Dubuque Winter 2023

Seventy-six competitors gathered at the Holiday Inn Dubuque for a packed day of speedcubing on February 5, 2023. Across six distinct events and ten rounds of play, the tournament delivered a striking demonstration of how measured consistency repeatedly outshone isolated single efforts. While raw speed on a single scramble can turn heads, navigating multiple solves under tournament pressure requires steady composure. From the opening heats through the final stages, success at this cubing competition in Dubuque, Iowa, USA belonged to solvers who could string together repeatable results.

The premier 3x3x3 Cube event put that stability on full display across two full rounds. Brian Johnson captured first place with an impressive winning average of 6.55 seconds, backed by a best single of 5.85 seconds. That reliable pacing kept him clear of Carter Kucala, who claimed the runner-up spot with an average of 7.43 seconds, and Ben Zhao, who secured third place on a mark of 7.73 seconds. In an event where 76 competitors vied for the title, Johnson showed how relentless rhythm dictates final 3x3 results on the classic Rubik's Cube.

Johnson was not done with a single victory, repeating his winning formula in the 2x2x2 Cube. Out of 74 competitors over two rounds, Johnson produced a 1.86-second winning average alongside a best single of 1.01 seconds to take the top step. Ellery Dillon pressed hard with a 1.92-second average to claim second place, while Kucala rounded out the podium in third with an average of 2.42 seconds. Across the board, United States competitors swept all 18 podium positions available during the tournament.

The larger puzzles demanded immense endurance, and Ben Zhao rose to the challenge in the 4x4x4 Cube. In a single-round contest featuring 50 competitors, Zhao secured victory with an average of 30.50 seconds and a best single of 28.91 seconds. Johnson pushed the pace closely behind, finishing second with a 30.65 average, while Kucala grabbed his third podium placement of the day by taking third place with an average of 35.41 seconds.

Specialised formats brought their own tests of composure across the venue. In Skewb, Carter Kucala captured first place among 55 entrants, recording a 2.30 winning average and a single of 1.50 seconds to finish ahead of Simon Kellum at 3.17 and Johnson at 3.23. Kellum found his own golden run in Pyraminx, leading a 64-solver field across two rounds with a sub-two average of 1.99 seconds, besting Johnson at 2.93 and James Elliott at 3.26. Meanwhile, the 3x3x3 Blindfolded division saw Will Cerne conquer the memory-intensive discipline with a winning single of 22.71 seconds, outpacing Kucala at 30.47 and Thomas Reinke at 38.89.

Beyond the championship battles, numerous personal milestones defined the heart of the event. Ethan Potts had an exceptional weekend across four events, slashing his Skewb mark to a personal best of 9.52 seconds, an improvement of 52 percent over his previous mark of 19.84, while also taking his first ever attempt at Pyraminx with an 8.43. Hudson Morris made substantial gains in four events, dropping his Pyraminx personal best to 4.49 seconds to register a 51.4 percent leap from 9.23. Tyler Mousel entered five events and trimmed his Pyraminx best by 49.1 percent down to 5.61 seconds, while also putting up a first ever 4x4x4 Cube attempt of 1:18.51. Dylan Shover lowered his 3x3x3 personal best by 41.2 percent to 25.86 seconds.

First-time event appearances also highlighted the broader depth of participation in the hall. Adrian Millan entered five events, cutting his Pyraminx best by 40.5 percent to 8.12 seconds and logging a first ever Skewb attempt of 21.64 seconds. Seth Boyle tackled four events, taking a first ever 4x4x4 attempt of 2:20.44 and trimming his 3x3x3 best to 11.27 seconds. Timothy Xie embraced five events at this first WCA competition, logging a best finish of 38th in the 4x4x4 Cube with an initial effort of 1:10.29. Luci Lauritzson also marked her first speed cubing appearance by contesting four disciplines, including an initial Skewb attempt of 9.20 seconds.

When the final timers clicked off, Dubuque Winter 2023 proved that methodical execution is what truly carries a tournament. With Brian Johnson securing dual titles in the smaller cubes, Ben Zhao holding ground on the big cube, and Carter Kucala, Simon Kellum, and Will Cerne claiming their respective events, the gathering showcased the very best of Midwestern speedcubing. As competitors look ahead to the next season, the standard of steady, high-grade solving established in Dubuque sets a formidable benchmark.