Singapore 50 and Counting 2024

At Singapore 50 and Counting 2024, the defining story was the sheer power of steadiness over isolated flashes of speed. Tee Kai Yang captured the premier 3x3x3 Cube crown with a disciplined 6.52 winning average across four rounds, overcoming a field of 141 competitors. While single solves can capture headlines, it was Tee Kai Yang whose sustained precision earned the top step, pairing his 5.93 best single with uninterrupted consistency to lead the 3x3 results on June 8, 2024.

Held at the Lifelong Learning Institute in Singapore, Singapore, the competition welcomed 144 competitors across five distinct disciplines and 13 rounds of action. The gathering served as a prime showcase for modern speedcubing in the region, bringing together competitors from across Southeast Asia and beyond in 2024. In every discipline, navigating the pressure of multiple rounds proved far more critical than chasing a single lucky attempt.

In the 3x3x3 Cube final, Tee Kai Yang finished ahead of Shuda Huang, who recorded a 6.90 average to take second place, while Deng Zhengping secured third for Singapore with a 6.97 mark. Tee Kai Yang also doubled his gold medal haul in the 3x3x3 One-Handed event. Across two rounds featuring 60 competitors, he posted a winning average of 10.60 along with a best single of 8.38 to finish ahead of Reuel Franz Ramirez Magracia at 11.79 and Hoo Jun Hao at 12.04.

The 2x2x2 Cube event delivered extraordinary drama across three rounds of play. Nigel Phang claimed the championship with a winning average of 1.34 and a best single of 0.63, outlasting Ziyu Ye who took second with 1.56 and Shuda Huang in third with 1.91. Phang set a national record single of 0.59 for Singapore during the event, while Reuel Franz Ramirez Magracia also registered a national record single for the Philippines with an electric 0.94 solve.

Beyond the podium battles, significant milestones unfolded across the tables at this WCA competition. Luei En Yi took on three events, achieving an 11th-place finish in 3x3x3 Cube, recording a first ever attempt at 3x3x3 One-Handed with 13.79, and lowering their 2x2x2 Cube personal best to 1.25, which was 71 percent faster than their previous mark of 4.31. Jaden Long Xiang Tan entered four disciplines, tackling a first ever attempt at Skewb in 14.00, improving their Pyraminx personal best by 48.4 percent to 6.84, and posting a 3x3x3 Cube personal best of 17.86. Raphael Lok Jun Yi notched a Pyraminx personal best of 7.12, cutting 56.9 percent off their previous time.

The personal breakthroughs continued across the roster throughout the cubing competition. Don Keh Li Yang logged a first ever attempt at Pyraminx in 11.36 and improved their 2x2x2 Cube personal best to 2.80, a 59.4 percent drop from 6.89. Elliot Lau took on three events, completing a first ever attempt at Skewb in 8.00 and cutting their 2x2x2 Cube personal best by 57.1 percent down to 2.90. Xavier Bek entered five events, logging a first ever attempt at 3x3x3 One-Handed in 31.82 and lowering their 2x2x2 Cube mark to 1.21. Noah Eliott Cheng posted a first ever attempt at 2x2x2 Cube in 5.60 and improved their 3x3x3 Cube time to 21.59, while Josephine Therese Santoso made a first ever attempt at Pyraminx in 10.15 and improved their 2x2x2 Cube personal best by 39.7 percent to 4.88.

In the Pyraminx division, Shuda Huang secured the title with a composed 3.11 winning average and a 2.79 best single among 70 entrants. Ziyu Ye claimed the silver medal with a 3.51 average, while Tristan Chua Yong earned bronze with a 3.57. The event underscored how handling mechanical speed cubing puzzles requires total focus under competition conditions, where turning stability consistently outperforms reckless pace.

The Skewb contest saw Nigel Phang secure his second tournament victory. Phang achieved a winning average of 2.93 and a 2.44 single to top the 52-player field. Ziyu Ye followed closely in second place with a 3.01 average, while Tristan Chua Yong rounded out the podium with a 4.08 average. Across the day, Singapore and China captured six podium positions each, with Malaysia claiming two and the Philippines taking one.

From classic Rubik's Cube solving to rapid side events, Singapore 50 and Counting 2024 proved that sustained composure is the true standard of excellence on the competition floor. As the 144 solvers completed their 13 rounds of play, the tournament demonstrated the balance of skill and mental endurance required to reach the top ranks as the competitive community looks ahead to the next season.