CubingUSA Great Lakes FMC Championship 2023

Pencils scraped softly against paper across tournament tables as the clock ticked down the sixty-minute limit. Unlike standard head-to-head Rubik's Cube races where fingers blur across the plastic, the scene across multiple venues was marked by quiet deliberation and intense study. Competitors turned handheld cubes methodically, analyzing sequence after sequence before committing their move sequences to score sheets. The CubingUSA Great Lakes FMC Championship 2023 tested strategic planning across a dedicated single-event schedule.

Held on October 14, 2023, the multi-location tournament brought together 45 competitors simultaneously across Multiple cities, USA. The specialized format of 3x3x3 Fewest Moves featured a single decisive round consisting of three distinct solve attempts. With no preliminary cutoffs, every participant had the full three-hour slate to build a mean of three results, meaning tactical consistency across all three attempts proved entirely necessary to climb the overall standings.

The single-round structure left no room for error, rewarding those who could maintain efficiency across three distinct scrambles. In this environment of deliberate speedcubing, Cale Schoon rose to the top of the standings for the USA. Schoon secured first place overall by registering a winning average of 21.67 moves, supported by an exceptional single solve of 19 moves that stood as the lowest single count of the entire weekend.

The podium chase remained tight through the final attempt of the tournament. Mark Boyanowski captured second place for the USA, finishing with a 24.00 mean and a top single of 23 moves. Evan Brown completed the all-American podium in third place, recording a 25.33 average alongside a personal best single of 22 moves. The tight spread among the top three demonstrated how demanding the three-solve aggregate format remains in high-level competition.

Beyond the top three steps, several other solvers delivered notable results across the single round of 3x3 results. Carter Kucala took fourth place with a 26.00 average and a single of 25 moves. Noah Swor followed closely, logging a 26.33 average with a single of 24. Walker Welch and Stanley Chapel tied with matching averages of 26.67 and matching best singles of 25 moves, while Kit Clement achieved a 28.00 average with a single of 26.

Away from the top of the leaderboard, individual breakthroughs highlighted the depth of the field in this specialized speed cubing discipline. Kayden Yang achieved a massive personal best single of 36 moves, marking a 14.3 percent improvement over their previous mark of 42 on the way to a 33rd-place finish. Ricky Martin also earned a personal best of 44 moves, cutting 6.4 percent from an earlier mark of 47 to finish 39th. Zach Baruch secured 13th place overall with a personal best single of 34 moves.

First-time attempts at the discipline provided another layer of achievement during this official WCA competition. Nick Rohla took on their first ever attempt at 3x3x3 Fewest Moves, recording a single of 41 to finish 37th. David Liu also completed a first ever attempt in the discipline with a mark of 52, taking 41st place. Alex Chen logged a first attempt with 69 moves for 42nd place, while Spencer Chubb locked down 10th place and Brandon Reichman secured 34th place.

Additional solid performances rounded out the 45-person roster at this regional gathering. Zeke Mackay posted a 29.00 average with a best single of 24 moves, while Spencer Chubb matched that 29.00 average with a single of 26. Varun Gudibanda finished 22nd, Ty Portzen took 43rd, Daniel Corson finished 44th, and Lauren Clement placed 40th, ensuring that every participant added valuable experience to their competitive career.

The single-round aggregate design of the CubingUSA Great Lakes FMC Championship 2023 offered a pure test of efficiency and endurance under tournament conditions. By challenging participants to find minimal solutions across multiple venues, the event highlighted the analytical depth found within the wider cubing competition landscape as solvers look ahead to the next competitive season.