Big and Blind YSU 2023

Nine competitors stepped up to the 7x7x7 Cube tables at the YSU Theology Faculty, but the true measure of the weekend was the sheer physical and mental stamina demanded across the heaviest puzzles on the schedule. Held on October 28 and October 29 in Yerevan, Armenia, Big and Blind YSU 2023 delivered a grueling lineup of complex disciplines. Over two intense days of speedcubing action, 23 competitors tackled 10 rounds across six demanding events, pushing beyond the standard Rubik's Cube into the realm of long-form precision and sustained concentration.

The large puzzles formed the centerpiece of the program, requiring solvers to manage hundreds of pieces across grueling multi-minute efforts. Italian competitor Vincenzo Maria Gammino mounted a comprehensive sweep of the big-cube roster, taking top honors in the 5x5x5, 6x6x6, and 7x7x7 events. Gammino secured the 5x5x5 Cube title with an average of 1:08.76 and a best single of 1:05.24 across two rounds of play. He was pursued closely by Russia's Edit Betanian, who claimed the runner-up spot with an average of 1:15.45, while Kevin Marcalian of Iran took third with 1:24.76.

As the puzzle dimensions expanded, the endurance required to keep turn speeds consistent became the defining narrative. In the single-round 6x6x6 Cube contest, Gammino maintained his rhythm over six minutes of total solving to post a winning average of 2:01.38, highlighted by a single of 1:55.28. Betanian again pushed the pace to earn second place with a mark of 2:07.34, while Armenia's Grigor Shahverdyan locked up third on the podium with a time of 2:46.34. The event showcased the relentless finger stamina needed when turning massive layers without pause.

The ultimate test of physical endurance arrived in the 7x7x7 Cube, where Gammino completed his triple crown. His winning average of 2:52.68, anchored by a best single effort of 2:45.80, stood well clear of the field. Betanian secured another silver finish with a 3:28.53 average, while Mikhail Nikitin of Russia took third place on the podium with 4:57.65. Managing the complex center-building phases and edge pairing on the largest puzzle on the WCA competition docket demanded extraordinary patience and focus from every finalist who sat at the station.

Beyond the podium races, several solvers marked major milestones across the weekend. Gagik Arshakyan took on three events and delivered a massive breakthrough on the 4x4x4 Cube, posting a personal best of 1:16.59 that improved his previous best mark by 59.2 percent, alongside his first official attempts in the 5x5x5 Cube at 3:26.86 and the Megaminx at 2:32.48. Hayk Mergeryan also made huge strides, dropping his 4x4x4 Cube personal best to 1:16.55, an improvement of 40 percent, while improving his Megaminx mark to 2:11.89. Eduard Hakobyan lowered his 4x4x4 Cube personal best by 36.3 percent to 52.26 and logged maiden official attempts in the 5x5x5 and 6x6x6 events.

The depth of dedication continued as Tigran Harutyunyan improved his 4x4x4 Cube personal best by 33.2 percent to 1:00.72 and his 5x5x5 Cube best by 24.6 percent to 3:03.13, while logging his first Megaminx solve at 3:38.52. Boris Meliksetian tackled four events, setting a 4x4x4 Cube personal best of 46.18, a 25.2 percent improvement, alongside first-ever efforts in the 6x6x6 and 7x7x7 cubes. Gagik Gevorgyan cut his 4x4x4 Cube mark by 22.4 percent to 1:31.49, Alexey Nikitin logged a 7x7x7 Cube debut of 9:19.40, and Vahan Sukiasyan took fourth in the blindfolded solve while entering three brand-new events.

Away from the large cubic puzzles, the dodecahedral Megaminx challenged competitors with long lookahead sequences across twelve colored faces. Kevin Marcalian captured the Megaminx crown with a rapid winning average of 54.77, recording the round's top single solve of 48.54. Ilya Anishchanka of Belarus earned second place with an average of 1:23.45, while Grigor Shahverdyan secured another Armenian podium finish with a 1:31.88 average. The complex turning geometry provided a sharp contrast to the square-faced hardware of the other rounds.

The 4x4x4 Cube competition produced intense drama across three rounds of speed cubing. Ilya Anishchanka captured victory with a decisive average of 36.72 in the final, edging Shahverdyan who took second with 40.63, while Betanian took third with 42.25. Shahverdyan delivered one of the weekend's supreme highlights by setting a national record single of 35.47 and a national record average of 45.39. Fans tracking 3x3 results across other events were also treated to an exceptional display of memory in the 3x3x3 Blindfolded event, where Anishchanka won with a single solve of 2:37.77 ahead of Chiara Marcucci and Narek Badalyan.

The close of Big and Blind YSU 2023 marked the conclusion of a rigorous weekend in Yerevan, Armenia. Across all 10 rounds, the gathering demonstrated the expanding technical depth and stamina of solvers across the region. With five podium positions secured by Russian competitors, four by Italian solvers, four by Armenian entrants, three by Belarus, and two by Iran, the tournament delivered high-level execution across every long-format puzzle on the stage as participants look ahead to the next competitive season.