Central Square Trifecta 2023

Viktor Pearl delivered the standout performance of the day in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, securing the Skewb title with a decisive 3.06 winning average. Pearl capped a commanding run across three rounds by pairing relentless consistency with a best single solve of 2.59. The single-day WCA competition brought 28 competitors to St Mary Orthodox Church on December 16, 2023, for an intense nine-round program dedicated entirely to non-standard puzzles rather than standard 3x3 results.

The format at Central Square Trifecta 2023 put steady, controlled solving at a premium across all three featured disciplines. Brendan Lee took second place on the Skewb podium with a 3.77 average, while Ethan Zhuang captured third place with an average of 3.91. Throughout the field of 25 Skewb competitors, podium contenders relied on tight spreads across their five-solve finals rather than relying solely on isolated fast attempts, showcasing elite control in this classic speedcubing discipline.

Lee stepped up to the top of the podium in Megaminx, capturing first place with an impressive winning average of 41.82 and a best single of 40.12 in the final round. His path through the 22-person field was marked by unwavering discipline across all three rounds, outlasting Joshua Broderick Phillips, who finished in second place with an average of 48.04. Pearl added a second top-three finish to his weekend resume by taking third place with a final average of 54.05.

The Megaminx rounds saw a remarkable cascade of individual milestones across the board. Lee established a single of 35.84 alongside a 43.39 average earlier in the day, while Phillips notched a 48.13 single and a 50.00 average. Pearl posted a 49.91 single and a 56.89 average, and Mike Zheng delivered a 49.53 single and 58.13 average. Saisabari Ramesh registered a 48.67 single and 58.24 average, Derek White recorded a 52.52 single and 59.59 average, Liam Corcoran logged a 58.52 single and 1:02.96 average, Elijah Rain Phelps recorded a 57.66 single and 1:03.03 average, Will Russo achieved a 58.77 single and 1:05.10 average, and Tommy Szeliga turned in a 1:04.49 single and 1:07.08 average.

Square-1 action rounded out the schedule with Elijah Rain Phelps claiming the championship. Phelps demonstrated superior technique on the shape-shifting puzzle, locking in a winning average of 7.72 alongside a best single solve of 7.05. Phillips earned another podium result by securing second place with an 11.20 average, while Szeliga rounded out the top three with an average of 12.21 over the course of three rounds featuring 22 competitors.

Away from the top steps of the podium, several competitors achieved striking improvements that highlighted the depth of the field. Peter Ha delivered one of the steepest single-solve drops of the entire cubing competition, setting a new Square-1 personal best of 13.65, which was 44.3 percent faster than his prior mark of 24.52. Nolan Mottor took on two events and cut his Skewb personal best down to 10.36, improving by 39.5 percent from his previous best of 17.11. Towery McNeil entered three events and registered an 8.12 personal best in Square-1, a 23 percent improvement from 10.55, alongside a 1:19.99 in Megaminx, 7.2 percent faster than his previous best.

Other competitors took on fresh challenges and set multiple personal records throughout the venue. Mike Zheng took on three events, finishing fourth in Megaminx with a personal best of 49.53 that was five percent faster than before, while also recording his first ever attempt at Square-1 with a solve of 58.62. Aidan Leschuk contested three events and trimmed personal bests across the board, posting a 2:02.12 in Megaminx for a 12.1 percent improvement, a 5.64 in Skewb for a 10.9 percent jump, and a 30.79 in Square-1. Liam Corcoran entered three events and secured ninth place in Megaminx with a personal best of 48.77, a 19.4 percent drop, while adding a 20.24 personal best in Square-1. Elaine Wang improved her Megaminx personal best to 1:06.36, four percent faster than her prior standard, and Michael Amarello dropped his Skewb mark to 26.19, an improvement of 20.8 percent.

The meeting served as an engaging showcase for disciplines that expand beyond the classic Rubik's Cube. Competitors across Massachusetts and the wider region embraced the speed cubing challenge across three complex puzzles, navigating the varied mechanics of Skewb, the twelve-sided Megaminx, and the shifting geometry of Square-1 across nine complete rounds.

By the conclusion of Central Square Trifecta 2023, United States competitors swept all nine podium positions. With balanced solving triumphing over singular bursts of speed across every final, the event closed out the 2023 calendar with technical precision and memorable personal breakthroughs.