first 2x2x2 Cube time of 3.51 seconds. Kenshin Asai also excelled in two events, cutting his 3x3x3 Cube time by 6.9 percent to 10.24 seconds for 15th place and delivering a first 2x2x2 Cube average of 4.41 seconds.

The international flavor of the day was clear on the podium tally, with Japan earning four top-three spots and the Czech Republic claiming two. Each Rubik's Cube turn and timer stop added to the collective momentum of the gathering, where experienced solvers and newer entrants shared tables without barrier. This blend of camaraderie and structured competition captured the distinct spirit that makes speed cubing gatherings memorable for everyone involved.

When the final stopwatches clicked shut, Shonan AM 2024 stood as a testament to the thriving community spirit in Fujisawa. The participants packed their puzzles with fresh personal milestones, celebrated victories, and renewed ties with fellow solvers. As the 2024 calendar winds down, the performances recorded here set an inspiring tone for the competitors as they look ahead to the next season of challenges and camaraderie.

77名の競技者が集結したShonan AM 2024は、2024年12月7日に神奈川県藤沢市のアイクロス湘南（神奈川県藤沢市辻堂神台2-2-1）で開催された。スピードキュービングの熱気にあふれる会場では、短時間で決着がつくスプリント種目を舞台に計2ラウンドのハイレベルな勝負が繰り広げられた。

花形種目である3x3x3 Cubeでは72名がエントリーし、ハイレベルな一発勝負が展開された。この大舞台を制したのはKantaro Sakamoto (坂本貫太郎)であり、単発6.88を記録するとともに平均7.31という見事な記録を叩き出して優勝を果たした。ルービックキューブの頂点を争う戦いで圧倒的な安定感を示した。

3x3x3 Cubeの表彰台争いも激しいものとなった。Sho Ogata (緒方昭)が平均8.43を記録して見事に2位に入り、3位にはチェコ共和国のTomáš Nguyenが平均8.56で続いた。上位陣が僅差で競り合う中、精密な指さばきと判断力が順位を分ける展開となった。

一方の2x2x2 Cubeには57名が出場し、電光石火のスピード勝負が繰り広げられた。この種目を制したのはShuto Ueno (上野柊斗)で、単発2.42、平均2.57という驚異的なタイムを記録した。2位のTomáš Nguyenが平均2.59、単発1.79で猛追し、わずか0.02秒差の激戦となった。3位には平均2.70のYui Tomita (富田唯依)が入った。

国別の表彰台獲得数では日本勢が4枠を占め、チェコ共和国が2枠を獲得して存在感を示した。上位争いだけでなく、各選手が自己ベストや記録の更新を目指して果敢に挑む姿が随所に見られたキューブ大会となった。

公式記録の数字の向こう側には、確かな成長と挑戦のドラマがある。山田稜成 (Ryosei Yamada)は2種目に出場し2x2x2 Cubeで初挑戦となる2.59を記録して8位に入り、3x3x3 Cubeでも13.23と従来の14.08から6パーセント短縮した。Ganesh Mithranは2x2x2 Cube初挑戦で3.79を出し、3x3x3 Cubeでは従来の13.74から10.2パーセント短縮する12.34を樹立。木谷峻 (Shun Kitani)は2x2x2 Cube初挑戦で4.41、3x3x3 Cubeで3パーセント短縮の11.17をマークし、侯广智 (Guangzhi Hou)も2x2x2 Cube初挑戦4.45と3x3x3 Cubeで3パーセント向上の11.64を記録した。

今大会がWCA大会デビュー戦となった選手たちも素晴らしい滑り出しを見せた。古城悟志 (Satoshi Kojo)は2x2x2 Cubeで4.40、3x3x3 Cubeで32.04を記録し、伊藤佑聖 (Yusei Ito)は3x3x3 Cubeで12.21、2x2x2 Cubeで6.16をマークして3x3x3 Cubeで31位となった。磯崎夏樹 (Natsuki Isozaki)は3x3x3 Cubeで22.80、2x2x2 Cubeで5.73を揃え、萩田理仁 (Rihito Hagita)は3x3x3 Cubeで36.21、2x2x2 Cubeで11.71の公式記録を残した。

スプリント種目に特化して熱戦が繰り広げられたShonan AM 2024は、選手一人ひとりの挑戦と躍進とともに幕を閉じた。Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japanの地で刻まれたタイムは、それぞれが次のシーズンへ向けて歩みを進めるための確かな道標となる。