Cube Against Cancer Texas 2023

The tables were set and the competition mats lined the hall at the Church of the Holy Apostles on April 1, 2023. Speedcubers of all experience levels gathered under the bright venue lights in Katy, Texas, USA, ready to test their recognition, finger speed, and problem-solving consistency. A total of 70 competitors filed in for Cube Against Cancer Texas 2023, where six official events across eleven rounds tested everything from compact twisty puzzles to large multi-layered cubes.

Across the day, record sheets filled quickly with benchmark marks during early rounds and final showdowns. In the 2x2x2 Cube, dozens of competitors registered official marks on the books. Dylan Michaels posted a 5.33 single and 6.35 average, while Siwoo Kim recorded a 5.29 single alongside a 6.88 average. Ryan Ylagan produced a 3.04 single and 5.32 average, while Viktor Montemayor logged a 4.41 single and 5.88 average. Leo JeongPyo Hong delivered a 5.81 single and 10.74 average, and Bobby Archibold secured a 6.92 single and 8.29 average, demonstrating the depth across the roster.

The fast-paced 2x2x2 Cube continued to yield rapid marks as Vincent Chen put up a 2.47 single and 4.04 average, and eventual event champion Siddharth Reddy registered a 1.03 single with a 2.41 average. Zachary Long added a 5.50 single and 6.84 average to the tally, matched by Ty Pham who delivered a 3.64 single and 4.81 average. In the final round of the event, Siddharth Reddy secured first place with an average of 2.14 and a top single of 1.23, finishing ahead of Dylan Miller in second with 2.30 and Om Joshi in third with 2.89.

The flagship 3x3x3 Cube drew all 70 entrants across three elimination rounds at Cube Against Cancer Texas 2023. In the decisive final, Dylan Miller took top honors with a 6.56 winning average and the best single of the event at 5.30. Derek Herrera claimed second on the podium with an 8.66 average, while Om Joshi finished in third with an 8.67 mark. Fans tracking the classic Rubik's Cube action saw intense turn speeds, with the 3x3 results setting a high competitive standard for the entire gathering.

Beyond the standard format, Dylan Miller extended his dominance across multiple disciplines during the cubing competition. In 4x4x4 Cube, Miller took the title with a 32.34 average and a best single of 28.60, outperforming Om Joshi who took second with 33.43 and George Fan who placed third with 34.66. Miller completed his triple championship haul in 3x3x3 One-Handed, recording a winning average of 11.77 and a single of 9.19 to top Justin Zhou at 15.47 and Derek Herrera at 16.06.

Away from the top of the podium, the weekend was defined by remarkable individual strides and breakthroughs across the roster. Vincent Robert Ford tackled four events and produced a 4.79 personal best on the 2x2x2 Cube, an improvement of 73 percent over their previous best 17.77. Reese Newberry achieved a 3.87 personal best in the 2x2x2 Cube to best their old mark by 64.5 percent, and added a 1:36.97 in 4x4x4 Cube, which was 40.4 percent faster. Jade Breitstein contested six events, setting a 2.09 personal best in 2x2x2 Cube that was 55 percent faster and posting a 4:23.16 personal best in 7x7x7 Cube to earn a fifth-place finish.

Several competitors also took on unfamiliar challenges for the first time at this WCA competition. Sebastian Pedroza Hernandez completed their first ever attempt at 3x3x3 One-Handed with a 51.37, while improving their 2x2x2 Cube mark by 47.8 percent down to 3.53. Desmond Carman tried the 5x5x5 Cube for the first time to register a 1:40.34, while also knocking 32.7 percent off their one-handed mark with a 17.74. Zachary Long logged a first attempt in 3x3x3 One-Handed with 48.95, and Sean Smith completed a first ever attempt at 4x4x4 Cube with a 58.15 single. Stefan Schoeman took part in their first career speed cubing tournament, entering four events and logging a 4.40 initial solve on the 2x2x2 Cube and an 18.53 on the 3x3x3 Cube.

The big cube events at Cube Against Cancer Texas 2023 were highlighted by Vincent Chen, who swept both the 5x5x5 Cube and 7x7x7 Cube divisions. In the 5x5x5 Cube, Chen captured victory with a 1:01.94 average and a 59.07 single, edging Om Joshi at 1:02.87 and Dylan Miller at 1:07.66. Chen then closed out the 7x7x7 Cube with a first-place average of 3:02.03 and a single of 2:45.51, leading Justin Zhou in second with 3:08.52 and Christopher G. Argueta in third with 3:26.32.

The tournament highlighted strong international representation, with competitors representing the USA collecting 16 podium finishes and the Philippines claiming two. From lightning-fast rounds on smaller puzzles to grueling solves on larger hardware, the day in Katy delivered thrilling speedcubing action. As the tables packed away at the Church of the Holy Apostles, competitors left with fresh personal milestones and standard-setting times on the official ledger.