Shonan PM 2024

Ao Nogami delivered a masterclass at the table, claiming the premier title with a blistering 7.24 winning average and an event-best 6.39 single. The standout performance set the benchmark at Shonan PM 2024, an action-packed gathering held on December 7, 2024, at Eye-Cross Shonan in Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan. With 77 competitors assembling for the focused two-event schedule, the tournament provided an intense stage for rapid solving and personal milestones.

The single-round format in the classic 3x3x3 Rubik's Cube brought immense pressure, where every solve counted directly toward the final standings. Ao Nogami maintained complete composure across five attempts, locking down top spot with the fastest average of the day. Takuya Kurokawa secured second place with an impressive 8.04 average and a 7.08 single, while Damir Zhanataev of Kazakhstan took third on the podium with an 8.52 average, backed by a quick 6.98 single in the 3x3 results.

The 3x3x3 Cube event featured a packed field of 76 solvers who pushed the pace from the opening solves. Eita Himeno turned in an 8.65 average featuring a 7.77 single to claim fourth place, closely followed by Shunsuke Komoda with an 8.81 average and an 8.27 single. Mitsuki Gunji finished next with an 8.86 average alongside a 7.80 single, while Kotaro Yoshida represented Cambodia with an 8.87 average and a rapid 6.45 single. Masaya Nakamoto posted an 8.89 average with a 6.81 single, Shu Ogawa achieved an 8.97 average with an 8.47 single, and Toshiya Sato recorded a 9.15 average with an 8.13 single.

One-handed solving provided the second main focus of the cubing competition, drawing 45 competitors to the single-round showdown. Yusuke Koakutsu took victory in the 3x3x3 One-Handed event, securing the gold with an average of 11.73 and a sharp best single of 10.99. Takumi Kato captured the runner-up position with a 12.55 average, while Masaya Nakamoto earned a place on the podium with a 12.64 average, marking his second standout performance of the afternoon.

Beyond the top podium steps, this WCA competition saw dramatic personal breakthroughs that defined the afternoon. Yo Osawa achieved the largest relative leap of the day, recording a personal best of 17.18 in the 3x3x3 Cube to finish 66th, an improvement of 70.5 percent over a previous mark of 58.16. Theo Lee also shattered previous benchmarks in the 3x3x3 Cube, posting a personal best of 22.29 for a 65th-place finish, improving 56.3 percent from a previous best of 51.05. Mitsuki Fujii took on two events, setting a 3x3x3 personal best of 11.40, a 15.9 percent cut from 13.55, alongside a first ever attempt at 3x3x3 One-Handed with an average of 36.42 to finish 39th. Kyan Roerdink contested both events as well, posting an initial one-handed mark of 21.42 for 27th place and lowering his 3x3x3 personal best by 13.2 percent to 10.75.

The depth of progress continued across the venue as several more competitors tested their speed cubing abilities in new categories. Yamato Sugita took on two events, achieving a best finish of 22nd in the 3x3x3 Cube with a personal best of 10.04 and logging a first ever attempt at 3x3x3 One-Handed with an 18.28 average. Kyohei Nakano entered both events, recording a 3x3x3 personal best of 25.93 and completing an initial one-handed attempt with a 1:12.45 average for 43rd place. Daiki Nishii registered a first official one-handed average of 21.98 to place 31st across his two events, while Toshio Hoshino added a first one-handed mark of 37.89 to place 40th during his two-event campaign at Shonan PM 2024.

Across the two podiums, competitors representing Japan collected five of the six available positions, alongside one podium finish earned by Kazakhstan. The compact format of Shonan PM 2024 allowed solvers to channel all their focus into two specific disciplines, generating sharp single-round showdowns from start to finish. The mix of elite averages at the top and massive personal strides throughout the rankings highlighted the strength of regional speedcubing.

As the final timers stopped in Fujisawa, the competition concluded a memorable day of racing in the 2024 calendar. From Ao Nogami setting the standard in the main event to Yusuke Koakutsu mastering one-handed execution, the event delivered top-tier results and rewarding milestones for every participant. The stage is set for these competitors to carry their sharp form into future challenges in the seasons ahead.

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）は、冷え込む冬の空気を忘れさせるほどの熱気とタイマーの打鍵音に包まれていました。2024年12月7日、Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japanにて開催されたShonan PM 2024には、77名の選手が集結しました。競技エリアではルービックキューブの回転音が絶え間なく響き、次世代を担う若いスピードキュービングの競技者たちが自身の限界に挑む姿が見られました。

今大会は2種目全2ラウンドという凝縮されたスケジュールで進行し、選手たちは集中力を研ぎ澄ませて各試技に臨みました。特に注目を集めたのは、若い選手たちの驚くべき成長速度です。公式戦への挑戦を重ねるごとに目覚ましい進化を遂げる彼らの指先は、会場の視線を釘付けにしました。

メイン種目となった3x3x3 Cubeでは、76名がエントリーする大激戦の中、Ao Nogami (野上碧)が圧巻のパフォーマンスを披露しました。単発6.39、平均7.24を記録して見事に優勝を飾りました。2位には平均8.04のTakuya Kurokawa (黒河拓也)、3位には平均8.52をマークしたカザフスタンのDamir Zhanataevが入りました。

3x3x3 Cubeの上位争いは非常にハイレベルで、Eita Himeno (姫野瑛太)が平均8.65、Shunsuke Komoda (古茂田俊介)が平均8.81、Mitsuki Gunji (郡司光貴)が平均8.86を記録しました。さらにKotaro Yoshidaが単発6.45と平均8.87、Masaya Nakamoto (中本誠也)が平均8.89、Shu Ogawa (小川柊)が平均8.97、Toshiya Sato (佐藤稔也)が平均9.15と、9秒前後の好記録が続出しました。

片手でキューブを操る3x3x3 One-Handedには45名が出場し、片手操作ならではの高度な技術が競われました。この種目を制したのはYusuke Koakutsu (小圷悠介)で、単発10.99、平均11.73という見事なタイムで頂点に立ちました。2位には平均12.55のTakumi Kato (加藤匠)、3位には平均12.64のMasaya Nakamoto (中本誠也)が続きました。

数字が並ぶ結果表の奥には、確かな成長を刻んだ選手たちの挑戦のドラマがありました。Mieko Isomoto (磯本美恵子)は3x3x3 One-Handedで自己ベストを23.1%短縮する1:17.58を記録し、Ayaka Koike (小池彩佳)も3x3x3 Cubeで22.1%短縮となる自己記録13.97をマークしました。Shuyang Chen (陈舒扬)は2種目に出場し、3x3x3 Cubeで19.4%短縮の10.02、片手部門で13.4%短縮の16.55と大幅な自己ベスト更新を達成して片手部門15位に入りました。Hiroki Katagiri (片桐浩貴)は3x3x3 Cubeへの初挑戦で12.75を記録し49位となりました。

また、今大会で記念すべきWCA大会初出場を果たした選手たちも堂々たる足跡を残しました。Anonymousは2種目に挑み、3x3x3 Cubeの初試技で8.54、片手部門でも初試技13.97を記録して片手部門14位に入りました。Haruto Kawabata (川端大翔)は3x3x3 Cubeで9.70をマークして21位となり、片手部門でも22.44を記録しました。Keigo Kato (加藤啓吾)は3x3x3 Cubeで23.43、片手部門で59.84を記録して42位となりました。Riyu Maeda (前田吏佑)も2種目に出場し、3x3x3 Cubeで16.76、片手部門で2:03.38を記録して45位で大会を終えました。

2024年の締めくくりとなるShonan PM 2024は、上位陣の鋭いスピードと初出場組のフレッシュな勢いが交錯する充実したキューブ大会となりました。藤沢の地で刻まれた数々の記録と自己ベストは、次のシーズンへ向けた大きなステップとなります。