Dunkirk Winter 2023

A blistering 1.96 average in the Pyraminx final stood out as the defining performance of the weekend, setting a high bar at Dunkirk Baptist Church. Competitors made their way into Dunkirk, Maryland, USA, with international representation reaching as far as Brazil and Turkey alongside a dedicated domestic field. Across January 14, 2023, the single-day gathering tested precision across multiple formats. Dunkirk Winter 2023 brought together 56 competitors across 10 rounds of action, turning the venue into a hub of intense puzzle solving.

The premier 3x3x3 Cube tournament delivered top-tier 3x3 results across three full rounds of head-to-head competition. Michael Nielsen captured the title on the classic Rubik's Cube with a 6.73 winning average, highlighted by the round's fastest single of 5.88 seconds. Shaun Mack took second place with a 7.59 average, while Will Callan secured third on the podium with a 7.82 mark. The field of 54 competitors in the main event showcased the high level of modern speedcubing.

Nielsen continued to dominate the table in the larger puzzles, securing a decisive victory in the 4x4x4 Cube. His 33.42 winning average and single of 29.73 edged out Shaun Mack, who took second with a 33.87 average, and Charles Jerome, who finished third with a 34.25 average. The 42-person event underscored Nielsen's versatility across multiple layers and complex mechanical turnarounds during the 2023 winter season.

Short-format events produced exceptionally narrow margins, led by Will Callan in the 2x2x2 Cube. Callan secured the top spot on the podium with a 1.78 average, just ahead of Charles Jerome at 1.84 and Michael Nielsen at 2.04. In the Pyraminx final, Nielsen returned to the winner circle with his 1.96 average, trailed by Kyle Meade with a 2.22 average and Shaun Mack in third at 2.97. Across these high-speed brackets, tenths of a second decided podium placements at Dunkirk Winter 2023.

Beyond the top steps of the podium, several competitors logged significant personal breakthroughs. Caroline Holland took on five events and posted a massive 2x2x2 Cube personal best of 5.68 seconds, cutting 53.1 percent off her previous mark of 12.11, while also logging a first attempt at Clock in 38.29. Magnius Cikotas knocked 49.3 percent off his 4x4x4 Cube personal best with a 1:05.38 solve and improved his Square-1 best by 28.1 percent to 28.31. Noah Nelson shaved 46.6 percent off his 4x4x4 Cube mark to finish 12th in 44.43 seconds, while Somil Varshney improved his 4x4x4 Cube personal best by 25 percent to 1:08.12.

First-time official attempts highlighted the depth of participation across all six disciplines. Eli Harris improved his 3x3x3 Cube best by 33.3 percent to 28.19 seconds and completed his first 2x2x2 Cube solve in 9.84 seconds. Carson Zheng entered his first WCA competition, taking on four events and securing a best finish of 35th in 4x4x4 Cube alongside an 18.99 first attempt on 3x3x3 Cube. Charlie Fitzgerald also made his official debut, logging a 23.89 single on 3x3x3 Cube and a 40th-place finish in 4x4x4 Cube, while Julia Korowajczuk Nader completed her first official appearances with a 16.22 Pyraminx and a 31.42 in 3x3x3 Cube.

The non-standard puzzles also saw thrilling finishes and specialized skill. In the Clock event, Sula Mareska earned first place with a 6.37 average, outperforming Charles Jerome at 7.25 and Zach Ridall at 7.40. The Square-1 event concluded with Shaun Mack atop the podium courtesy of a 7.65 average, while Zach Ridall earned second place with 8.93 and Michael Nielsen rounded out the top three with 10.69.

The 2x2x2 Cube rounds also produced a flurry of official benchmark entries across the bracket. Samuel Garrett recorded a 2.20 single and 3.57 average, Jed Silverman registered a 4.00 single and 5.08 average, and Hunter David Paige logged a 5.61 single with a 6.71 average. Tyler Mauck, Nathan Dur, Sula Mareska, Gavin Benton, Ledger Ramirez, and Nathan Budzichowski each added official singles and averages to the records table at Dunkirk Winter 2023.

With 18 total podium places awarded throughout the day, the cubing competition demonstrated the depth of the regional speed cubing scene. Competitors who traveled long distances tested their resolve across 6 events, wrapping up a packed schedule of competitive solving. As the season continues, the standards set at Dunkirk Winter 2023 will remain benchmarks for all who took part.