JAM FMC II 2023

Alex Bajenov delivered the defining performance in Everett, Washington, USA, registering a winning average of 37.67 along with a best single attempt of 34 moves to top the podium. The single-event showdown concentrated purely on the mental discipline of 3x3x3 Fewest Moves, demanding meticulous planning from every entrant who took a seat. Behind that focused atmosphere was the operational foundation established by the organizers, delegates, and local volunteers who ensured the entire schedule unfolded without a hitch.

Held on March 19, 2023, the gathering at the Joyful Academy of Music Studio provided a specialized venue tailored to the quiet demands of FMC. Staging a dedicated speedcubing meet requires immense attention to detail, from distributing scrambled sheets to keeping strict time standards across every attempt. The team directing the floor ensured that the 7 competitors could direct their complete concentration toward finding the most efficient solutions possible on the standard Rubik's Cube.

The 2023 contest offered a clear demonstration of how a focused WCA competition format can test even seasoned solvers. With only one event and one round on the slate, every single move written down carried decisive weight for the final standings. Alex Bajenov maintained consistency across the required attempts to secure the gold, finishing as the only participant in the field to log a complete, successful three-attempt mean at the competition.

While Bajenov claimed the top spot in the overall average standings, the contest for top single attempts produced tight results across the leaderboard. Peter Preston logged the lowest single count of the entire contest with an impressive 32 moves, earning second place overall on the podium. Timothy Castle secured third place on the podium after turning in a best single of 36 moves, rounding out an all-American top three in the Pacific Northwest.

Beyond the podium race, the quiet room revealed major personal breakthroughs for competitors testing their analytical skills against the clock. Elijah Norman entered the day with 27 career competitions behind him and took on his first ever attempt at 3x3x3 Fewest Moves, converting the new challenge into a 41-move single and a 5th-place finish. Anishk Arora brought the experience of 59 career tournaments to the studio and also tackled his first ever attempt at 3x3x3 Fewest Moves, finishing 6th overall with a 49-move single.

That same spirit of deliberate practice was evident throughout the rest of the roster at the Joyful Academy of Music Studio. Cailyn Hoover added to an extensive competitive resume spanning 125 tournaments by securing 4th place with a solid single solution of 37 moves. Meanwhile, Michael Zhou stepped onto the official floor for the first time anywhere, making this his first WCA competition as he completed the roster with a 7th-place finish in the FMC field.

Few formats in speed cubing test analytical depth quite like this one, where speed of hand gives way entirely to spatial foresight and strategic cancellations. The single-round structure meant that mistakes could not be masked, making clean completions a prized outcome for everyone analyzing scrambles in Everett. Every participant had an hour per attempt to decipher the scramble, inspect the state of the puzzle, and write down an efficient sequence to resolve the cube.

When the final solution sheets were collected and verified, JAM FMC II 2023 stood as a testament to the organizers and staff who made the specialized weekend run seamlessly. By providing a professional, distraction-free environment for local cubers to pursue 3x3 results in the Fewest Moves discipline, the community in Washington delivered a memorable chapter in the 2023 competitive calendar, showing the enduring appeal of pure puzzle-solving precision.