Utah Newcomers 2024

Eric Pesci delivered the defining standard of the weekend with a decisive 7.60 winning average in the 3x3x3 Cube, anchoring a high-energy stop on the 2024 calendar. Held on March 16, 2024, at the University of Utah Union Ballroom in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, the gathering brought together a massive lineup of 231 competitors across 5 events and 11 rounds. As the spring speedcubing campaign builds traction across North America, this single-day meeting served as a crucial proving ground for regional frontrunners and rising talents alike.

The 3x3x3 Cube served as the centerpiece of the program, drawing 229 entrants through three tense rounds of competition. Pesci locked down the title by pairing his 7.60 final average with a tournament-best single solve of 6.68 seconds. Canyon Pettitt claimed second place with an average of 8.33 seconds, while Mateo Tiul completed the podium in third with an 8.66. The deep field demonstrated the rising baseline of standard Rubik's Cube speed, producing intense competition for spots in the final round of 3x3 results.

Beyond the main event, the shorter formats produced blistering times on the tournament floor. In the 2x2x2 Cube, Peter Augustine seized the top step of the podium among 192 competitors, finishing with an impressive winning average of 2.13 seconds alongside the day's fastest single solve of 1.35 seconds. Pesci demonstrated his versatility across events by capturing second place with a 2.45 average, while Pettitt secured third place with a 2.73 average in a very narrow podium battle.

The Skewb contest featured 141 competitors battling through two intense rounds of play. Jacob Levie captured the gold with a balanced 3.03 winning average and the best single solve of the event at 2.36 seconds. Pettitt was hot on his heels to take the silver with a 3.21 average, earning his second podium finish of the competition. Tiul stepped up to earn third place with a 4.81 average, concluding an excellent run through the short-puzzle rotations.

Large puzzles and complex geometries rounded out the program at Utah Newcomers 2024. In Megaminx, Anton Smolyanyy paced the 73-person field with a commanding 41.48 winning average and a top single of 37.68 seconds, leaving Pettitt with silver at 56.30 and Travis Burkett with bronze at 1:00.11. Meanwhile, the 6x6x6 Cube brought out 51 solvers, where Ty Baird dominated with a 1:39.03 average and a 1:37.31 single, finishing ahead of Pesci at 1:48.76 and Tiul at 2:04.29.

Away from the top steps of the podium, the weekend was defined by remarkable individual progress from athletes testing new events and achieving major breakthroughs. Adharsh Ramakrishnan knocked 69 percent off his previous benchmark in the 3x3x3 Cube to set a personal best of 25.64 seconds, while also logging a first official attempt at the 2x2x2 Cube with a 5.95. Mark Bowe delivered a 60.3 percent improvement in 2x2x2 Cube to reach 4.09 seconds, dropped his 3x3x3 Cube mark to 23.87, and logged a first official Skewb attempt of 14.81. Edmund Karlsson improved his 3x3x3 Cube best by 29.9 percent to 36.71 while making initial career attempts in both Megaminx with 3:10.02 and Skewb with 12.67. Julien Magana sliced 50.4 percent off his 2x2x2 Cube best down to 8.07, lowered his 3x3x3 Cube mark to 38.43, and tackled Skewb for the first time with an 11.91.

The momentum of personal progress carried across several other events throughout the afternoon. Judah Arender improved his 2x2x2 Cube best by 49 percent to 3.81 seconds, lowered his 3x3x3 Cube standard to 15.52, and made a first Skewb attempt of 9.42. Calvin Millard advanced his 2x2x2 Cube mark by 47.3 percent to 3.91 seconds, brought his 3x3x3 Cube best to 24.64, and notched an 11.55 on his first official Skewb try. Charles Battle Lind cut 40.5 percent from his 2x2x2 Cube best to hit 3.91, reached 21.70 in 3x3x3 Cube, and logged a first Megaminx mark of 2:10.30. Thomas Webb took on 5 events, earning an 8th-place finish in 2x2x2 Cube, improving his 3x3x3 Cube time by 31.1 percent to 6.95 seconds, and recording initial marks in Megaminx at 1:35.23 and 6x6x6 Cube at 3:37.27.

Every podium spot across the five events was earned by competitors representing the USA, tallying 15 total podium awards. The high level of organization across 11 rounds gave hundreds of participants valuable stage experience as the speed cubing calendar shifts into high gear. With strong engagement across every bracket, this WCA competition showed how quickly local talent can rise to challenge established standards.

As the final timers were cleared from the tables, Utah Newcomers 2024 left a strong mark on the early competitive year. From Pesci and Baird claiming commanding victories at the top of the sheets to dozens of emerging solvers carving vast chunks of time off their personal bests, the event fulfilled its promise. The stage in Salt Lake City proved that the current cubing competition circuit has tremendous depth, setting an ambitious tone for the upcoming season.