USM Penang Cube 2024

One hundred and thirty-eight competitors packed into the University of Science Malaysia on May 19, 2024, creating one of the most fiercely contested brackets of the season. With nine events and thirteen rounds squeezed into a single day of action in Penang, Malaysia, reaching any final required absolute precision. The massive turnout turned every qualifying heat into a high-stakes battle where even seasoned solvers faced stiff pressure across every discipline.

The premier 3x3x3 Cube event drew a massive field of 135 entrants, necessitating three demanding rounds to filter out the title contenders. Tee Kai Yang proved unmatched at the summit of the classic Rubik's Cube, securing victory with a stellar winning average of 7.21 seconds alongside the day's best single of 4.96. China's Kangze Wang (王康泽) pushed the pace closely, taking second place with an average of 7.29, while Lim Hung (林弘) claimed third on the podium with an 8.17 mark.

Beyond the flagship 3x3 results, Tee asserted his authority across larger puzzles by capturing the 4x4x4 Cube crown. Navigating a competitive 71-person field over two rounds, Tee posted a winning average of 24.89 seconds and delivered the fastest single solve of 20.28. Lim Hung (林弘) secured the runner-up spot in 25.95 seconds, while Ang Chin Zhen (洪靖程) completed the all-Malaysian podium in third place with a 31.25 average.

Lim Hung (林弘) found his own golden moment in the 5x5x5 Cube, topping a 45-competitor field with an impressive average of 45.93 seconds and a best single solve of 43.56. Tee added another medal to his tally by claiming second place with a 52.64 average, followed by Ang Chin Zhen (洪靖程) in third at 55.93. The two-handed big cubes demanded immense stamina, highlighting the sheer technical depth present throughout the tournament roster.

Away from the top steps of the podium, several competitors made major personal breakthroughs across demanding multi-event schedules. Tan Yu Hong took on all nine disciplines at the competition, achieving an eighth-place finish in Clock while recording first-time official results in Pyraminx at 4.06, Skewb at 4.76, and 5x5x5 Cube at 1:48.91. Abdul Hazim Bin Abdul Hanif also tackled nine events, finishing 17th in Clock and logging his first official marks in Megaminx at 3:05.02, 5x5x5 Cube at 3:24.91, and Skewb at 11.77. Singapore's Luca Toh entered eight events, achieving a high finish of 39th in 5x5x5 Cube while registering his first marks in Skewb at 11.87, 3x3x3 One-Handed at 3:08.67, and 5x5x5 Cube at 4:02.26.

The spirit of testing new boundaries continued with Abdul Hariz Bin Abdul Hanif, who took on seven events, placed 37th in Skewb, and posted debut competition marks in 4x4x4 Cube at 1:50.91, 5x5x5 Cube at 3:50.89, and Skewb at 13.68. Ayzaac Bin Zia entered eight categories, earning a best finish of 36th in Megaminx while logging first-ever attempts in 3x3x3 One-Handed at 1:10.97, Megaminx at 3:00.22, and 5x5x5 Cube at 3:40.57. Lau Guan Hong (刘冠宏) contested seven events, securing 40th place in Megaminx alongside debut times in 4x4x4 Cube at 2:11.06, Megaminx at 3:48.58, and Skewb at 16.42.

Short-format events delivered intense drama, led by the 2x2x2 Cube where 114 solvers battled across two rounds. Tan Wei Kee (陈伟祺) captured first place with a blistering flat 2.00-second average, holding off Kuak Zhe Kai at 2.31 and Kangze Wang (王康泽) at 2.72. In Pyraminx, Hewson Kang Poh Jun (江博俊) took the title in an 81-person bracket with an average of 2.32 seconds, edging Gregory Soo Jo-Huang (苏祖煌) at 3.30 and Ang Chin Zhen (洪靖程) at 4.30.

One-handed solving saw Kangze Wang (王康泽) reverse the 3x3 standings by clinching the 3x3x3 One-Handed title with an average of 11.80 seconds, finishing ahead of Tee Kai Yang at 12.08 and Mohamad Adrian Syahirin Bin Mohd Faizal at 15.57. Mohamad Adrian Syahirin Bin Mohd Faizal quickly rebounded in Skewb, taking victory with an average of 3.75 seconds to lead Sri Ganesh Krishna at 3.91 and Kuak Zhe Kai at 4.57.

Specialist puzzles wrapped up an exhaustive day of speedcubing. Hill Pong Yong Feng mastered the Megaminx with a winning average of 36.54 seconds, while Singapore's Jervis Yeo captured the Clock title in 5.23 seconds ahead of Muhammad Shaheem Bin Muhammad Rubaie at 6.18 and Lim Hung (林弘) at 6.19. The successful staging of USM Penang Cube 2024 showcased the thriving standard of speed cubing in the region, leaving competitors with hard-earned milestones from a truly demanding WCA competition.

Host nation solvers ultimately accounted for 23 of the 27 podium positions awarded throughout the day, while visiting competitors from China and Singapore secured three and one podium spots respectively. The relentless pace across 13 total rounds made every single advancement meaningful, setting a high competitive benchmark as the regional cubing competition circuit prepares for the remainder of 2024.

Pentas kejohanan di University of Science Malaysia menyaksikan aksi luar biasa apabila acara khusus mencuri tumpuan ramai, diketuai oleh persembahan mantap Hill Pong Yong Feng yang menjuarai Megaminx menerusi purata 36.54 saat serta catatan terbaik 34.01 saat. Pertandingan kiub Rubik bertaraf antarabangsa ini mempamerkan pelbagai disiplin yang menguji kemahiran khas para peserta di atas pentas. Kejohanan yang berlangsung pada 19 Mei 2024 di Penang, Malaysia ini mengumpulkan seramai 138 peserta dalam satu hari yang padat dengan aksi speedcubing bertaraf tinggi.

USM Penang Cube 2024 menawarkan sembilan acara merangkumi 13 pusingan sengit, memberikan tumpuan istimewa kepada kategori unik selain kiub standard. Dalam acara Clock, wakil Singapura iaitu Jervis Yeo mempamerkan ketangkasan menyelaraskan jarum jam untuk merangkul kejuaraan dengan purata 5.23 saat dan catatan tunggal 4.59 saat. Beliau menewaskan Muhammad Shaheem Bin Muhammad Rubaie yang mencatatkan purata 6.18 saat, manakala Lim Hung meraih tempat ketiga dengan purata 6.19 saat dalam persaingan yang melibatkan 35 peserta.

Pusingan Skewb turut menyajikan pertembungan sengit dalam kalangan pakar teka-teki pantas apabila Mohamad Adrian Syahirin Bin Mohd Faizal muncul sebagai juara dengan purata 3.75 saat dan catatan terpantas 2.52 saat. Beliau mengatasi cabaran Sri Ganesh Krishna yang menamatkan saingan di tempat kedua menerusi purata 3.91 saat, serta Kuak Zhe Kai di kedudukan ketiga dengan purata 4.57 saat. Disiplin Pyraminx pula diungguli oleh Hewson Kang Poh Jun yang mencatat purata kemenangan 2.32 saat di hadapan Gregory Soo Jo-Huang dan Ang Chin Zhen.

Bagi acara kiub besar, Lim Hung mempamerkan penguasaan menyeluruh dalam saingan 5x5x5 Cube apabila meraih gelaran juara menerusi purata 45.93 saat serta catatan terbaik 43.56 saat. Beliau menewaskan Tee Kai Yang yang mencatat purata 52.64 saat dan Ang Chin Zhen dengan catatan 55.93 saat. Tee Kai Yang pula bangkit mendominasi acara 4x4x4 Cube dengan mencatatkan purata kemenangan 24.89 saat dan catatan tunggal 20.28 saat, meletakkan Lim Hung di tempat kedua dengan 25.95 saat dan Ang Chin Zhen di tempat ketiga dengan 31.25 saat.

Dalam acara sebelah tangan 3x3x3 One-Handed, Kangze Wang dari China membuktikan ketangkasan jari tunggalnya untuk merangkul kejuaraan dengan purata 11.80 saat dan catatan terbaik 10.63 saat. Beliau berjaya menjarakkan diri daripada Tee Kai Yang yang meraih purata 12.08 saat serta Mohamad Adrian Syahirin Bin Mohd Faizal dengan purata 15.57 saat. Bagi saingan 2x2x2 Cube, Tan Wei Kee menjuarai saingan menerusi purata 2.00 saat, mengatasi Kuak Zhe Kai yang mencatatkan purata 2.31 saat dan Kangze Wang dengan 2.72 saat.

Di sebalik perebutan podium utama, pertandingan WCA ini menyaksikan perkembangan luar biasa daripada peserta yang mencipta rekod kemajuan peribadi. H'ng Wei Lun mencatatkan lonjakan prestasi cemerlang dalam Skewb dengan catatan peribadi terbaik 5.85 saat, meningkat 78.1 peratus berbanding rekod lama 26.75 saat, di samping memperbaiki catatan 3x3x3 Cube kepada 30.03 saat dan menyertai 2x2x2 Cube buat kali pertama dengan 4.97 saat. Lucas Jayden Ngiam menyertai lapan acara dan mencatat percubaan rasmi pertamanya dalam 3x3x3 One-Handed dengan masa 35.70 saat, 4x4x4 Cube dengan 1:21.23, serta Megaminx dengan 2:45.02.

Semangat yang sama ditunjukkan oleh Ilyas Arsyad Bin Chairil Azdi yang bertanding dalam lapan acara berbeza, melakukan percubaan rasmi pertamanya bagi 4x4x4 Cube dengan masa 1:01.11, Clock dengan 14.43 saat, serta 5x5x5 Cube dengan 2:07.15. Rajamohana Kumaran AL Kumara Vadivaelan menyertai empat acara dan melakar cubaan pertama dalam Skewb pada catatan 11.99 saat, Pyraminx pada 14.73 saat, dan Clock pada 12.09 saat. Yap Pak Zheng mencatat masa rasmi sulung dalam 4x4x4 Cube dengan 1:38.88, Pyraminx dengan 10.29 saat, dan Clock dengan 12.56 saat, manakala Ong Shi Xiong menyempurnakan penampilan pertama dalam Megaminx dengan catatan 1:30.85, 5x5x5 Cube dengan 1:46.66, dan 2x2x2 Cube dengan 4.17 saat.

Kemuncak acara utama 3x3x3 Cube yang menghimpunkan 135 peserta menyaksikan Tee Kai Yang dinobatkan sebagai juara keseluruhan. Beliau merekodkan purata kemenangan 7.21 saat dengan catatan tunggal terpantas kejohanan iaitu 4.96 saat merentasi tiga pusingan. Kangze Wang memberikan saingan sengit untuk menduduki tempat kedua dengan purata 7.29 saat, manakala Lim Hung melengkapkan kedudukan podium menerusi purata 8.17 saat.

Penganjuran USM Penang Cube 2024 menonjolkan kekuatan komuniti teka-teki pantas dengan wakil tuan rumah Malaysia mengumpul 23 penamat podium, diikuti China dengan tiga kedudukan dan Singapura dengan satu kedudukan. Kepelbagaian kategori teka-teki yang dipertandingkan membuktikan bahawa kejuaraan ini kekal menjadi medan ujian utama untuk kebolehan pelbagai disiplin para peserta di rantau ini.