Sydney Spring Saturday 2024

A blistering 1.71-second winning average in the 2x2x2 Cube set the tone for an extraordinary display of mastery at Sydney Secondary College Leichhardt Campus. Across three distinct disciplines, Bryan Eng emerged as the defining force of the tournament, capturing two gold medals and a runner-up finish. The action unfolded during Sydney Spring Saturday 2024 on November 16, 2024, bringing together a packed field of solvers in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. With 108 competitors taking part across seven rounds, the single-day gathering delivered fast turnarounds and world-class performances in 2024 speedcubing.

The 2x2x2 Cube event saw 95 competitors battling through two rounds, but Eng commanded the final from the outset. Along with his 1.71 winning average, he laid down a sharp 1.54 single solve. Aaron Rattanachaipipat secured the silver medal for Australia with a 2.31 average, while Caden Liu claimed the third step on the podium with a mark of 2.57. Eng also produced a 1.74 single and 2.55 average earlier in the rounds, underlining his absolute consistency on the compact puzzle throughout the day.

Eng carried that dominant momentum straight into 3x3x3 One-Handed, an event requiring immense dexterity, finger control, and puzzle orientation. Facing a field of 64 competitors across two rounds, he captured his second title of the day with a winning average of 10.29 seconds and a tournament-best single of 8.92. Jim Zhu of New Zealand finished in second place with an average of 12.04, while Daniel Wang took third for Australia with a 12.59 average. Eng stood as the only solver in the competition to break the eleven-second threshold in the one-handed final.

In the flagship 3x3x3 Cube, the premier test of classic Rubik's Cube solving, Caden Liu delivered a brilliant performance to claim victory. Sifting through a massive bracket of 107 competitors across three rounds, Liu posted a winning average of 7.00 seconds alongside a best single of 6.24. Eng continued his stellar day by taking second place with a 7.49 average, while Xander McSherry earned the bronze medal with an 8.37 mark. The official 3x3 results capped a high-intensity slate of solving that kept the venue buzzing from the opening heats.

Beyond the podium battles, Sydney Spring Saturday 2024 proved to be an exceptional platform for breakthrough milestones. Brandon Jo cut his personal best in 3x3x3 One-Handed down to 21.14 seconds, an improvement of 56.3 percent from his previous mark of 48.37, while also lowering his 3x3x3 Cube best to 10.19. Evan Chong recorded an impressive 44.1 percent drop in the 3x3x3 Cube to finish with a 14.33 personal best and logged his first ever attempt in the 2x2x2 Cube with a 6.67 solve. Cabrini Lee sliced 51.6 percent off their one-handed best with a 32.31 single and set a 3x3x3 Cube best of 14.91. Nicholas Weir took substantial time off his one-handed record, logging a 37.55 mark that was 43.5 percent faster than his prior best.

The spirit of this WCA competition was equally vibrant among newcomers tackling new events and making their initial career appearances. Armaan Bagaria entered three events, registering a first ever attempt of 31.18 in 3x3x3 One-Handed, an initial 4.54 on the 2x2x2 Cube, and an 8.7 percent improvement on the 3x3x3 Cube with a 16.87 personal best. Miles Lindsay registered a first attempt of 3.08 on the 2x2x2 Cube and shaved 24.9 percent off his standard cube record with a 20.87 solve. In their very first official tournament, Aydan Kemp took on three events, posting debut marks of 54.18 in one-handed, 3.39 on the 2x2x2 Cube, and 18.62 on the 3x3x3 Cube. Fellow debutant Ella Ailing Su also completed a triple program, achieving 25.09 on the 3x3x3 Cube, 4.64 on the 2x2x2 Cube, and 34.02 in one-handed.

The 2x2x2 Cube event also saw a flurry of rapid times throughout the brackets, featuring standout single and average marks from Jack McCarley, who logged a 1.11 single and a 1.70 average. Sebastian Lee registered a 1.50 single and 2.57 average, while Elias Chong posted marks of 2.27 and 2.73. Jacob McGruddy delivered a 2.12 single alongside a 2.76 average, with Jad Smith recording 2.05 and 3.04. Additional fast rounds came from Gavin Chung with a 2.44 single and 3.14 average, and Aron Stapleton with a 1.94 single and 3.23 average, demonstrating extraordinary depth across the Australian contingent.

Podium finishes across the competition heavily favored the home nation, with Australian competitors securing eight of the nine available podium spots alongside one for New Zealand. The focused schedule of three events allowed every round to carry maximum weight, giving participants multiple chances to refine their solves. As a premier cubing competition in the region, the gathering highlighted the thriving local speed cubing community.

With seven intense rounds completed in a single action-packed day, Sydney Spring Saturday 2024 showcased both peak elite dominance and tremendous grassroots progress. Bryan Eng finished the day as the undisputed star across multiple puzzle formats, while Caden Liu stood tall atop the classic division. As the season draws toward a close, competitors across New South Wales will look to carry their momentum, personal bests, and competitive sharpness forward into the next round of challenges.