Cubing Knights V 2023

Ninety-nine competitors converged in Orlando, Florida, USA for a packed day of solving across six distinct events and thirteen separate rounds. Bringing together an ambitious schedule on December 16, 2023, the event team transformed the UCF Student Union into a focal point for the regional speedcubing community. Through precise scheduling, steady judging management, and tireless behind-the-scenes work, the organizing crew kept the entire slate moving without a hitch from morning until the last podium presentation at Cubing Knights V 2023.

The sheer coordination required to guide nearly one hundred entrants through multiple stages of head-to-head heats speaks volumes about the volunteers, delegates, and staff on site. Running events that ranged from the standard Rubik's Cube to specialized challenges like Clock and Square-1 demanded prompt scrambling and fast scorekeeping throughout the day. Their efforts allowed participants to focus entirely on turning at maximum pace, producing top-tier marks across every division during this high-energy cubing competition.

Noah Swor authored the dominant individual performance of the competition, securing victories in four separate events. Swor opened his title haul in 2x2x2 Cube, delivering a 1.65 average to top Daniel Guerra and Santino Maiorino. In Square-1, Swor led the field across two rounds with an 8.82 average and a 5.74 single, finishing ahead of Alex Bohac and Tommy Cherry. Swor added two more golds by averaging 13.79 in 3x3x3 One-Handed to edge Matthew Duffin and Leyton Beardslee, and capturing Pyraminx with a 3.15 average over Cherry and Bohac.

The premier 3x3x3 Cube contest gathered 96 entrants across three rigorous rounds of turning. Alexander Persaud proved unmatched in the final, taking first place with a 7.76 winning average and an event-best single of 5.67. Owen Brooks locked down the runner-up position with an 8.13 average, while Tommy Cherry earned bronze with an 8.21 mark. The fast 3x3 results underscored the competitive depth in Orlando, as final-round finalists traded sub-eight-second times on the main stage.

Precision was equally crucial in the Clock division, where 55 competitors vied across two rounds. Vishwa Sankar took the tournament title with a 4.65 winning average, also posting the fastest single of the day at 3.31. Cherry secured his third podium placement of the day by finishing second with a 4.76 average, while Guerra took third at 5.54. The rapid times demonstrated the high level of speed cubing excellence fostered by the event crew.

Beyond the championship finals, the floor saw dozens of personal milestones achieved by dedicated participants. Ethan Capote cut massive margins from past marks, setting an 18.05 Clock single that was 63.2 percent faster than his prior best, alongside a 25.3 percent drop to 14.46 on the 3x3x3 Cube, while also taking his first ever attempt at 3x3x3 One-Handed at 46.53. Matthew Lanier took on six events, generating a 54.1 percent improvement with a 28.53 One-Handed single and logging first-time marks of 7.35 in Pyraminx and 26.92 in Clock. Trace Weik trimmed 53.8 percent off his 2x2x2 Cube mark with a 6.22 personal best, alongside debut attempts in 3x3x3 Cube at 45.56 and Pyraminx at 12.11.

Debut routines continued across every bracket at Cubing Knights V 2023. Max Lirio tackled six disciplines, shaving 46.6 percent off his Clock mark down to 11.00 while posting first attempts of 8.01 in Pyraminx and 26.55 in One-Handed. Nathaniel Gagnon entered six events, reaching a 10th-place finish in 3x3x3 Cube while recording inaugural attempts in Square-1 at 1:07.44, Pyraminx at 3.56, and One-Handed at 19.52. Blake Hines recorded debut singles of 24.57 in One-Handed, 5.72 in Pyraminx, and 17.95 in Clock. First-time WCA competition entrant Jason Rex Ridenour took on five events, posting initial times of 5.09 in 2x2x2 Cube, 24.22 in Clock, and 45.13 in One-Handed, while fellow newcomer Milan Olivares entered five events, logging 18.34 on 3x3x3 Cube, 10.28 on Pyraminx, and 11.45 on Clock.

The 2023 gathering at the UCF Student Union highlighted the enduring strength of the Florida community, with American competitors sweeping all eighteen podium positions across the tournament. Every clean transition between rounds served as proof of the staff's dedication to hosting a welcoming and efficient WCA competition. As the day concluded, the success of Cubing Knights V 2023 stood as a testament to the volunteers whose hard work made every solve possible.