Wakefield Summer 2024

Luke Burns delivered the standout performance of the weekend at Wakefield Summer 2024, claiming the premier 3x3x3 Cube title with a clinical 7.88 winning average and a best single solve of 6.88. The tournament, held at QEGS Grammar School in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom across June 15 and June 16, 2024, brought together 120 competitors for 18 rounds of intense action across seven official disciplines. The 3x3 results saw Burns edge out George Scholey, who finished second with an average of 8.01, while Cham J. Chambers secured third on the podium with an 8.07 mark.

The 3x3x3 Cube field was the largest of the entire WCA competition, featuring 117 entrants battling through four rounds of high-pressure speedcubing. Solvers worked methodically to trim fractions of a second from each turn, but Burns maintained steady execution to capture the top spot. Chambers, who also earned third in the 3x3, enjoyed a remarkably productive schedule, demonstrating consistent technical control across multiple formats throughout the two-day gathering.

Big cubes belonged decisively to Daniel Partridge, who showcased veteran composure and rhythm across both the 6x6x6 and 7x7x7 events. Partridge took gold in the 6x6x6 Cube with a 1:36.95 average, anchored by a best single of 1:31.04, finishing ahead of Chambers at 1:40.19 and Dean David at 1:41.42. He followed up with another commanding victory in the 7x7x7 Cube, posting a winning average of 2:33.54 and a 2:27.94 single. Chambers once again claimed second with a 2:39.00 average, while Daniel Evans earned third with a 2:52.68 result.

Chambers broke through to the top step of the podium in the 5x5x5 Cube, edging out David in one of the tightest contests of the cubing competition. Chambers captured the win with a 55.27 average and a 52.43 single solve, finishing just a tenth of a second clear of David, who took second at 55.37. Partridge added another podium to his weekend tally by claiming third place with a 56.82 average across the two rounds of 58 competitors.

The 2x2x2 Cube final saw Zhibo Jin capture victory with a blazing 1.68 average and a best single of 1.41 across three competitive rounds. Caleb Wolf Dunn earned second place with a 1.92 average, while Fabio Schwandt rounded out the podium in third at 2.36. Schwandt bounced back in style in the Square-1 competition, taking first place with an 8.46 average and a best single of 6.74, finishing ahead of Dunn, who averaged 9.12, and Fengyuan Kelvin Lou, who took third with a 9.72 mark.

Clock proved to be another razor-thin contest where split seconds dictated the final standings. Lou secured the victory with a 3.94 average and a 3.57 single, narrowly holding off Piotr Olszewski, who registered a 3.97 average for second place. Dunn collected his third podium finish of the weekend by taking third with an average of 3.98. In all, competitors representing the United Kingdom earned 19 podium places, with China and Poland securing one podium finish each.

Beyond the podium battles at Wakefield Summer 2024, numerous competitors delivered breakthrough personal performances that highlighted the depth of the field. Zain Quyoom slashed his 2x2x2 personal best to 3.72, which was 80.5 percent faster than his previous mark, and cut his 3x3x3 best to 13.49, improving by 65.2 percent. Jacob Moore completed his first ever official Square-1 attempt in 23.60 on his way to 25th place, while trimming his 2x2x2 best by 56 percent to 4.13 and his 3x3x3 time by 41.8 percent to 16.00. Batu Kirbay logged first attempts in the 7x7x7 Cube at 5:31.98 and the 5x5x5 Cube at 2:20.62, alongside a 2x2x2 best of 4.74 that was 48 percent faster. Jacob Walton took on seven events, achieving a best finish of 24th in 5x5x5, a first Square-1 solve of 1:16.46, and personal bests of 2.38 in 2x2x2 and 3:51.18 in 7x7x7.

The progress continued across the tournament roster as solvers tackled new puzzles. Vivienne Reeds entered five disciplines, recording first attempts in the 5x5x5 Cube at 3:09.77 and Square-1 at 38.65, in addition to a 4.46 personal best in 2x2x2 that was 27.2 percent faster. Jack Mitchinson contested six events, registering first attempts in Square-1 at 1:10.15, 5x5x5 at 2:34.22, and 6x6x6 at 4:52.09, while earning 34th in 2x2x2. Seamus Murphy logged a first 6x6x6 solve of 5:04.72 and set personal bests in Square-1 at 27.88 and 2x2x2 at 3.74. Kyle Kayden Renatus competed across six events, setting a 7x7x7 personal best of 5:34.91, which was 38.8 percent faster, along with bests of 1:45.79 in 5x5x5 and 11.19 in the standard Rubik's Cube.

The diverse schedule of events showcased the complete spectrum of speed cubing, from the micro-second sprints of 2x2 to the heavy spatial endurance demanded by the 7x7. Across two days of focused solving, competitors of all experience levels proved their mettle and pushed personal boundaries. With multiple multi-podium performers and countless personal bests established, Wakefield Summer 2024 concluded as a memorable showcase of discipline, precision, and technical skill heading into the next competitive cycle.