Beckman Gets Big 2023

Ninety competitors gathered at Arnold O. Beckman High School on December 10, 2023, turning a single-day schedule into a vibrant celebration of speedcubing. The Irvine, California, USA venue hosted Beckman Gets Big 2023, packing ten rounds of competition across five events. Between scheduled heats, the venue floor remained alive with competitors sharing methods, comparing hardware adjustments, and supporting fellow solvers across tables, capturing the authentic spirit of a regional cubing competition.

The social atmosphere off the stage provided an inviting backdrop for intense head-to-head racing on the main tables. Across 88 entrants in the 3x3x3 Cube, three rounds of competition showcased remarkable focus. Max Park took first place with a winning average of 5.16 seconds, recording a best single solve of 4.75 seconds. Nancy Liu claimed second place with an average of 6.95, while Kyeongmin Choi secured third place with a 7.12 mark in the final.

The 3x3 results across the weekend highlighted deep international and regional representation on the podium. Behind the top finishers, competitors exchanged congratulations as multiple rounds filtered down the large bracket. Max Park also registered a single of 4.99 and an average of 5.53 in earlier stages, while Nancy Liu delivered a 5.87 single and 6.77 average, and Kyeongmin Choi recorded a 6.36 single and 7.17 average during the event rounds.

Beyond the classic Rubik's Cube, the schedule leaned heavily into the larger mechanical challenges that gave the event its name. In the 4x4x4 Cube, 57 competitors battled through two rounds where Max Park topped the standings with a 21.67 average and a 16.86 single. Paul Mahvi earned second place with a 27.25 average, and Mulun Yin finished third with a mark of 28.69 in an impressive display of big cube solving.

The heavier puzzles continued with the 5x5x5 Cube, drawing 42 competitors over two rounds. Max Park secured victory with an average of 40.54 and a best single of 38.35. Paul Mahvi captured second place with an average of 54.55, closely followed by Dan Tran in third place with a 55.08 average. In the single-round 6x6x6 Cube contest featuring 30 competitors, Park won with a 1:08.08 average and 1:02.30 single, ahead of Dan Tran at 1:32.98 and Paul Mahvi at 1:37.90.

Away from the main stage, the true depth of the speed cubing community shone through personal milestones achieved across the venue. Jidam Lee produced a massive 66.8 percent improvement in the 3x3x3 Cube, lowering a personal best to 16.02 seconds. Jeremiah Qian took on four events, dropping a 4x4x4 Cube personal best by 49.9 percent to 1:05.76. Miles Mak improved a Pyraminx mark by 36.9 percent to 7.33 seconds, while Henry Mock reduced a 3x3x3 Cube best by 31.9 percent to 12.95 seconds.

First-time event attempts provided equally memorable achievements at this WCA competition. Zak Couch entered five events, recording a first official 5x5x5 Cube solve of 2:19.51, a first 6x6x6 Cube solve of 4:50.01, and a Pyraminx personal best of 6.36. Dylan Trueblood tackled five events, posting a first 6x6x6 Cube attempt of 5:07.32 and a first Pyraminx result of 6.55. Colin Barney took sixth place in Pyraminx with a personal best of 3.63 and logged a first 6x6x6 Cube solve of 4:25.57. Benjamin Pina completed a debut tournament across three disciplines, posting a 19.15 single in the 3x3x3 Cube, 9.76 in Pyraminx, and 1:50.19 in the 4x4x4 Cube.

The side events rounded out the day with rapid excitement in the Pyraminx, where 49 competitors tackled two rounds of fast-paced turning. Daxton Westlake emerged victorious with a winning average of 2.71 seconds and a best single of 2.15 seconds. Josiah Liao took the runner-up spot with an average of 3.15 seconds, and Kyeongmin Choi completed the podium in third place with a 3.62 average.

Across all five disciplines, the United States collected 11 podium spots, with China and Korea earning two podium places each. Beckman Gets Big 2023 demonstrated how high-level performance and grassroots camaraderie coexist within the speedcubing circuit. Solvers departed Arnold O. Beckman High School with new personal milestones, shared memories with friends, and renewed momentum for the challenges of the next season.