Brookline Favorites 2023

Twelve competitors stepped up for the 3x3x3 One-Handed event at Brookline Favorites 2023, where manual ergonomics and finger-trick efficiency met the relentless pressure of the timer. Solving a puzzle with a single hand demands precise control and alternative turn sequences to maintain fluid turning speed. Noah Kim mastered those exact physical demands at the Brookline Event Center, delivering a commanding 12.12 winning average alongside a best single of 10.95 to claim the top spot in the standalone round.

The one-day WCA competition took place on September 3, 2023, in Brookline, New Hampshire, USA. Featuring 89 competitors across 13 events and 18 total rounds, the gathering showcased the full spectrum of modern speedcubing. Noah Kim carried his momentum directly into the traditional 3x3x3 Cube contest, leading a massive field of 81 solvers through three rounds of play. Kim secured the title with a tournament-best average of 8.07 and a single solve of 6.58, edging Elijah Rain Phelps at 8.21 and Levi Gibson at 8.50 in the crucial 3x3 results.

Across the broader cubing competition, multi-event prowess came to the fore. Elijah Rain Phelps claimed two individual titles, capturing the Pyraminx with an average of 2.72 and best single of 2.14, while also taking the Square-1 crown with a 7.56 average. Ethan Zhuang took the top step in the 2x2x2 Cube final, finishing with a 2.38 average ahead of Chris Yeager at 3.05 and Kevin Pertus at 3.62. In the Skewb event, Saisabari Ramesh posted a 4.19 winning average to best Phelps at 4.49 and Zhuang at 5.22.

Beyond the standard Rubik's Cube formats, big cube mastery belonged entirely to Evan Liu. Across the higher-order puzzles, Liu swept the field with dominant displays, capturing the 5x5x5 Cube in 1:00.26, the 6x6x6 Cube in 1:45.73, and the 7x7x7 Cube with a 2:44.06 average. Liu also demonstrated exceptional agility on the Clock, claiming victory with a 6.43 average and a 5.44 single, giving him four individual event titles in a single afternoon of speed cubing.

Derek White led the way in the 4x4x4 Cube with a 31.70 average, while Eben Quenneville secured the Megaminx victory in 54.62 seconds. The mental discipline required for blindfolded solving took center stage in the 3x3x3 Blindfolded division, where competitors must commit the entire scrambled state to memory before executing the solve without sight. Abner Brijesh triumphed with a winning average of 48.64 and a single of 45.20, standing ahead of Caleb Retik at 57.82 and Tim Reynolds at 1:03.92.

Tucked inside the crowded brackets, numerous solvers achieved massive personal breakthroughs throughout the weekend. Ren Lockwood tackled four events, recording a first ever attempt at Pyraminx in 4.83, a debut 4x4x4 Cube time of 1:22.06, and dropping their 2x2x2 Cube personal best to 1.57, which was 43.5 percent faster than their prior mark. Cole Gibson similarly advanced across four events, logging an initial 4x4x4 attempt of 1:40.12 while improving their Skewb personal best by 42.8 percent to 6.45 and their 3x3x3 best by 22.1 percent to 15.61. Dana Imambek set a first official Skewb mark of 9.36 while slashing 42 percent off their 2x2x2 best down to 3.13. Asher Jiang completed a first 2x2x2 effort of 6.84 and shaved 41.3 percent off their 3x3x3 mark to reach 29.77.

Other dedicated competitors made significant strides across their schedules. Aaron Li logged a first ever attempt at Pyraminx with an 8.35 single, alongside a 26.4 percent improvement in the 2x2x2 Cube to 4.54. Alexander Miguel Briones took on four disciplines, marking a debut 4x4x4 Cube time of 58.60 and improving their 3x3x3 One-Handed best by 21.3 percent to 21.47 on the way to a ninth-place finish. Lucas Li posted a debut Pyraminx solve of 6.31 while lowering their Skewb best by 25.1 percent to 7.92. Molly P. Carr ventured into the 5x5x5 Cube for the first time with a 3:54.48 single, while cutting their one-handed mark by 24.3 percent to 35.67.

First-time competitors also left their mark on the venue floor. Luke Liskow, Camden Heath, Kylo Estrada, and Rikit Vallandas each made their career debuts at Brookline Favorites 2023, logging their very first official attempts across multiple disciplines. With 39 total podium positions earned by United States competitors and high-tempo action across all 13 events, the gathering provided a comprehensive showcase of talent and technical skill as solvers look ahead to the next season of competitive play.