Burley Summer 2023

Inside the halls of the Burley Inn Convention Center, the rhythmic clack of twisting plastic echoed across competition tables as timers flashed green and red. Competitors, judges, and supporters gathered in Burley, Idaho, USA on August 12, 2023, for a single, action-packed day of classic speedcubing. Staged at the height of the summer calendar, the gathering served as a key regional benchmark where seasoned solvers and newcomers tested their training before the upcoming autumn transition.

The 2023 season has delivered intense matchups across the region, and Burley Summer 2023 kept that momentum alive across 6 events and 14 distinct rounds. A focused field of 33 competitors took to the floor, eager to establish new marks across various puzzles ranging from traditional cubes to the multi-faceted Megaminx. Every bracket offered a fresh chance to refine competition routines and climb the leaderboards.

In the flagship 3x3x3 Cube event, all eyes were on the 3x3 results across three competitive rounds featuring 33 competitors. Eric Pesci captured the top spot on the podium with a winning average of 8.17 seconds, highlighted by the day's best single solve of 7.41 seconds. Michael Larsen secured the runner-up position with an average of 9.85 seconds, while Isaac Buck rounded out the top three with an average of 10.76 seconds.

Pesci continued his dominant run across multiple formats during the tournament. In the 2x2x2 Cube final, he clinched first place with a winning average of 2.70 seconds, while also posting the round's best single at 0.86 seconds. Michael Larsen took second place with a 2.80 average, just ahead of Canyon Pettitt who registered a 2.97 average for third. Pesci also claimed the 5x5x5 Cube title, delivering a 1:05.18 winning average and a 1:02.03 single, holding off Michael Larsen with 1:07.71 and Ty Baird with 1:08.19.

Pettitt made his own mark on the day by sweeping two challenging disciplines. In Pyraminx, Pettitt earned victory with a winning average of 3.59 seconds and a single of 2.68 seconds, outperforming Pesci with 4.85 seconds and Corbin Rodriguez with 5.53 seconds. Pettitt also topped the Megaminx standings, recording a 1:04.33 winning average to lead Michael Larsen at 1:09.09 and Cade Beck at 1:11.22. In the 3x3x3 One-Handed event, Michael Larsen prevailed across three rounds with a 15.04 average and an 11.20 single, followed by Pettitt with 16.40 and Wilson Hettinger with 17.06.

Beyond the championship tier, Burley Summer 2023 offered substantial progress for emerging solvers throughout the order. Thomas Webb took on 5 events and dropped his 2x2x2 Cube personal best to 1.74 seconds, an improvement of 47.6 percent over his previous 3.32 mark, while also registering his first attempts in 5x5x5 Cube at 1:27.13 and 3x3x3 One-Handed at 25.74. Chase Creer secured a 7th-place finish in Pyraminx while cutting his 3x3x3 One-Handed mark by 37 percent to 32.13 seconds, his 2x2x2 Cube time by 30.8 percent to 3.93 seconds, and his 3x3x3 Cube time by 21.3 percent to 22.14 seconds. Nathan Haban dropped his 2x2x2 Cube best by 28.4 percent to 4.57 seconds alongside debuts in 3x3x3 One-Handed at 46.43 and Megaminx at 2:38.67. Knox Folsom improved his 3x3x3 Cube mark by 25.4 percent to 18.02 seconds while recording his first attempts in 3x3x3 One-Handed at 46.69 and 5x5x5 Cube at 3:26.22.

The depth of progress continued across the venue as Roulin McClellan lowered his 5x5x5 Cube personal best by 27 percent down to 2:49.20 and reduced his Pyraminx time by 24.4 percent to 4.47 seconds. Eduardo Garcia entered 4 events, logging a 31.1 percent drop in his 2x2x2 Cube personal best to 2.33 seconds and establishing initial marks in 3x3x3 One-Handed at 17.95 and 5x5x5 Cube at 1:06.44. The weekend also welcomed solvers to their first ever WCA competition. Calvin Godfrey made his tournament debut across 4 events, setting initial times of 17.27 in 3x3x3 Cube, 5.87 in Pyraminx, and 2:36.70 in 5x5x5 Cube. Blake Jason Harris similarly launched his tournament journey across 4 disciplines, logging 30.77 in 3x3x3 Cube, 1:24.15 in 3x3x3 One-Handed, and 9.45 in Pyraminx.

Every official speed cubing gathering brings fresh milestones, and this cubing competition served as a prime mid-summer showcase for the regional community. With competitors tackling the classic Rubik's Cube alongside larger multi-layer puzzles, Burley Summer 2023 demonstrated the steady dedication of competitors advancing through the ranks. As another chapter in the season concludes, participants carry valuable experience, personal bests, and renewed focus into the next phase of the competitive calendar.