Skowhegan Spookfest 2024

Twenty-four competitors gathered on November 2, 2024, as the late-season calendar turned to November in central Maine. Hosted at the Skowhegan Community Center in Skowhegan, Maine, USA, the single-day event delivered 11 rounds of action across six different events. Coming toward the close of the 2024 speedcubing campaign, Skowhegan Spookfest 2024 offered athletes an ideal stage to sharpen their tournament routines before the winter break, drawing a spirited field ready to push for fast marks across classic and specialty puzzles alike.

The premier 3x3x3 Cube event drew the full roster of 24 participants across three full rounds of head-to-head racing. Aidan McKenzie asserted control early and capped the tournament with a winning average of 7.45 seconds in the final, bolstered by a best single of 6.13 seconds. Derek White earned the runner-up spot on the podium with an average of 8.99 seconds, while Aedan Bryant completed the trio in third place with a 9.37 mark. The tight 3x3 results underscored the high standard present at this late-season WCA competition.

Big cube events belonged to Chandler Pike, who produced an impressive double victory. In the 4x4x4 Cube, Pike captured first place among 18 entrants with a winning average of 31.61 seconds and a tournament-best single of 28.91. McKenzie secured second on the podium with a 33.00 average, edging out Bryant who took third at 33.02. Pike continued that sharp form in the 5x5x5 Cube, clinching the title with an average of 54.86 seconds and a fast single of 52.78, finishing ahead of Bryant at 1:02.08 and McKenzie at 1:02.80.

The specialty events generated just as much excitement throughout the afternoon. Daniel Mullen earned the top spot in the 3x3x3 One-Handed competition, delivering a decisive winning average of 14.76 seconds alongside a single of 11.51. Pike claimed the silver podium position with a 15.23 average, followed closely by McKenzie at 16.30. Solving the Rubik's Cube with a single hand demands exceptional finger mechanics, and Mullen navigated the two rounds of competition with poise to take the hardware.

The remaining puzzle disciplines rounded out the diverse program at Skowhegan Spookfest 2024. In Clock, Aedan Bryant took top honours by putting together a 4.82-second winning average, powered by a 3.95 single. Mullen finished second with a 5.14 average, while Zachary Miller secured third place with 6.99. In Skewb, Saisabari Ramesh delivered lightning-quick turns to win with an average of 2.64 seconds and a single of 2.35, besting Bryant at 3.83 and Mullen at 5.30 across two competitive rounds of speed cubing.

Beyond the championship podiums, several competitors achieved remarkable milestones away from the spotlight. Brandon Wallace posted substantial gains, dropping his 3x3x3 One-Handed personal best down to 17.51 seconds, an improvement of 45.4 percent, while also lowering his 3x3x3 Cube best to 9.11 seconds and his 4x4x4 Cube mark to 41.19 seconds to finish fifth in one-handed. Kyle F. Schroeher completed his first ever attempt at Clock with a 39.49 and his first 4x4x4 Cube attempt at 2:08.15, while trimming his 3x3x3 Cube personal best to 21.03 seconds. Eldon Conry achieved three personal bests across the day, including an 18.81 in the standard cube and a 2:34.56 in the 5x5x5 Cube.

New milestones continued throughout the venue as competitors tackled fresh puzzles for the first time. Christian Bryant took on his first official Clock attempt at 35.45 seconds and his first Skewb attempt at 16.50 seconds. Connor Smith lowered his 3x3x3 Cube mark to 29.73 seconds and secured a personal best of 7.65 in Skewb. Ethan Benson registered personal bests across three disciplines, lowering his 3x3x3 Cube mark to 11.57 seconds, his 4x4x4 Cube time to 1:07.10, and his 5x5x5 Cube result to 2:10.99. Meanwhile, Jake Fecteau attended his first ever tournament and logged debut marks of 20.20 in 3x3x3, 1:39.33 in 4x4x4, and 13.94 in Skewb, and Chase Putney also completed their first event with a 27.34 3x3x3 single.

With 18 podium positions awarded to United States competitors across six events, Skowhegan Spookfest 2024 served as a fitting showcase for both experienced contenders and emerging talent. The well-structured single-day schedule provided every participant the chance to test their speed against the clock. As this cubing competition concluded at the Skowhegan Community Center, the performances posted across all 11 rounds set a high benchmark heading into the next competitive cycle.