Vegas Cubing Cup Winter 2024

A dead-flat 6.00-second average in the final round of the 3x3x3 Cube settled the top step of the podium at Vegas Cubing Cup Winter 2024, capping a single-day test of stamina across 11 rounds of action. Canadian standout Kyle Santucci controlled the three-round main event, delivering a best single of 5.52 seconds along the way to deny an explosive American challenge. Held at The Orleans Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, the gathering brought together 106 competitors on February 3, 2024. The structured progression across multiple cut rounds placed a premium on early consistency, rewarding those who adapted quickly to the stage.

Across six distinct disciplines, the round formats dictated the tempo of the entire cubing competition. With events ranging from straight speed to one-handed execution and mechanical puzzles, competitors had to manage energy between short sprint rounds and prolonged multi-round brackets. The 3x3 results formed the centerpiece of the program, where Kyle Santucci edged past Jeremy Bulambot, who secured second with a 6.67-second average, while Michael Larsen earned third place at 8.60. The three-round filter progressively tightened the qualifying margins, leaving no room for handling errors or hesitant transitions in the later stages of the afternoon.

In the 2x2x2 Cube, two rounds of intense speedcubing saw Jeremy Bulambot surge to victory with a 2.32-second final average, built on a tournament-best single of 1.56 seconds. The event featured exceptional depth, with Jeremy Bulambot also notching a 1.91 average and a 1.64 single, while Ivan Vanek took second overall at 2.46 seconds and Parker Trager finished third at 2.54. Further down the order, Kyle Santucci posted a 2.65 average, and Michael Larsen registered a 2.51 mark. With 89 entrants chasing spots through the opening stage, the short format magnified every fraction of a second.

The single-handed and specialty disciplines tested versatility under tighter qualifying constraints. Parker Trager dominated the two-round 3x3x3 One-Handed contest, taking gold with an 11.55 average and a blistering 9.34 single, holding off Jeremy Bulambot at 12.02 and Kyle Santucci at 12.42. In Square-1, Ivan Vanek conquered the two-round bracket with a winning average of 10.18 seconds and a sharp 6.94 single, finishing clear of Parker Trager at 11.71 and Michael Larsen at 13.13. These multi-round setups allowed puzzle handlers to recalibrate their finger tricks between appearances.

Single-round direct finals raised the stakes for the remaining events, where a single lapse could derail an entire campaign. In the 7x7x7 Cube, Dan Tran dominated the 25-player field by averaging 2:29.22, highlighted by a best single of 2:24.37 to finish well ahead of Parker Trager at 3:12.07 and Lucas Kuczaj at 3:20.41. Meanwhile, Clock delivered one of the closest finishes of Vegas Cubing Cup Winter 2024. Lucas Kuczaj claimed the title with a 6.17 average and a 5.24 single, narrowly edging Parker Trager at 6.23 and Timothy Huynh at 6.36 in a tight, fast-moving final.

Beyond the trophy battles, the open rounds served as a springboard for substantial individual breakthroughs across the floor. Rodney London Libby made a major step forward, slicing 48.7 percent off his 3x3x3 Cube best with a 25.02-second solve, alongside his first ever attempt at 2x2x2 Cube with an 11.04. John M. Fenic trimmed 45 percent from his 3x3x3 One-Handed personal best down to 37.91 seconds, entered four events, made his first Clock appearance at 26.77, and improved his 2x2x2 Cube mark by 9.2 percent to 5.05. Lukas Gubista also generated huge gains, cutting his 2x2x2 Cube mark by 41.2 percent to 2.64 seconds, lowering his 3x3x3 Cube best by 29.7 percent to 14.92, and finishing 25th in Clock during a debut attempt of 13.91.

That spirit of rapid improvement continued through a busy schedule of puzzle debuts. Jason Collier tackled four events, taking 36.7 percent off his 2x2x2 Cube mark to reach 5.97 seconds, improving his 3x3x3 Cube personal best by 9.1 percent to 15.31, and logging his first Clock attempt at 46.77. Waldo Isaac Hernadez Gonzalez recorded his first ever attempt at 3x3x3 One-Handed at 44.73, made a first Square-1 attempt of 1:02.09, and shaved 35.2 percent off his 2x2x2 Cube best with a 6.56. Alexander Lizardo registered his first 3x3x3 One-Handed solve at 23.57, took 15th in Clock on a first try of 10.81, and cut his 2x2x2 Cube best by 33.1 percent to 3.17. Sebastian Hueso dropped his Square-1 best by 32.8 percent to 42.61, improved his one-handed mark by 24.1 percent to 45.40, and finished 22nd in the 7x7x7 Cube. Miles Henderson rounded out the milestones with a 13th-place Clock debut of 10.30, an initial Square-1 attempt of 21.05, and a 21.2 percent improvement on his 2x2x2 Cube personal best at 4.13.

When the tables were cleared, the United States led the overall medal tally with 14 podium finishes, while Canada collected four across the program. Vegas Cubing Cup Winter 2024 highlighted how precise round pacing and cut structures elevate competition, bringing out the absolute best in classic Rubik's Cube solving as well as larger, intricate hardware. The success of this speed cubing showcase at The Orleans Hotel & Casino sets a rigorous benchmark for every WCA competition scheduled in the region for the remainder of the 2024 season.