FoCo Cubing 2023

Jacob Nokes delivered a masterclass in endurance at FoCo Cubing 2023, setting a blistering 2:32.72 average in the 7x7x7 Cube final to capture one of the day's most demanding events. Conquering the massive seven-layered puzzle requires intense stamina and relentless mental focus across every solve, and Nokes set the standard early with a single solve of 2:28.95. Elizabeth Cutting took second place with an average of 3:35.37, while Oliver Michael Sitja Sichel rounded out the podium with a 4:00.22 average among the 15 competitors who tackled the longest event on the schedule.

The test of heavy hardware continued on the 5x5x5 Cube, where Nokes once again dominated the field of 25 solvers. He secured the title with an average of 50.33 seconds and the event's best single of 49.11 seconds. Abhi Chawla put together a solid series of solves to earn second place with a 1:15.62 average, closely pursued by Oliver Michael Sitja Sichel, who grabbed third place in 1:17.99. The big cubes proved to be the ultimate test of finger stamina and foresight throughout the single-day gathering.

Held on July 1, 2023, at the Marriott Fort Collins in Fort Collins, Colorado, USA, the gathering brought together 40 competitors across 6 events and 12 total rounds. Enthusiasts of speedcubing traveled to northern Colorado to measure their progress against the clock in an energetic setting. The schedule offered a broad mix of disciplines, testing classical speed, complex geometry, and brute endurance across both standard and non-standard mechanical puzzles in sanctioned World Cube Association action.

Mid-sized puzzles and alternative shapes saw fierce contention throughout the afternoon. In the 4x4x4 Cube, Nokes earned another gold medal by recording a 29.68 average, highlighted by a single solve of 27.65. Chawla followed in second place with a 40.90 average, while Sitja Sichel claimed another third-place finish at 41.37. The twelve-sided Megaminx also belonged to Nokes, who paced the 20-person field with a 1:04.17 average and a 56.66 single, finishing ahead of Stone Amsbaugh at 1:11.68 and Ryan Kindt at 1:19.09.

Away from the top steps of the podium, several competitors delivered massive improvements across multiple events. Carter Marshall took on five events and posted a 4x4x4 Cube personal best of 54.58 seconds, which was 39.4 percent faster than their previous best, while also logging a first attempt at the 5x5x5 Cube with a time of 3:25.45. Matthew Wilson achieved an extraordinary breakthrough on the classic 3x3x3 Cube, cutting 39.6 percent off their previous mark to record a personal best single of 1:13.47. Sienna Bruso dropped 35.8 percent from their previous standard with a 1:19.01 single on the 3x3x3, and William Ralston improved their 4x4x4 best by 17.4 percent down to 1:25.80.

The spirit of trying new challenges was evident as many solvers stepped up for their first official appearances at a cubing competition. Sebastian Ezra Buchhammer entered six events, achieving a Megaminx personal best of 2:37.82 that was 15.2 percent faster than before, alongside a first attempt at 3x3x3 One-Handed in 1:30.84. Lincoln Solt entered the 7x7x7 Cube for the first time, finishing seventh overall with a 4:37.32 mark. Among newcomers attending their first WCA competition, Lillia Breeden completed three events including a 24.92 solve on the 3x3x3 Cube, while Phoenix Yatabe made a memorable debut by logging a 14.15 on the 3x3x3 and a 56.69 on the 4x4x4.

Specialist solving added plenty of excitement, particularly in the 3x3x3 One-Handed event where Oliver Michael Sitja Sichel broke Nokes's winning run. Sitja Sichel navigated the 25-competitor bracket to win with a stellar 15.36 average and a top single of 12.76. Nokes settled for second place with a 17.72 average, while Zachary Miller took the third step on the podium with an 18.36 mark. The discipline demands unique dexterity and quick turn execution, making Sitja Sichel's performance one of the clearest highlights of the speed cubing program.

The competition concluded with the flagship Rubik's Cube event, where all 40 entrants battled across three competitive rounds. In the final, Nokes captured his fifth title of the day, producing a winning average of 8.51 seconds alongside the tournament's fastest single of 5.68 seconds. Sitja Sichel finished in second place with an average of 9.04, and Chawla rounded out the top three with 9.69. The final 3x3 results closed an unforgettable chapter of competitive puzzle solving at FoCo Cubing 2023.