Vegas Big and Blind 2024

Inside Twitchell Elementary School in Henderson, Nevada, USA, the tables were lined with complex hardware and dark blindfolds as twenty competitors arrived for a demanding single-day gathering. Long travel routes brought solvers together on December 7, 2024, crossing state lines and international borders to tackle five specialized disciplines. The quiet focus in the room reflected the immense preparation required for these disciplines, where memory palaces and fingertip agility replace standard solving routines.

The journey was particularly fruitful for France's Peter Grassard, who traveled from overseas to dominate the large-cube categories. Grassard delivered a masterclass on the 6x6x6 Cube, taking the top spot across two rounds with a winning average of 1:33.08 and a best single time of 1:25.52. Shane Grogan of the United States secured the runner-up position with an average of 1:57.48, while Maxwell Tsai claimed third place at 2:00.13.

Grassard proved equally untouchable on the 7x7x7 Cube, adding a second gold medal to his tally with a winning average of 2:21.39 and an event-best single of 2:16.95. Tsai advanced his standing to take second place with an average of 2:42.06, while Grogan rounded out the podium in 3:13.80. Grassard accounted for both of France's podium finishes at the meet, standing tall against a competitive field of United States contenders.

The memory events belonged entirely to Graham Siggins, who completed an impressive triple sweep. In the standard 3x3x3 Blindfolded discipline, Siggins led the pack with a winning average of 18.58 and a single mark of 17.83, while Alvin Liu finished second with a 29.46 average and Cary Huang took third in 42.97. The classic 3x3 results in this blindfolded format highlight the sheer precision required to navigate algorithms without visual feedback.

Siggins pushed the envelope even further in the 4x4x4 Blindfolded event, conquering the added parity issues to post a winning single time of 1:43.73. Liu earned another second-place finish with a time of 3:29.66, and Huang took third on the podium with a single mark of 4:10.83. To close out his dominant run, Siggins conquered 3x3x3 Multi-Blind by successfully solving 58 out of 64 cubes in 59:47, while Liu managed a clean 7/7 in 31:58 and Abhimanyu Singhal completed 8/11 in 54:18.

Beyond the top podium steps, Vegas Big and Blind 2024 served as a proving ground for several dedicated solvers making substantial leaps. Alex Lehman took on five events and made a massive 17.9 percent improvement in 4x4x4 Blindfolded with a personal best of 17:46.00, alongside a personal best of 1:58.79 on the 6x6x6 Cube. Preston Schwartz lowered his 6x6x6 Cube personal best by 9.7 percent to 2:06.24 and set a new personal record of 3:25.32 on the 7x7x7 Cube. Jaden Thompson achieved an 8.3 percent drop to record a 3:15.01 personal best on the 7x7x7 Cube, while Brendan White shaved 5.5 percent off his 3x3x3 Blindfolded record to finish in 7:06.73.

The progress continued across all divisions as Anthony J. Telford took a 4.4 percent step forward on the 6x6x6 Cube with a mark of 2:52.92, while also posting a 6:01.11 personal best on the 7x7x7 Cube. Samuel Martin contested all five events at the competition, securing an 8th-place result in Multi-Blind and trimming 4 percent off his 3x3x3 Blindfolded best to clock 3:12.99. David Moreno earned an 8th-place finish in 3x3x3 Multi-Blind, and Cy Hamilton fought through the 7x7x7 Cube brackets to earn 4th place with a strong overall showing.

The gathering showcased how much depth exists in the speedcubing community, with participants testing the outer limits of puzzle complexity. From huge multi-layered puzzles to high-stakes memory attempts, this cubing competition proved that a focused environment brings out remarkable technical execution. As the 2024 season progressed, Vegas Big and Blind 2024 provided a perfect showcase of international talent meeting local dedication in Henderson.

With seven total rounds spread across the day, the official WCA competition delivered everything expected from modern speed cubing at its highest tier. Every solved face on a Rubik's Cube brought competitors closer to their personal goals, whether conquering dozens of puzzles under a blindfold or pushing boundary-pushing times on the massive 7x7x7. The memorable battles at Vegas Big and Blind 2024 set a benchmark that participants will aim to surpass when the next competitive calendar unfolds.