Back in Mauritius 2023

Aditya Ramessur delivered a clinical display on the corner-turning puzzle, recording a winning average of 8.50 seconds and a best single of 6.69 to claim the Skewb title at Le Pole. That standout performance set the tone for a competition where alternate formats shared the spotlight with traditional puzzles. Across four disciplines on August 11, 2023, the gathering in Grand Baie, Mauritius brought together a determined field of 10 competitors testing their abilities under official conditions.

The tournament schedule highlighted distinct mechanical challenges, beginning with the tetrahedral Pyraminx. Tobias Leclezio topped the Pyraminx standings with a winning average of 12.03 seconds, backed by a tournament-best single of 8.73 seconds. Leclezio held off a sharp challenge from Ramessur, who took second place with a 12.29 average, while Rayan Parmar secured third on the podium for Kenya with a mark of 22.38 across the four-competitor round.

Skewb proved equally decisive, matching two competitors in a direct contest for the top spot. Ramessur secured his first victory of the day with his sub-nine-second average, while Parmar collected another podium finish by taking second place with an average of 28.04. The niche disciplines gave this cubing competition a unique dynamic, providing specialists a platform to demonstrate mastery of non-standard turning styles alongside the classic Rubik's Cube formats.

Back in Mauritius 2023 also featured high-intensity action on the 2x2x2 Cube, where eight competitors contested a single fast-paced round. Krishna Sookun earned the title for the United Kingdom with a winning average of 6.47 seconds and an event-leading single of 4.93. Ramessur placed second with an average of 7.49 and a single of 6.46, while Leclezio completed the podium in third with an average of 7.73 and a rapid 4.53 single.

The premier 3x3x3 Cube round delivered classic speedcubing drama, featuring nine competitors battling through Le Pole. Ramessur captured the main event with a winning average of 16.02 seconds, bolstered by the competition's fastest single solve at 11.95 seconds. Sookun pushed the pace to claim the runner-up position with a 16.49 average and a 12.00 single, while Leclezio rounded out the top three with an average of 23.63, solidifying the final 3x3 results.

Behind the podium battles at Back in Mauritius 2023, several competitors made substantial progress in official competition. Ronan Ragavoodoo, competing in his second career tournament across two events, achieved a personal best single of 19.09 seconds on the 3x3x3 Cube, cutting 34.2 percent off his prior 29.00 benchmark on his way to a fourth-place finish. Ragavoodoo also logged his first ever attempt at 2x2x2 Cube with an 11.07 single. Axel Chaleon tackled his first WCA competition across two events, posting a personal best of 22.50 in his first ever attempt at 3x3x3 Cube to finish fifth, alongside a 9.99 mark in his first ever attempt at 2x2x2 Cube.

The depth of emerging talent continued with Sacha Faydherbe, who entered two events in his first WCA competition and earned fifth place in the 2x2x2 Cube with a 10.66 single on his first attempt, in addition to a 28.48 on his first ever attempt at 3x3x3 Cube. Kian Bissoondial also completed his first career tournament across two events, recording a 22.60 single on his first ever attempt at 2x2x2 Cube to place eighth, along with a 44.47 on the 3x3x3 Cube. Dweejendra Chummun took on his first official event, securing ninth in the 3x3x3 Cube with a 1:20.64 single, while Abel Leclezio registered an opening 17.69 single on his first ever attempt at Pyraminx to finish fourth overall.

The one-day meet wrapped up with Mauritius taking seven podium spots, while the United Kingdom and Kenya earned two apiece. Bringing speed cubing back to Grand Baie, Mauritius in 2023 showed the balance between established front-runners and rising local participants across four distinct events. As another season unfolds on the regional circuit, Back in Mauritius 2023 stands as a compact and diverse showcase for puzzle specialists.

From the rapid rotations of the 2x2x2 Cube to the intricate mechanics of Pyraminx and Skewb, every round tested precision and focus. The competition demonstrated that smaller entry fields can still generate engaging battles and meaningful personal milestones for every participant involved.