UCO Cubing Winter 2024

Five championship titles stood beside the name of Ryan Pilat by the end of Saturday at the University of Central Oklahoma. The single-day speedcubing tournament drew 59 competitors to Edmond, Oklahoma, USA on January 20, 2024, packing 13 rounds across six diverse puzzle disciplines into a relentless schedule. Pilat took command of the floor almost immediately, claiming top honours in every category he entered except one, setting the competitive bar high across both short sprints and complex rotational challenges.

The premier 3x3x3 Cube contest saw the field whittled down over three complete rounds. Pilat set the pace in the final with a winning average of 6.85 seconds, anchored by a best single of 5.92 seconds to secure the classic Rubik's Cube crown. Zachary Walden took the runner-up spot with an average of 7.76 seconds, while Casey Ngo finished third with an 8.16 average. Those tracking the 3x3 results witnessed standard-setting speed throughout the afternoon as Pilat held off a deep roster of contenders.

Short-format solving at UCO Cubing Winter 2024 delivered equally decisive margins for the meet standout. In the 2x2x2 Cube, Pilat captured first place with an exceptional 1.55-second average and a best single of 1.34 seconds. Isaiah Baker followed in second place with a 2.46 average, while Conner Duval claimed third with 2.60 seconds. The discipline highlighted rapid execution across three competitive rounds, establishing an energetic tempo early in the day for this high-calibre WCA competition.

Pilat extended his commanding run into the mid-sized and specialty puzzles, winning the 4x4x4 Cube with an average of 31.02 seconds and a fastest single solve of 25.00 seconds. Kevin Reyes-Velazquez earned second place with a 35.92 average, and Ngo picked up another podium finish in third with 36.74. In the Square-1 event, Pilat dominated three full rounds to finish on top with a 6.62-second average, comfortably ahead of Sutton Barkley at 12.16 and Michael S. Lander at 14.39 seconds.

Big cubes brought a mix of familiar dominance and a change of leader at the very top of the table. Pilat secured his fifth victory of UCO Cubing Winter 2024 in the 6x6x6 Cube, recording a winning average of 1:45.11 to lead Lydia Workman at 1:49.71 and Walden at 2:01.25. However, Workman turned the tables in the 7x7x7 Cube, capturing the event title with a winning average of 2:35.48 and a best single of 2:34.53, leaving Pilat in second at 2:38.62 and Walden third at 2:54.02.

Beyond the championship trophies, the Edmond tournament served as a breakthrough stage for several dedicated participants making monumental personal strides. Jack Field achieved the biggest relative jump of the day, cutting his 2x2x2 Cube personal best to 7.77 seconds, an improvement of 46.5 percent. Angela Moisant took a massive 40 percent off her 3x3x3 Cube benchmark, finishing with a new best of 3:08.34. Jude Lawson excelled across four events, lowering their 2x2x2 Cube mark by 37.7 percent to 3.75 seconds while logging their first ever attempts at 4x4x4 Cube with 1:40.93 and Square-1 with 29.94. Joshua Glover also made great gains, trimming his 2x2x2 Cube best by 32.5 percent to 4.40 seconds and posting first attempts in Square-1 at 38.40 and 4x4x4 Cube at 1:31.49.

Fresh milestones continued across every corner of the venue as competitors tested themselves in new arenas. Jackson Forner took on six events, achieving a best finish of 10th in 6x6x6 Cube with a first attempt time of 3:30.66, a first 7x7x7 Cube attempt of 6:07.63, and a 20.2 percent reduction on his 4x4x4 Cube best down to 45.74 seconds. Blake Linsenmeyer also tackled six events, securing 11th in 6x6x6 Cube while setting first attempts in Square-1 at 52.40 and 7x7x7 Cube at 7:25.26 alongside a 10.5 percent personal best of 4:34.26 in 6x6x6. Cameron Ricksecker completed six events with a top result of 13th in 6x6x6 Cube, logging inaugural attempts in 7x7x7 Cube at 8:43.46, 6x6x6 Cube at 5:30.10, and 4x4x4 Cube at 58.43. Meanwhile, Sam Moses made their first WCA competition appearance, taking on four events and posting a top finish of 16th in 7x7x7 Cube with a 9:33.90 attempt.

Every podium spot at the tournament went to athletes representing the United States, showcasing high regional depth across 18 total podium placings. The seamless organization allowed competitors of all skill brackets to explore new puzzles and register official personal bests alongside world-class displays of speed cubing excellence throughout a packed single-day schedule.

As the final timers were cleared at UCO Cubing Winter 2024, the gathering stood out for its balance of commanding championship performances and personal development. Pilat departed the University of Central Oklahoma with five gold finishes, while the broader community celebrated memorable milestones that set a strong foundation for the upcoming competition season.