JAM PBQ I 2023

A blistering 29.93 second average in the final of 3x3x3 Blindfolded set the tone for an intense day of specialized speedcubing at the Joyful Academy of Music Studio. Ethan Davis delivered the benchmark performance on home soil in Everett, Washington, USA, capturing the top spot with a decisive 27.13 single during the final round. The one-day gathering on April 8, 2023 brought together a select field of 10 competitors across six demanding disciplines, proving that small fields often produce the most electrifying head-to-head battles on the circuit.

The JAM PBQ I 2023 program focused heavily on memory and optimization, stepping away from the standard speed formats to test deep technical prowess. Across seven total rounds of competition, local contenders and visiting talent pushed the limits of efficiency. The specialized nature of the schedule meant competitors traded standard solving routines for blindfolds and notation sheets, giving this WCA competition a distinct, cerebral atmosphere from the opening solves of the morning to the final multi-blind attempts.

Ethan Davis led the charge for the American contingent, backing up his victory in the classic blindfolded event with a second-place finish in 3x3x3 Fewest Moves. His 30.67 average in the move-count challenge kept him right on the heels of Max Siauw, who claimed the Fewest Moves gold with a 29.67 average and an event-best single of 27 turns. The two rivals set a rapid pace for the domestic roster, which went on to capture 15 of the available podium spots across the entire meet.

Timothy Castle made his presence felt across multiple formats, taking home titles in both Clock and 5x5x5 Blindfolded. In the Clock event, Castle secured victory with a 6.90 average, just barely edging out Siauw who logged a close 6.99 average, while Peter Preston claimed third with 9.60. Castle later conquered the grueling 5x5x5 Blindfolded solve, logging a winning mark of 16:03.00 to finish ahead of Davis, who secured silver with 19:55.00 in an event where memory endurance is tested to the maximum.

Beyond the title fights, several competitors delivered massive breakthrough moments that went far beyond mere placements. Elijah Norman took on five separate events at the meet, highlighted by a personal best single of 3:03.83 in 3x3x3 Blindfolded, which was an impressive 9.4 percent faster than his prior record of 3:23.00, earning him a fifth-place finish. Norman also branched out into brand new territory with his first ever attempt at 3x3x3 Multi-Blind, scoring 3 out of 4 points in 34:48, alongside his first ever attempt at Clock where he recorded a 12.29 average. In Fewest Moves, Sonja Black competed in three events and trimmed her personal record down to 60 moves from 62, a 3.2 percent improvement, while also securing sixth place in 3x3x3 Blindfolded.

That same grit was evident across the rest of the roster throughout the afternoon. Cailyn Hoover tackled three events at the studio, finishing fifth in 3x3x3 Fewest Moves to lead a solid personal campaign. In the Clock event, Ethan Ekstrom took on a focused single-event schedule and earned a strong fourth-place result, while Jennifer Castle also concentrated on Clock to secure fifth place overall. These milestone results and new event debuts formed the quiet backbone of the entire weekend.

International honors belonged entirely to Kevin Matthews, who delivered masterclasses in the larger blindfolded puzzles. Matthews claimed gold in 4x4x4 Blindfolded with a winning single time of 3:59.80, finishing clear ahead of Castle who clocked 5:22.29 and Siauw who logged 7:10.52. Matthews added a second victory in 3x3x3 Multi-Blind, solving 27 of 35 cubes within the exact 1:00:00 time limit, outpacing Siauw who secured 12 out of 15 in 56:26 and Preston who finished a clean 6 out of 6 in 49:50.

Every twist of the classic Rubik's Cube required extraordinary focus given the unique qualification focus of the weekend. Between the blindfolded precision, move-optimization planning, and swift dial rotations, the cubing competition showcased the sheer versatility of modern puzzle solvers. While standard speed cubing events often draw the largest crowds, the deep tactical demands of these six events offered an exceptional display of skill.

As the final scores were tabulated at JAM PBQ I 2023, the event underscored the strength of the regional community in the Pacific Northwest. With four podium positions earned by Canada and 15 by the United States, the specialized 3x3 results and blindfolded achievements served as a fitting showcase of local and visiting talent in Everett as competitors look ahead to the next stage of the 2023 season.