St. John's 2024

The competition hall at Memorial University of Newfoundland was filled with the rhythmic clatter of plastic and the steady focus of timers starting and stopping across eight packed rounds. On June 22, 2024, fifty-five competitors gathered in St John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada for a full day of speedcubing. As scramblers shuttled puzzles back and forth, the atmosphere rewarded composure above all else. In a sport where a single fast solve can turn heads, the overall standings ultimately favored solvers who produced reliable, repeatable five-solve averages across every round of the day.

Nowhere was that disciplined control clearer than in the main Rubik's Cube event. Across three rounds featuring 54 competitors, the 3x3 results came down to who could keep their pace under pressure. Marco Yang took the title with a winning average of 10.76 seconds, backed by a best single of 9.66. Alex Andersen pressed hard with a solid 11.66 average to secure second place, while Sakib Ibn Rashid Rhivu rounded out the podium in third with an 11.96 average. Yang avoided high variance and demonstrated how sustained tempo wins out over momentary speed.

The 2x2x2 Cube provided another showcase where composure settled the outcome over two rounds of play. Timothy Chabanenko captured first place with an average of 4.40 seconds, finding the mark when it mattered most after recording a best single of 2.24. Alex Andersen claimed second place on the podium with a 4.60 average, while Marco Yang secured third with a 5.40 mark. In a fast-moving bracket with 32 competitors, Chabanenko built his victory on clean, repeatable executions rather than gambling on risky starts.

A similar pattern unfolded in Pyraminx, where Alex Andersen rose to the top of the twenty-competitor field across two rounds. Andersen registered a winning average of 7.15 seconds alongside a best single of 4.11 to take first place. Sakib Ibn Rashid Rhivu followed in second place with an 8.92 average, while Damon Squires completed the podium in third with a 9.19 average. Andersen kept mistakes off the score sheet, turning in five smooth solves to seal the victory.

The 4x4x4 Cube contest required the deepest focus of the day, demanding both puzzle efficiency and endurance over its single round. Sakib Ibn Rashid Rhivu delivered the top performance among thirteen competitors, winning with a 46.84 average and a best single of 45.56. Marco Yang finished second with an average of 49.03, and Alex Andersen earned third place with a 57.75 average. Rhivu set the standard early, navigating the larger cube without dropping pace across his attempts.

Behind the podium finishes, the official scores captured dozens of major personal milestones across the tournament floor. For many newcomers attending their first WCA competition, the day marked their first time testing their skills under official tournament conditions. Connor Trickett completed four events, recording a first ever attempt of 1:12.66 on the 4x4x4 Cube, a 2.95 single on 2x2x2, a 6.51 on Pyraminx, and a best finish of 4th place in the 4x4x4 Cube. Ibrahim Islam also took on four events, securing a best finish of 5th in the 4x4x4 Cube while logging first attempts of 2.68 on the 2x2x2, 17.63 on the 3x3x3, and 1:20.61 on the 4x4x4. Max Forward contested four events, posting an 8.85 first attempt in Pyraminx on the way to a 6th place finish, along with debut marks of 6.38 on 2x2x2 and 26.80 on 3x3x3.

The debut milestones continued as several other competitors put up impressive series of first marks in St. John's 2024. Nigel Morano tackled three events and achieved a 4th place best finish in Pyraminx, logging an initial 5.20 attempt there alongside first attempts of 3.38 on 2x2x2 and 23.10 on 3x3x3. Geoffrey Chalker competed in four events, finishing 10th in 4x4x4 with a first attempt of 2:07.21, alongside a 6.66 on 2x2x2 and 21.01 on 3x3x3. Garrett Pitts also entered four events, logging a 9th place finish in 4x4x4 with a 2:03.42 first attempt, a 16.13 on Pyraminx, and 27.10 on 3x3x3. Jack Walsh took on four events, setting debut attempts of 14.51 on 2x2x2, 17.38 on Pyraminx, and 33.67 on 3x3x3 for an 11th place best finish in 4x4x4. Noah Walker completed three events, earning first attempts of 7.42 on 2x2x2, 13.99 on Pyraminx, and 25.63 on 3x3x3.

By the close of the competition, the medal distribution reflected strong international representation alongside local Canadian talent. Canada collected eight podium finishes, Bangladesh earned three, and Ukraine claimed one. Daniel Daoust brought extensive experience to the venue, participating in four events to reach 69 career appearances with a best finish of 7th in the 4x4x4 Cube. The blend of seasoned competitors and energetic first-timers made this cubing competition a memorable gathering for the region in 2024.

As the equipment was packed away at Memorial University, the day concluded as a testament to the value of patience and steady execution in modern speed cubing. Across all four puzzle disciplines, the athletes who walked away with top honors were those who relied on disciplined averages instead of chasing solitary quick times. St. John's 2024 showcased the depth of local talent and established a strong foundation for the community as another exciting competitive year moves forward.