Kent Autumn 2023

Inside the bustling sports hall at the New Line Learning Academy, the rhythmic clacking of twisting plastic echoed across dozens of solve stations. Spectators and competitors packed the room from wall to wall across two full days of action from September 30 to October 1, 2023. The atmosphere in Maidstone, Kent, United Kingdom was charged with anticipation as nearly two hundred solvers gathered to test their skills against one of the deepest rosters assembled on the domestic circuit this season.

Making it through the rounds at Kent Autumn 2023 was a grueling test of consistency and focus. A massive turnout of 199 competitors pushed every event bracket to its absolute limit, demanding peak execution from the opening heats. Across 7 events and 21 separate rounds, even seasoned contenders had to fight hard for survival. The sheer depth meant that reaching any final required navigating stacked qualifying pools where a single lockup or mistimed turn could end a tournament run prematurely.

The premier 3x3x3 Cube event drew a staggering 185 entrants across four intense rounds of competition. Sifting through such a deep pool left no margin for error, and the final round featured a showdown between some of the fastest hands in the country. James Alonso captured the title with a stellar 6.36 winning average and a best single of 6.01, topping the classic Rubik's Cube standings. Chris Mills secured the runner-up spot with a 6.72 average, while George Scholey rounded out the podium at 7.23, concluding an extraordinary display of 3x3 results.

Beyond the main event, the weekend showcased incredible multi-puzzle proficiency. Daniel Partridge enjoyed an exceptional campaign, taking gold in the Pyraminx with an average of 2.28 and also claiming first place in Square-1 with an 8.31 average. In Pyraminx, Bo Forsell of Sweden took second place at 2.81, while Nathan Olano claimed third with 3.05. Partridge also mounted podium finishes across three other events, showing remarkable versatility throughout the speedcubing schedule.

George Scholey made frequent visits to the podium as well, dominating the shorter formats. Scholey claimed victory in 2x2x2 Cube with a 2.04 winning average, edging Partridge's 2.05 in a nail-biting finish, with Max Tully securing third at 2.38. Scholey doubled his gold tally by winning Skewb with a 3.00 average ahead of Partridge's 3.48 and Ariel Benchetrit's 3.66. Meanwhile, Chris Mills clinched the 4x4x4 Cube crown with a 29.55 average, and Fengyuan Kelvin Lou prevailed in Clock with a swift 4.31 average.

Away from the title clashes, the depth of this cubing competition was reflected in the personal milestones achieved across the venue. Sam Russell tackled 7 events over the weekend, delivering a massive 76.3% improvement with a 9.51 Clock personal best alongside an 18.86 in Square-1. Segun Guevara took on 3 events, slashing his previous bests with a 3.72 on 2x2x2 Cube, 60.6% faster, and a 22.61 on 3x3x3 Cube. Marc Guevara achieved a 19.36 personal best in 3x3x3 Cube, representing a 57.7% drop, while recording a first ever attempt of 8.27 in 2x2x2 Cube and 31.17 in Skewb. Dhyey Shah competed in 5 events, recording a 5.73 personal best in Skewb that was 59.7% faster and a 3.83 in Pyraminx to earn a 13th place finish.

The progress continued across every corner of the tournament hall. Oscar O'Mally-Richardson entered 5 events, finishing 14th in 2x2x2 Cube with a first ever attempt of 2.13, alongside a 14.87 Square-1 personal best that was 26.4% faster than his previous mark. Lucas Jackson showed sharp improvement across his 5 events, dropping 41.6% to notch a 9.62 Skewb personal best and logging a first ever Clock attempt of 39.37. Sam Williams handled 7 events, establishing initial tournament marks with 48.12 in Square-1 and 8.24 in Skewb, while Sebastian Loveday-Lam tackled 6 events, marking maiden attempts of 7.36 in Skewb and 16.93 in Pyraminx.

The technical precision on display highlighted the evolving standards across modern speed cubing. United Kingdom competitors captured 20 of the 21 podium places available over the two days, delivering world-class execution across every discipline. From high-stakes 3x3 heats to specialized side events, the New Line Learning Academy venue provided a memorable stage for seasoned veterans and rising talents alike.

As the final timers stopped and the tables were cleared, Kent Autumn 2023 stood as a testament to the thriving community and ever-growing competitive standards in the region. Navigating a field of nearly two hundred entrants required immense poise and technical mastery. The impressive depth seen in Maidstone sets a formidable benchmark for the remainder of the 2023 calendar as solvers prepare for their next WCA competition.