Evanston Fall Mini C 2023

Inside the Technological Institute at Northwestern University, Henry Lichner delivered a commanding performance on November 11, 2023, capturing two event victories and setting the pace with a standout 26.12 average in the 4x4x4 Cube. The academic venue in Evanston, Illinois, USA provided an intense backdrop for the one-day gathering, bringing together 35 competitors across 5 rounds of high-speed solving. From the opening solves to the final showdowns, the hall buzzed with focused energy as solvers tackled a compact three-event program.

The 2023 speedcubing meet brought sharp competition to the classic 3x3x3 Cube, where 35 competitors battled across two rounds. Lichner secured top honors in the event with a winning average of 7.50 and a best single of 6.96. Max Walaszek took second place on the podium with an 8.02 average, while Aryan Kejriwal earned third place with an 8.71 mark. The deep field demonstrated remarkable consistency on the traditional Rubik's Cube, producing tight turnarounds throughout the elimination stage.

The 3x3 results in the earlier qualifying round set a ferocious standard for the final, highlighted by Lichner logging a 6.75 single and a 7.56 average. Max Walaszek advanced with a 7.10 single and 8.87 average, while Aryan Kejriwal registered a 7.85 single and 9.13 average. Luigi Soriano also posted rapid times of 7.05 single and 7.86 average. Maggie Jordan recorded a 9.10 single and 9.40 average, and Brayden Thompson delivered a 7.30 single and 9.46 average in the competitive qualifying bracket.

In the 3x3x3 One-Handed event, 27 competitors took to the tables for a rigorous test of single-palm dexterity across two rounds. Nathaniel Gee captured the title with a winning average of 13.65 and an event-best single of 12.99. The contest for first place remained tight until the final solves, with Aryan Kejriwal claiming second place at 13.75, just a tenth of a second behind Gee. Henry Lichner completed his podium sweep across the meet by taking third place with an average of 14.30.

The 4x4x4 Cube contest featured 25 competitors in a direct final round where Lichner set the benchmark with his 26.12 winning average and a 23.57 single. Luigi Soriano claimed the runner-up spot with a 31.18 average, closely pursued by Aryan Kejriwal, who finished in third place at 31.39 to secure his third podium placement of the day. The larger puzzle demanded sharp reduction techniques and poise under pressure in the collegiate venue.

Beyond the championship podiums, the cubing competition served as a stage for massive personal progress across the roster. Parker Hong delivered a standout day across three events, cutting his 4x4x4 Cube personal best to 33.25, which was 56.2 percent faster than his previous mark of 1:15.88, while also tackling his first ever attempt at 3x3x3 One-Handed with a 20.28 result. Isaac Kaufhold entered three events and improved his 4x4x4 Cube mark by 19.8 percent to 1:05.09 alongside a maiden one-handed attempt of 31.31. William Casey O'keefe dropped his one-handed best by 37.6 percent down to 22.62, while Richard Alexander Bolanos achieved a 26.8 percent improvement in one-handed with a 33.28.

The spirit of development was equally evident in several first-time event entries and milestone solves. Toby Cuna shaved 22.1 percent off his one-handed mark down to 24.27 and cut his 4x4x4 Cube standard by 20.2 percent to 36.42. Conor Alanis improved across three fronts, lowering his one-handed time by 21.3 percent to 34.66 and his 4x4x4 Cube mark by 20.6 percent to 1:11.86. Carlos Chavez Ramirez took on three events and logged his first ever attempt at 4x4x4 Cube at 1:43.97 as well as a one-handed debut of 34.48, while Jack Meyers marked his first WCA competition with a 36.81 single on the 3x3x3 Cube.

The United States contingent secured all nine podium spots across the three disciplines on the schedule. Evanston Fall Mini C 2023 highlighted the strength of regional speed cubing, balancing elite winning times at the top of the standings with substantial personal milestones throughout the order. As the equipment was packed away at the Technological Institute, the day stood as a testament to fast turning and technical precision on the local circuit.