Happy Holidays Colorado 2023

Jack Bellomy delivered the definitive statement of the day in the 3x3x3 Cube final, converting unrelenting stability into a championship-winning 7.50 average. While single-solve fireworks frequently drew eyes across the tables, Bellomy proved that sustained execution remains the ultimate currency of competitive speedcubing. The one-day gathering at Blackstone Country Club in Aurora, Colorado, USA, held on December 30, 2023, brought together 91 competitors across six official events. Through 12 hard-fought rounds, the closing cubing competition of the year tested endurance, concentration, and technical precision from morning to evening.

The 3x3x3 Cube headline event demanded three rounds of intense focus from an initial field of 90 competitors. Bellomy posted a best single of 6.17 on his way to securing first place overall. Jacob Nokes claimed the second spot on the podium with an 8.45 average, matching Oliver Michael Sitja Sichel who also registered an 8.45 average to secure third place. When reviewing the premier 3x3 results, the tight margins between the top tier underlined how narrow the gap between victory and defeat remained throughout the final round.

Big cubes at Happy Holidays Colorado 2023 belonged decisively to Jacob Nokes, who demonstrated immaculate pacing on both the 4x4x4 Cube and 5x5x5 Cube. In the 4x4x4 event, Nokes outpaced 55 other competitors across two rounds, delivering a winning average of 28.98 along with the best single mark of 25.20. Bellomy took second on the 4x4x4 podium with 31.64, narrowly holding off Brayden Wroten who finished third with a 31.71 average. The dynamic highlighted the value of clean transitions over erratic burst speed.

Nokes doubled his gold tally in the 5x5x5 Cube, mastering the 40-player field with a winning average of 50.18 and a tournament-best single of 42.44. Bellomy once again secured the runner-up position, recording a 1:00.27 average, while Wroten rounded out the top three at 1:00.91. Across both big cube formats, Nokes showed that managing complex layers under standard tournament conditions rewarded methodical pacing rather than uncontrolled risks.

Beyond the traditional Rubik's Cube variants, the side events provided blistering action and tight leaderboards. In Skewb, Brayden Wroten swept through three rounds to take top honors among 62 competitors, compiling a blistering 2.42 winning average and a 1.79 best single. Sitja Sichel earned the silver medal in Skewb with a 4.67 average, followed by Marcus Reagor in third at 4.94. Clock action saw Reed W. Richardson capture first place from a 52-competitor field with a 5.21 average and a 3.38 best single, edging out Wroten in second at 5.54 and Sula Mareska in third at 6.08.

Away from the podium battles, several competitors achieved remarkable milestones across their chosen events at this WCA competition. Benjamin Craven made a first ever attempt at Clock with an 11.27 result, while taking on six events and shaving 57.8 percent off their previous Skewb mark to post a 7.08 personal best. Cael Patrick Walsh also entered six events, cutting their Clock personal best by 50 percent down to 24.70 alongside an 8.4 percent drop in Skewb to 9.65. Dorothy Ho logged five events, delivering a 43 percent improvement in Clock with a 27.50 personal best. Aidin Brothers tackled six events, logging a first attempt in Skewb at 12.59 and improving their Clock mark by 38.4 percent to 10.16.

Significant personal milestones continued down the roster in Aurora. Jessica Wade entered three events, achieving a Clock first attempt of 16.26 and slicing 38.9 percent off their previous best in the 3x3x3 Cube to finish in 28.58. Brendan Flynn recorded personal bests across multiple puzzles, including a 30.8 percent drop in Clock to 10.41 and a 19.4 percent reduction in 4x4x4 Cube down to 41.40. Corbin Curtis Younker logged a 31.8 percent improvement in Skewb with a 10.24 mark, while Gideon Smathers took part in their first WCA competition, recording a 35.01 debut in the 3x3x3 Cube and a 17.62 first attempt in Skewb.

The single-round Square-1 event concluded with Oliver Michael Sitja Sichel capturing first place among 40 entrants with an 11.50 average and a best single of 10.10. Kian Cline earned second place with an 11.96 average, while Wroten added yet another medal to his tally by taking third at 12.68. The clean execution required on the shape-shifting puzzle mirrored the theme that defined the entire competition from start to finish.

As the final speed cubing meet of the year drew to a close, Happy Holidays Colorado 2023 showcased the true depth of talent in the region. All 18 podium positions across the six disciplines went to competitors representing the USA, reflecting both domestic prowess and intense regional rivalry. With the calendar turning over, the balance of steady averages and calculated speed in Aurora set a clear standard for the coming competitive season.