Grizz League Small Cubes 2023

Inside the Interdisciplinary Sciences Building (ISB), solving mats sat ready beneath bright lights as a focused lineup of solvers gathered for a compact afternoon of turning. The room carried the distinct rhythm of timers stopping and mechanisms shifting across different shapes and sizes. Rather than sticking strictly to standard geometric setups, this speedcubing gathering emphasized dexterity and quick adaptability over three fast rounds of competition.

Held on November 14, 2023, Grizz League Small Cubes 2023 brought competitors together in Missoula, Montana, USA to test their mastery across a distinct trio of formats. Across three events, solvers cycled from tiny cubic puzzles to triangular prisms and corner-turning axes, showcasing the true versatility required at a modern cubing competition. Each distinct apparatus demanded entirely separate fingertip habits and recognition patterns within the same single session.

The 2x2x2 Cube event gathered six competitors and proved to be an immediate showcase of sharp execution. While many speed cubing enthusiasts often follow standard 3x3 results, the smaller pocket cube leaves no room for hesitations or mid-solve adjustments. France competitor Clément Cherblanc secured first place with a winning average of 3.98 seconds, backed by a best single of 3.32 seconds. Theodore Mayer claimed second place with an average of 6.84 seconds, edging Matthew Ryan Orlob who took third on a 6.89 average.

Moving away from traditional cubes, the Pyraminx presented five competitors with its distinct tetrahedral geometry and independently rotating tips. Quick planning during the pre-solve inspection is vital on the pyramid, where turning speed must match rapid color pairing. Clément Cherblanc earned another victory with a 6.10 winning average and a 5.36 single. Matthew Ryan Orlob followed on the podium with a 12.17 average, while Theodore Mayer completed the top three with an average of 14.73 seconds.

The mechanical variety expanded further with Skewb, where five solvers tackled deep-cut corner rotations that shift four faces at a time. The event requires solvers to quickly manipulate centers and corners along unconventional axes. Clément Cherblanc completed a clean sweep of the roster, finishing first with a winning average of 5.07 seconds and a best single of 4.02. Matthew Ryan Orlob took second place with an 11.60 average, while London Gregory Meservy captured third on a 17.67 average.

Away from the top of the standings, the day featured substantial milestones for developing solvers exploring unfamiliar formats. Kegan Stipe entered all three events on the schedule, achieving a personal best finish of fifth place in Skewb while logging official debut attempts in all three disciplines: 4.16 on the 2x2x2 Cube, 13.37 on Pyraminx, and 18.50 on Skewb. Alongside, Blake Stipe took part in their first WCA competition, recording a first official attempt of 14.01 in the 2x2x2 Cube and finishing sixth overall.

By the end of the meet, the podium distribution reflected a shared international effort, with solvers representing the USA securing six podium positions across the three disciplines, while France took three. Navigating distinct puzzle shapes under the pressure of the clock highlighted the broad mechanical fluency present among the field in Missoula, Montana, USA during this compact 2023 session.

The successful conclusion of Grizz League Small Cubes 2023 reinforced how different side events continue to expand competitive speedcubing beyond the classic Rubik's Cube. By mastering pyramids, corner-turners, and micro-cubes in a single focused day, every competitor gained valuable official stage time that sets a firm baseline for future outings across the regional circuit.