Singapore Hougang Open 2024

Ng Yong Teng claimed top honors in the premier event at the Singapore Hougang Open 2024, securing the 3x3x3 Cube title with a decisive 7.38 winning average after putting up a best single of 5.66. Across three rounds of high-pressure solving, Ng held off international contenders to capture first place on the podium. The single-day tournament, held on July 20, 2024, at Hougang Primary School in Singapore, Singapore, brought together 62 competitors who contested 13 rounds across seven disciplines. With championship stakes hanging over every solve, the tournament delivered intense action across puzzles of all dimensions.

The 3x3 results confirmed a tightly contested final round at the WCA competition. Tee Kai Yang of Malaysia pressed the pace to claim the second step on the podium with a 7.79 average, while fellow Malaysian competitor Ng Jia Quan earned third place with a 7.97 mark. The classic Rubik's Cube division drew 60 entrants, testing consistency from the qualifying rounds down to the final solves. Ng Yong Teng navigated the deep field to keep the championship trophy on home soil.

In the 2x2x2 Cube event, Nigel Phang put on a blistering display of speedcubing precision. Phang secured the championship with a 1.18 winning average in the final round, highlighted by a 1.02 best single. His victory topped a 48-competitor roster across two rounds of action. Ng Jia Quan took second place on the podium with a 1.99 average, while Isaac Lai Yin Chung rounded out the top three by averaging 2.06 seconds.

The big cube events saw Emmanuel Kao build an exceptional weekend résumé. Kao captured two championship titles, starting with a dominant showing in the 5x5x5 Cube where he recorded a winning average of 47.76 and a best single of 42.28 across two rounds. China's Anyu Zhang followed closely behind in second with a 48.75 average, while Tristan Chua Yong finished third with a 48.79. In the 6x6x6 Cube, Kao secured another first-place finish with a 1:17.71 average, besting Anyu Zhang who took second at 1:20.39 and Chua Yong in third at 1:27.37.

Anyu Zhang found redemption in the 7x7x7 Cube final, capturing the title with an impressive winning average of 1:52.46 and a single solve of 1:43.62. Kao took the runner-up position with a 1:59.79 average, and Chua Yong claimed third with a 2:23.52 mark. Tristan Chua Yong went on to seize his own championship victory in Megaminx, navigating two rounds of the twelve-sided puzzle to post a winning average of 29.28. Isaac Lai Yin Chung took second in Megaminx with 33.80, and Beth Lee placed third with 36.01.

Beyond the championship podiums, the cubing competition saw remarkable individual breakthroughs across the tournament floor. Donald Larry Joanda posted substantial personal bests, cutting his 2x2x2 mark to 5.30 to shave 60.7 percent off his previous time, alongside a 3x3x3 best of 22.82 that was 42 percent faster. Advay Hari entered five events and lowered his 4x4x4 Cube personal best to 52.44, improving by 47 percent while also making his first career attempts in both Megaminx and 5x5x5 Cube. Luca Toh dropped his 2x2x2 best to 2.23, an improvement of 42.8 percent, while also improving in 4x4x4 Cube to 1:31.48 and Megaminx to 3:29.97. Bao Zixin took on four events at the Singapore Hougang Open 2024, lowering their 2x2x2 best to 10.18 for a 39.2 percent improvement and recording first-ever official attempts in 4x4x4 Cube and Megaminx.

First-time event entries highlighted the ambition throughout the field as solvers pushed into heavier puzzle formats. Keira Leng Sok Kei took on six events, securing 15th place in the 7x7x7 Cube with a first official time of 5:12.18, alongside debut marks in 4x4x4 Cube and 5x5x5 Cube. Xavier Bek tackled seven events on the schedule, earning 16th place in the 7x7x7 Cube at 5:33.71 while logging first attempts in the 5x5x5 and 6x6x6 formats. Seth Kok entered four events, setting debut times in 4x4x4 Cube, 5x5x5 Cube, and 6x6x6 Cube to finish 19th in the latter. Making their official speed cubing debut, Wong Qi Hao competed across four events, logging an initial 3x3x3 mark of 24.66 and establishing starting marks in 2x2x2 Cube and 5x5x5 Cube.

Mid-sized puzzle action concluded with Tee Kai Yang claiming the 4x4x4 Cube title for Malaysia. Tee topped a competitive 43-solver bracket across two rounds with a 25.99 winning average and a single of 23.16. Ng Jia Quan took second place with a 26.97 average, while Emmanuel Kao earned his third podium of the competition with a 28.44 mark for third. By the close of the Singapore Hougang Open 2024, Singapore competitors led the medal table with 13 total podium finishes, while Malaysia captured five and China took three, capping an intense day of championship racing.