Don't DNF Denton 2023

Inside the University of North Texas Union, the tables were set for a concentrated day of specialized solving. Memorization sheets sat alongside blindfolds and timers as a focused group gathered for Don't DNF Denton 2023 on December 16, 2023. Unlike standard arena fixtures packed with hundreds of sprinters, this gathering in Denton, Texas, USA brought together sixteen dedicated participants for an eight-round challenge across six distinct disciplines. The atmosphere carried the distinct focus of a niche cubing competition where patience, spatial recall, and calculation outweigh pure turning speed.

The presence of new faces and fresh ventures gave the one-day meeting its defining energy. Across the roster, competitors took their first official steps into challenging formats like blind solving and fewest moves. Speedcubing often revolves around fast-twitch agility, but this WCA competition prioritized discipline and memory. First-time attempts and debut appearances dotted the scorecards across the venue, proving that the entry point into competitive puzzle solving remains vibrant even in the most demanding specialist events.

Carson Brown put together a massive schedule across five events, securing a best finish of 5th in 4x4x4 Blindfolded while making a first ever attempt at 3x3x3 Multi-Blind with 3/3 in 16:10. Brown also logged a first ever attempt at 3x3x3 Fewest Moves with 53, alongside a 3x3x3 Blindfolded personal best of 1:56.77 that was 34 percent faster than their previous mark. Siwoo Kim entered four events, earned a 6th-place finish in 3x3x3 Fewest Moves, took on a first attempt at 3x3x3 Fewest Moves with 71, registered a first 3x3x3 Multi-Blind attempt of 2/4 in 36:44, and set a Clock personal best of 4.74, which was 15.1 percent faster. Samuel Threlkeld competed in three events, placing 4th in Clock with a personal best of 7.09 that cut 12.1 percent off their previous best, and completed a first ever attempt at 3x3x3 Fewest Moves with a mark of 39.

The breakthroughs continued through every corner of the room. Luke Cowan took on three events and earned a best finish of 8th in Clock. Vyom Sharma focused on a single discipline and delivered a Clock personal best of 6.32. Catherine Connolly tackled five events, achieving a best finish of 5th in Clock alongside a 3x3x3 Fewest Moves personal best of 38, improving by 15.6 percent. Jake Maddox entered two events and secured a 7th-place finish in Clock. Meanwhile, Avery La Rue made their debut appearance in a speed cubing arena, participating in their first WCA competition and posting a first ever attempt at Clock of 20.73.

At the top of the standings, Ryan Pilat delivered a commanding performance across multiple formats. Pilat claimed first place in 3x3x3 Blindfolded with a winning single of 21.08 seconds across two rounds of play, overcoming a DNF average. Jeremy Sheng followed in second place with a single of 23.31, while Fletcher Berry earned third on the podium with 25.07. Standard classic Rubik's Cube mechanics transformed under blind conditions into a battle of nerve, memory, and precision.

Pilat added another victory in the Clock event, capturing the title with an average of 5.38 seconds and a single of 4.24. Andres Rodriguez finished second with an average of 9.70, and Jeremy Sheng earned third with 9.75. In 3x3x3 Fewest Moves, Pilat led the field of eleven competitors with an average of 32.00 moves and a single of 29. Fletcher Berry followed in second with 35.00, and Andres Rodriguez took third place with an average of 41.67 over the single-round contest.

Long-form memory puzzles rounded out the blindfolded catalog with substantial tests of endurance. In 4x4x4 Blindfolded, Ryan Pilat earned first place with a single of 2:08.44 ahead of Fletcher Berry with 3:43.63 and Michael Conard with 13:25.00. The 5x5x5 Blindfolded event saw Nathan Benson take victory with a single time of 12:36.00, while Jeremy Sheng placed second with 16:18.00. Both Ryan Pilat and Fletcher Berry tied for third place with uncompleted attempts.

Jeremy Sheng captured a standout victory in 3x3x3 Multi-Blind, successfully resolving 18 out of 20 cubes in a time of 58:08. Ryan Pilat took second on the podium with 14 out of 17 solved in 55:24, while Andrew Tao secured third by solving 11 out of 12 cubes in 54:20. The complex discipline capped a comprehensive slate of blindfolded tests and strategic solves.

Across the eight rounds of action, competitors from the United States secured nineteen podium places during the gathering. Don't DNF Denton 2023 closed out the 2023 season in North Texas by blending technical memory excellence with crucial first-time milestones. The event highlighted both elite blindfolded skill and the steady arrival of newer participants ready to explore every dimension of the craft.