Singapore NxNxN 2024

Three big-cube titles defined an extraordinary display of consistency at the Cecil Building on December 15, 2024. Malaysian competitor Lim Hung swept the largest puzzles on the schedule, capturing top honors in the 5x5x5 Cube, 6x6x6 Cube, and 7x7x7 Cube. His triple triumph anchored Singapore NxNxN 2024, a single-day gathering in Singapore, Singapore that brought together 63 competitors across 11 rounds of high-level speedcubing. By controlling the entire upper range of cubic puzzles, Lim turned the event into a showcase of stamina and efficiency.

Lim established his authority early in the big-cube brackets. In the 5x5x5 Cube, he logged a winning average of 44.06 seconds alongside a best single of 39.04 seconds, outpacing Anyu Zhang of China, who finished second with a 47.88 average, and Singapore's Tristan Chua Yong, who took third with a 53.65 mark. Lim carried that momentum straight into the 6x6x6 Cube final, taking victory with an average of 1:18.76 and a single of 1:15.50. Anyu Zhang secured another runner-up finish with 1:22.99, while Carmen Teo Bin Jie claimed third for Singapore in 1:39.12.

The marathon 7x7x7 Cube final produced the closest showdown of Lim's campaign. Facing Anyu Zhang once again, Lim assembled a winning average of 1:55.78 to hold off Zhang's 1:56.92 by just over a single second, highlighted by a sharp 1:47.96 single solve. Carmen Teo Bin Jie joined them on the podium once more, clocking 2:21.52 for third place. The victory cemented a flawless sweep across the three largest formats of the cubing competition, leaving Lim as the undisputed ruler of the complex puzzles.

While Lim dominated the extended solves, Tee Kai Yang took command of the shorter events. In the classic Rubik's Cube division, Tee outpaced a field of 60 competitors through three tense rounds. Tee secured the title with a 7.18 winning average and a 6.19 best single. Jovan Susanto pushed him to the wire, earning second place for Singapore with a 7.23 average, while compatriot Ng Yong Teng took third in 7.58. The tight 3x3 results proved to be among the most fiercely contested sequences of the entire weekend.

Tee followed his classic puzzle triumph with another clinical showing in the 4x4x4 Cube. Navigating two rounds against 41 competitors, Tee posted a winning average of 26.64 seconds and a fast single of 20.76. Ng Yong Teng took the second step of the podium in 27.40, while Ng Jia Quan finished third with 27.77. In the memory division, Theodore Chan claimed the 3x3x3 Blindfolded crown for Singapore, averaging 20.19 seconds and logging a 19.21 single. Ng Jia Quan took second place in 24.52, ahead of Andrew Tan Jing Bang in 36.42.

Beyond the championship battles, Singapore NxNxN 2024 provided a platform for substantial personal breakthroughs. Caelan Wang Ci Le delivered massive drops, recording a 4x4x4 Cube personal best of 55.73 seconds, which was 37 percent faster than his previous mark, alongside a 3x3x3 Cube personal best of 14.08 seconds that improved his record by 24 percent. Chua Hao Xiang entered three events, taking on his first ever attempt at the 5x5x5 Cube with a 2:36.98 while slicing 27 percent off his 4x4x4 Cube mark to finish in 1:11.40. Don Keh Li Yang tackled three categories, earning a 3x3x3 Cube best of 12.81 seconds, 22.6 percent faster than before, and dropping his 5x5x5 Cube mark to 2:14.16.

The depth of progress across the Cecil Building floor was evident in every event. Zeng Xianwen Austin entered four disciplines, tackling his first ever attempt at the 5x5x5 Cube in 3:42.86 while taking 19.8 percent off his 3x3x3 Blindfolded time to reach 6:52.74. Giorgio Lau Guan Xing made his first ever attempt at the 4x4x4 Cube in 1:17.10 and improved his 3x3x3 Cube personal best by 18.6 percent with a 13.93 single. Keira Leng Sok Kei took on five events, earning a best finish of 11th in the 7x7x7 Cube with a personal best of 4:17.43, which was 17.5 percent faster than her prior mark. Tan Zi Loong recorded his first ever attempt at the 4x4x4 Cube in 1:24.08, while Jerome Lee Jin Wen entered five events, claiming his first ever attempt at the 7x7x7 Cube in 3:34.31 and earning 10th place.

Debutants also made their mark as speed cubing enthusiasts stepped onto the official stage for the first time. Cayan Ong Kai En completed his first WCA competition by logging times in two events, including a 13.71 single in the 3x3x3 Cube. Jakrin Williams of the USA and Singapore's Kieran Leng Dong Yew and Loh Yi Wei Anson each posted their maiden 3x3x3 Cube singles, with Loh turning in a swift 13.36 solve on debut. Across the board, Singapore led the medal count with 8 podium finishes, followed by Malaysia with 7 and China with 3.

The comprehensive schedule highlighted the full breadth of the NxNxN family, testing competitors from the quick precision of 3x3x3 speedcubing to the endurance required for 7x7x7 marathons. With Lim Hung sweeping the big cubes and Tee Kai Yang securing the shorter formats, Singapore NxNxN 2024 concluded as a masterful demonstration of technical execution, setting a high standard as competitors look forward to the next season of play.