CubingUSA Southeast FMC Championship 2023

Kerry Creech delivered the defining performance of the tournament by securing a winning mean of 26.33 moves to take first place in 3x3x3 Fewest Moves. Backed by a best single solution of 25 moves, Creech set the benchmark across the entire competition field. The single-round structure meant every competitor faced the same test across the scheduled attempts, with no secondary stages to recover from an errant solution. Staged simultaneously across Multiple cities, USA, on April 1, 2023, the event brought together specialized solvers who tackled the unique constraints of this format in a tightly contested showcase of efficiency.

The CubingUSA Southeast FMC Championship 2023 united 34 competitors across multiple venues to determine the region's sharpest thinkers on the standard Rubik's Cube. Rather than turning at high speeds, participants in 3x3x3 Fewest Moves spent their time plotting out step-by-step reconstructions on paper within the strict hour-long solving windows. Operating as a decentralized WCA competition, the event gathered results from satellite locations into a single combined leaderboard. The format tested whether competitors could string together three consistent attempts under identical regulations without the buffer of multiple rounds.

In standard speedcubing events, progressive rounds allow competitors to warm up, adapt, and advance, but this championship relied strictly on one definitive round. The format applied pressure directly from the opening attempt, where any incomplete attempt or mathematical error would permanently ruin an overall mean. Solvers had to balance risky, move-saving insertions against safe, reliable completions. With 3x3 results compiled directly from those three attempts, the final rankings rewarded those who maintained composure and accuracy throughout the intensive multi-hour schedule.

Kerry Creech navigated these demands perfectly to lead an all-United States podium, posting the 26.33 winning average alongside the event-best single of 25. Jacob Ambrose secured the runner-up position by delivering a steady 28.67 average across the three solves. Zachary Ochs rounded out the top three on the podium with an even 30.00 mean. All three podium spots went to solvers from the United States who managed to avoid disqualifications and maintain sub-31 consistency across each of their submitted attempts.

Beyond the podium race, several participants marked major career milestones by tackling the discipline for the very first time. Max Goskie, competing in their 29th career tournament, recorded their first ever attempt at 3x3x3 Fewest Moves with a solid 38-move single to take 19th place. Leyton Beardslee and Mayson Frye each made their first ever attempt at the event, both recording a single of 40 moves to share a 20th-place finish. Arjun Savanur also ventured into the event for the first time, logging a 50-move single to place 25th in the standings.

That same drive to explore new ground was visible throughout the lower half of the leaderboard. Sumeet Eaga registered their first ever attempt at 3x3x3 Fewest Moves with a 54 to finish 13th overall. Annye Bennett added the event to a 62-competition career, completing their first ever attempt with a 56 to place 14th. Kendall Rounbehler finished 27th with a first attempt of 58 moves, while Gavin Penticuff took on the event in their second career cubing competition, placing 29th.

The unforgiving nature of the single-round format was reflected across the broader score sheets. Antonio Bonessi completed a full three-solve mean, posting a single of 36 moves on the way to a 42.33 average. Several other competitors recorded individual successful solutions before suffering incomplete results on alternate attempts, including David Beugnon with a single of 35, Silas Starling with a 45, and Roman Wofford with a 52-move solve.

As the final scorecards were tallied across every host venue, the CubingUSA Southeast FMC Championship 2023 demonstrated the depth of talent within the regional speed cubing community. With 34 participants tackling 3x3x3 Fewest Moves in a focused, single-event atmosphere, the competition highlighted how demanding the discipline remains. The 2023 campaign established a high standard for analytical solving, leaving competitors with new benchmarks to target as the wider circuit moves into the rest of the season.