4BLD in a Madison Hall 2023

Inside Monona Terrace, the atmosphere across the tables was filled with shared focus and quiet encouragement. Solvers huddled around practice mats between attempts, comparing algorithms, inspecting puzzles, and trading tips on memory methods. The gathering brought together 30 competitors in Madison, Wisconsin, USA for an intensive weekend dedicated to some of the most demanding disciplines in the community. As participants reconnected with old friends and welcomed newcomers to the venue, the gathering proved once again why every cubing competition thrives on mutual support.

Held across January 28 to January 29, 4BLD in a Madison Hall 2023 featured a schedule packed with specialised challenges. With 6 events and 12 rounds in total, the weekend demanded immense endurance and patience. Rather than standard sprinting, much of the schedule placed heavy emphasis on memory and analysis, giving attendees ample time between rounds to talk strategy, trade solving techniques, and enjoy the shared journey of high-level speed cubing.

The blindfolded events produced top-tier performances from experienced solvers. In 3x3x3 Blindfolded, Tommy Cherry secured victory with a best single of 17.24 across three rounds, while Stanley Chapel took second with a 17.68 and Will Cerne finished third with a 21.56, standing out amidst the 3x3 results. Meanwhile, Stanley Chapel captured first place in 5x5x5 Blindfolded with a winning single time of 2:53.98, outlasting Cale Schoon in second at 4:44.64 and Tommy Cherry in third at 7:46.12.

The namesake challenge of 4BLD in a Madison Hall 2023 delivered intense focus. Tommy Cherry won 4x4x4 Blindfolded with a 2:37.57 winning average and a best single of 2:09.34. Cale Schoon took the second podium spot with a single of 2:12.40, followed by Peter Weyers with a 5:57.40 single. The mental stamina required for large cube blindfolded solving was on full display as competitors navigated the memory burdens of each round.

Behind the top podium spots, several competitors achieved meaningful breakthroughs that highlighted the depth of the field. Austin Adueni entered two events and registered a massive personal best in Clock with a time of 13.03, which was 77.3 percent faster than his previous mark, alongside his first ever attempt at 3x3x3 Fewest Moves with 53. Tommy Moreno tackled five events, achieving a best finish of seventh in 5x5x5 Blindfolded with an initial attempt of 21:37.00, while also posting first career attempts of 8:57.53 in 4x4x4 Blindfolded and 12/18 in 56:12 in 3x3x3 Multi-Blind. Varun Gudibanda improved his 3x3x3 Blindfolded mark to 2:00.08, a 25.1 percent improvement, and notched 33 in his first 3x3x3 Fewest Moves attempt. Brandon Reichman finished ninth in 3x3x3 Fewest Moves with a personal best of 33.

The progress continued across various disciplines for other dedicated entrants. Rachel Feran set a personal best of 38 in 3x3x3 Fewest Moves, cutting 13.6 percent off her previous record. János Csontos claimed fifth in 4x4x4 Blindfolded with a first attempt of 7:10.64, alongside first attempts of 40 in 3x3x3 Fewest Moves and 5/6 in 18:42 in 3x3x3 Multi-Blind. Aaron Soley took fourth in 4x4x4 Blindfolded with a personal best of 7:32.50, an improvement of 16.7 percent, while also setting personal bests in 3x3x3 Fewest Moves at 44 and 3x3x3 Multi-Blind at 10/13 in 56:39. Justin Sui set a personal best of 37 in 3x3x3 Fewest Moves, a 22.9 percent drop, and completed a first attempt of 6/7 in 40:54 in 3x3x3 Multi-Blind.

Other puzzle categories provided varied tests of problem-solving. In 3x3x3 Fewest Moves, Cale Schoon earned first place with an impressive winning average of 23.00, backed by a best single of 20, while James Quinn placed second with a 24.67 average and Carter Kucala took third with 26.00. The non-blindfolded speed of the Clock event saw Tommy Cherry top the standings with an average of 4.38 and a best single of 3.36, followed by Carter Thomas at 5.26 and Stanley Chapel at 5.40. In 3x3x3 Multi-Blind, Rowe Hessler won by solving 45/46 in 58:17, ahead of Will Cerne with 19/20 in 38:48 and Cale Schoon with 25/33 in 1:00:00.

Across two full days, 4BLD in a Madison Hall 2023 demonstrated the true spirit of speedcubing, where deep focus during rounds alternates with supportive camaraderie away from the tables. Solving complex variants of the Rubik's Cube without sight or in the fewest turns possible creates an undeniable bond among participants. As the 2023 event concluded at Monona Terrace, competitors packed their gear with fresh memories and renewed enthusiasm for the next WCA competition.

The 18 total podium placements earned across the tournament represented dedication to the craft, but the shared atmosphere remained the lasting takeaway of 4BLD in a Madison Hall 2023. With every successful attempt and shared solution, the weekend in Wisconsin showcased a vibrant community driven by mutual respect and a love for complex problem solving.