Bay Area Speedcubin' 53 - Berkeley 2023

A blistering six-gold performance from Tommy Cherry set the tone as the regional calendar pushed deep into the autumn schedule. Competing at Pauley Ballroom and Stephens in Berkeley, California, USA on October 14, Cherry asserted absolute command across an array of puzzles. His sweep included both short-format sprints and long memory battles, creating an unforgettable milestone for the 2023 campaign. The gathering marked a vital late-season stop for West Coast competitors looking to stamp their authority on the circuit before the year draws to a close.

Across the single-day showcase, Bay Area Speedcubin' 53 - Berkeley 2023 brought together 242 competitors who contested 16 total rounds across 10 distinct events. The sheer variety tested every facet of solver readiness, ranging from classic three-dimensional twisty puzzles to high-order blindfolded endurance. As the season nears its final stretch, the intensity inside the venue matched the stakes of a premier cubing competition. Entrants navigated deep brackets, tight cutoffs, and rapid turnarounds to secure their spots in the late rounds.

In the flagship 3x3x3 Cube, Ethan Jan delivered a composed masterclass to secure the title against a crowded field of 232 competitors across three rounds. Jan posted a winning average of 6.77 seconds and laid down a best single of 6.40 seconds to take the top step of the podium. Varun Mohanraj claimed the runner-up position with an average of 7.15, while Heidi Chan finished third with a mark of 7.26. The official 3x3 results underlined the exceptional depth present in Northern California speedcubing this year.

Cherry was relentless throughout the remainder of the schedule, collecting victories in five additional disciplines. In the 2x2x2 Cube, he posted a winning average of 2.15 seconds after opening the early stages with a 1.10 single and a 1.86 average, edging Mohanraj whose 2.17 placed second ahead of Jan at 2.25. Cherry followed that triumph with a 3.38 average in Pyraminx to best Sebastian Stone at 3.47 and Corbin Rodriguez at 3.73, and topped the Skewb final with a 3.46 average ahead of Wilson Xie and Seongjun Kang.

Cherry extended his mastery into the blindfolded arena, capturing the 3x3x3 Blindfolded crown with a single of 15.90 seconds over Anto Kam at 18.58 and David Karalli at 25.77. In the grueling 5x5x5 Blindfolded event, Cherry stood alone with a successful 7:14.72 average and a 7:00.17 single to earn his fifth title, while Karalli took second with a 15:37.00 single. Adding to his haul, Cherry also claimed first place in the 6x6x6 Cube with a winning average of 1:37.35, cementing an extraordinarily productive day at Bay Area Speedcubin' 53 - Berkeley 2023.

The big-cube and non-twisty disciplines yielded further remarkable battles among top regional talent. Varun Mohanraj captured the 7x7x7 Cube title by registering an average of 2:36.08 and a best single of 2:30.34, outpacing Cherry who took silver in 2:49.57 and An Le in 2:56.73. Megaminx action saw Nico Harper claim victory with an average of 41.79 seconds and a 36.89 single, finishing ahead of Cherry at 44.21 and Nolan Yiu at 44.83. In the 4x4x4 Blindfolded discipline, Jason Ostdiek secured the win with a single of 5:27.74.

Beyond the podium battles, the heart of the tournament emerged through personal progression across the ranks. Belldandy Knoll Jin entered five events and recorded a 2x2x2 Cube personal best of 5.20 seconds, improving by 57 percent over a previous mark of 12.09, while also logging a first Skewb attempt of 20.20 and a first Megaminx result of 4:48.34. Ben Yin tackled five events, slicing 53.2 percent off his Pyraminx best down to 7.68 seconds, cutting his 3x3x3 Blindfolded time by 23.6 percent to 1:56.17, and posting a debut Megaminx result of 5:22.98. Brady Anderson lowered his 2x2x2 Cube best by 52.9 percent to 2.81 seconds, improved his Pyraminx mark by 11.1 percent to 5.82, and notched a first attempt in 6x6x6 Cube at 6:34.75.

Other competitors similarly expanded their repertoire at this WCA competition. Conor Conway-Ponzanelli improved his Pyraminx personal best by 47.3 percent to 7.10 seconds and logged first attempts in both 2x2x2 Cube at 5.50 and Megaminx at 4:49.08. Kingston Lu cut his 2x2x2 Cube best by 46.4 percent to 3.61, lowered his Skewb best by 35.5 percent to 9.01, and completed a first Pyraminx attempt of 9.29. Nathan Maurer shaved 39.1 percent off his Pyraminx mark down to 4.17, while attempting Megaminx and Skewb for the first time. Suriya Kutty reduced his Rubik's Cube best by 36.1 percent to 19.22 seconds alongside debut runs in Megaminx and Pyraminx, and JD Bowman reached 7th in Skewb with a 30.6 percent personal best of 2.74 seconds while making first attempts in 6x6x6 and 7x7x7 Cubes.

The competitive slate concluded with 31 podium finishes earned by United States solvers, alongside two for Hong Kong, two for China, and one for Korea. As a complete test of speed cubing versatility, the tournament delivered high drama at every tier of the scoreboard. With the year entering its final weeks, Bay Area Speedcubin' 53 - Berkeley 2023 served as a defining milestone that set the standard for regional competitors heading into the next competitive cycle.