Ansan Autumn 2023

Inside the halls of the Ansan Art Center, the sharp clicks of rotating puzzle layers echoed across the floor as 116 competitors took their places at the solving stations. Staged in 경기도 안산시 (Ansan-si, Gyeonggi-do), Korea, the gathering brought together solvers spanning diverse skill levels, each stepping up to the mats to challenge the clock. While spectators often look for traditional 3x3 results at a major cubing competition, this single-day schedule on September 24, 2023, offered a concentrated test across three distinct events spanning six full rounds.

The 2023 season has highlighted rapid improvements across the field, with young competitors accelerating their pace and pushing past previous benchmarks in every round. At Ansan Autumn 2023, this rapid evolution was on full display as dozens of participants trimmed significant fractions of time from their personal records. The atmosphere throughout the venue remained intensely focused, as solvers of all backgrounds brought dedication to the tables, turning individual preparation into standout execution under official WCA competition conditions.

The 2x2x2 Cube proved to be the most heavily populated event of the day, drawing a field of 105 competitors through two competitive rounds. Jaemin Chang took the top step on the podium with a winning average of 1.76 seconds, backed by a best single solve of 1.44 seconds in the final round. The competition at the top was exceptionally close, as SeungO Han secured second place with an average of 1.78 seconds, while Sooho Lee captured third place with an average of 2.57 seconds.

In the 5x5x5 Cube, the mechanical demands shifted from pure sprinting speed to extensive piece alignment and structural control across 73 entrants. Seung Hyuk Nahm delivered a commanding performance to claim victory with a winning average of 40.09 seconds, also registering the best single time of the event at 36.31 seconds. Jaemin Chang added to his medal collection by taking second place with an average of 48.83 seconds, while DongSoo Park finished in third place with a 51.11 average.

The Clock event tested an entirely different discipline of speedcubing, requiring rapid dial adjustments and pin manipulation across two rounds featuring 69 competitors. EunKyeol Seo emerged as the winner by recording a steady winning average of 6.48 seconds, which included a best single attempt of 5.75 seconds. DongSoo Park earned another podium spot by taking second place with an average of 6.68 seconds, closely followed by Jeongmin Lee, who completed the podium in third place with an average of 7.05 seconds.

Beyond the podium finishes, the weekend provided a stage for several dedicated competitors to achieve major breakthroughs and attempt new challenges. Jae Hyeong Choi entered all three events and secured a 2x2x2 Cube personal best of 5.06 seconds, marking a 63.4 percent improvement, alongside a Clock personal best of 15.29 seconds that was 16.4 percent faster, and logged a first ever attempt at 5x5x5 Cube of 3:31.45. Eunho Lee also took on three events, posting a Clock personal best of 16.02 seconds, which was 65.1 percent faster than before, while recording a first ever attempt at 5x5x5 Cube in 1:53.59. Yoonsung Jang tackled three events, earning a 2x2x2 Cube personal best of 3.72 seconds for a 31.4 percent drop, while making a first ever attempt at Clock in 13.30 seconds and a first ever attempt at 5x5x5 Cube in 2:13.60. Joonhee Lee rounded out a three-event slate with a 2x2x2 Cube personal best of 3.46 seconds, cutting 25.6 percent, along with a first ever attempt at Clock in 11.50 seconds and a first ever attempt at 5x5x5 Cube in 2:09.40.

The progress continued with Yeohun Chwa, who participated in all three events and lowered their 2x2x2 Cube personal best to 2.31 seconds, an improvement of 20.1 percent, while registering a first ever attempt at Clock in 11.07 seconds and a first ever attempt at 5x5x5 Cube in 2:07.28. SeungMin Kim took on three events and delivered a 2x2x2 Cube personal best of 2.50 seconds, which was 20.1 percent faster, alongside a first ever attempt at Clock in 13.25 seconds and a first ever attempt at 5x5x5 Cube in 1:43.15. Heesung Kim entered three events, achieving a 2x2x2 Cube personal best of 3.06 seconds for a 10 percent reduction, while logging a first ever attempt at Clock in 23.86 seconds and a first ever attempt at 5x5x5 Cube in 2:30.45. EunChan Jung completed three events as well, setting a 5x5x5 Cube personal best of 2:15.19, an improvement of 35.2 percent, and notching a first ever attempt at Clock in 27.87 seconds.

The overall tournament reflected the healthy state of the sport in the region, where enthusiasm for classic Rubik's Cube variants and alternative puzzles continues to thrive. Across all three events, Korean competitors swept the top three places, claiming all nine podium spots available during the competition. Speed cubing in the district demonstrated substantial depth, with seasoned participants and advancing competitors pushing their boundaries from the preliminary rounds straight through to the finals.

As the final timers were packed away, Ansan Autumn 2023 concluded as a showcase of technical refinement and steady individual progress. The combination of decisive victories at the top of the standings and massive personal bests across the broader field illustrated the high standard of preparation among all who attended. With another demanding tournament in the books, the competitors carry their newly established benchmarks forward into the next season of competitive solving.

2023년 9월 24일 경기도 안산시 (Ansan-si, Gyeonggi-do), Korea에 위치한 안산문화재단 경기장은 수많은 큐브 애호가들의 집중력과 긴장감으로 가득 찼습니다. 각자의 타이머 앞에서 신중하게 루빅스 큐브를 매만지는 손길마다 오랜 연습의 흔적이 묻어났습니다. 가을의 초입에서 펼쳐진 이번 대회는 단 하루 동안 치러졌음에도 불구하고 현장의 열기는 그 어느 때보다 뜨거웠습니다.

이번 Ansan Autumn 2023 대회는 총 116명의 참가자가 등록하며 남다른 선수층의 깊이를 보였습니다. 3개 종목에 걸쳐 진행된 6개의 라운드는 결선 무대에 오르기 위한 치열한 예선 경쟁으로 이어졌습니다. 특히 인기 종목에서는 수많은 실력자들이 몰리면서 상위 라운드 진출권을 따내기 위해 단 0.01초의 오차도 허용되지 않는 치열한 스피드큐빙 레이스가 펼쳐졌습니다.

가장 많은 참가자가 몰린 2x2x2 Cube 종목은 무려 105명이 1라운드에 출전해 결선 진출 자체가 커다란 도전이었습니다. 2라운드 끝에 우승을 차지한 선수는 평균 1.76초를 기록한 Jaemin Chang (장재민)이었습니다. SeungO Han (한승오)은 평균 1.78초로 2위에 올랐고 Sooho Lee (이수호)는 평균 2.57초로 3위를 차지하며 대한민국 선수들이 포디엄을 채웠습니다. Jaemin Chang (장재민)은 최고 싱글 1.44초를 남기기도 했습니다.

대형 큐브의 정수인 5x5x5 Cube 종목에서는 총 73명의 선수가 출전해 2개 라운드를 치렀습니다. 이 종목의 정상은 평균 40.09초와 최고 싱글 36.31초를 찍은 Seung Hyuk Nahm (남승혁)이 차지했습니다. 그 뒤를 이어 Jaemin Chang (장재민)이 평균 48.83초로 2위, DongSoo Park (박동수)이 평균 51.11초로 3위에 오르며 뛰어난 기량을 증명했습니다.

독특한 구조의 퍼즐인 Clock 종목에서도 69명의 선수가 출전하여 치열한 경쟁을 벌였습니다. EunKyeol Seo (서은결)은 결선에서 평균 6.48초와 최고 싱글 5.75초를 작성하며 당당히 우승 트로피를 들어 올렸습니다. DongSoo Park (박동수)은 평균 6.68초로 2위를 기록했고 Jeongmin Lee (이정민)은 평균 7.05초로 3위에 오르며 대회를 빛냈습니다.

결선 무대 뒤편에서는 값진 개인 기록을 달성한 선수들의 활약이 빛났습니다. 통산 16번째 대회에 나선 Yunwoo Jung은 이번에 3개 종목에 참가하여 Clock에 처음 도전해 10.64초를 기록했고 5x5x5 Cube에서는 종전 기록을 34.4퍼센트 단축한 1분 19.91초의 개인 최고 기록을 세웠습니다. 통산 12번째 대회였던 Shinyoung Lee는 2개 종목을 소화하며 Clock 첫 도전에서 15.18초를, 2x2x2 Cube에서는 이전보다 33.9퍼센트 빠른 2.92초의 개인 최고 기록을 작성했습니다. June Kim (김준)은 5x5x5 Cube 첫 시도에서 2분 05.44초를 기록하고 Clock에서 27.9퍼센트 단축된 9.57초의 개인 최고 기록을 냈으며 Hwa Rang Kim (김화랑)은 5x5x5 Cube 첫 도전 7분 18.40초와 함께 2x2x2 Cube에서 27.2퍼센트 앞당긴 15.05초를 기록했습니다.

생애 첫 WCA competition에 출전해 다채로운 종목을 완주한 신예들의 도전도 눈길을 끌었습니다. 이번 대회가 첫 출전이었던 Seungho Lee (이승호)는 3개 종목에 도전해 Clock 20.42초, 5x5x5 Cube 3분 34.42초, 2x2x2 Cube 2.40초의 첫 기록들을 남겼습니다. 역시 첫 대회였던 YeJun Jeong (정예준)은 Clock 10.54초, 5x5x5 Cube 1분 48.24초, 2x2x2 Cube 6.18초를 기록했습니다. 함께 데뷔한 Kim SeoHa (김서하)는 Clock 19.83초, 5x5x5 Cube 4분 57.08초, 2x2x2 Cube 8.10초를, Minjoon Seo (서민준)은 2x2x2 Cube 6.50초, Clock 19.08초, 5x5x5 Cube 1분 46.22초를 각각 기록하며 성공적으로 첫 무대를 마쳤습니다.

116명의 참가자가 뿜어낸 열정과 9개의 포디엄 입상을 모두 한국 선수들이 장식한 이번 큐브 대회는 성황리에 마무리되었습니다. 탄탄한 선수층 속에서 각자의 한계를 시험하고 새로운 기록을 써 내려간 선수들은 다음 시즌을 향한 든든한 발판을 마련했습니다. 안산에서 입증된 국내 스피드큐빙의 깊이는 앞으로 이어질 무대들에 대한 기대감을 한층 높여주었습니다.