Bluegrass Bash 2023

Luke Garrett delivered an emphatic statement on April 2, 2023, capturing the classic 3x3x3 Cube title with a blistering 5.98 winning average. Setting the standard early in the season, Garrett posted the fastest mark of the tournament with a 4.94 single on his way to topping the podium. The early-spring contest gathered 86 competitors at the University of Louisville, Shelby Campus/Founders Union Building in Louisville, Kentucky, USA. Across 10 rounds and six distinct disciplines, the single-day gathering provided an intense showcase of top-tier talent and rising ability in North American speedcubing.

The 3x3 results formed the centerpiece of the program, drawing the full field of 86 solvers across three fiercely contested rounds. Garrett led the charge, holding off strong challenges from Dominic Redisi, who took second place with an average of 6.95, and Stanley Chapel, who completed the podium in third with a 7.74 average. The traditional Rubik's Cube remains the benchmark event of any cubing competition, and the intense pace in Louisville demonstrated that the 2023 competitive calendar is moving into full stride.

Garrett expanded his control far beyond the main puzzle, securing three additional gold medals in an extraordinary display of versatility. In the 4x4x4 Cube, he took first place with a 29.71 average, outpacing Chapel, who posted a 32.23 average, and Redisi in third with 33.95. Garrett then conquered the 5x5x5 Cube, recording a winning average of 56.99 to finish ahead of Chapel at 59.81 and Stephen Griggs at 1:09.68. Rounding out his four-event sweep, Garrett claimed the Clock title with a 4.71 average, once again ahead of Chapel in second at 5.28 and Harrison Mullins in third at 6.64.

The remaining disciplines at Bluegrass Bash 2023 highlighted the remarkable range of puzzle mastery on display throughout the day. In the Skewb event, Simon Kellum captured victory across three rounds with a winning average of 2.86, narrowly edging out Chapel, who took second in 2.96, and Redisi, who placed third in 3.15. Kellum also produced the fastest individual solve of the entire Skewb bracket with a remarkable 1.21 single. The 3x3x3 Blindfolded division belonged entirely to Chapel, who secured the win with a single time of 17.70, while Mason Langenderfer placed second with a 51.52 solve and Kellum took third in 1:35.51.

Beyond the championship podiums, the event floor gave dozens of competitors space to reach major personal milestones. Henry Powell took on five separate events, posting an enormous personal best in Clock with an 11.26 solve, which was 55.4 percent faster than his prior standard, while also completing his first ever attempt at 4x4x4 Cube in 49.93 and 5x5x5 Cube in 2:07.16. Sam Davidson similarly logged a massive breakthrough on the 4x4x4 Cube, clocking a 54.91 personal best that shaved 47.1 percent off his previous time, alongside his first ever attempt at Skewb in 10.22. William Smith tackled all six events, setting a Skewb personal best of 6.60, representing a 48.4 percent improvement, while also notching a 1:12.60 personal best on the 4x4x4 Cube.

Several other participants used this WCA competition to branch into new puzzles or mark their formal debuts in the sport. Joseph W. Passer recorded a 5x5x5 Cube personal best of 1:46.91, an improvement of 26.4 percent, while also logging a first ever attempt at Skewb in 8.38 and Clock in 12.17. Drew Dwyer entered six events, securing a Clock personal best of 11.31 while making his first ever attempt at 5x5x5 Cube in 1:57.28. William Andrew Koch entered five events, recording his first ever attempt at Skewb in 9.21 and Clock in 26.45. Making their competitive debuts on the official stage, James D. Harrison completed five events including a first ever attempt at 4x4x4 Cube in 1:38.91, while Anderson Lee registered a 20.06 in his first ever attempt at 3x3x3 Cube.

The single-day schedule proved to be a masterclass in event management and high-volume performance. Running six events across 10 rounds required precise organization at the University of Louisville, Shelby Campus/Founders Union Building. With United States competitors capturing all 18 podium positions, the tournament reinforced the regional depth across Kentucky and neighboring scenes. For competitors across all skill tiers, the structured rounds offered the chance to test their training against the clock under official conditions.

As the spring calendar advances, the performances logged at Bluegrass Bash 2023 set a strong baseline for the year ahead. The tournament highlighted the enduring appeal of speed cubing, where elite speedcubers like Garrett, Chapel, and Kellum share the competition tables with first-time entrants. With multi-event dominance at the top and widespread personal progress throughout the ranks, the weekend in Louisville served as a dynamic milestone in the unfolding season.