Lake Placid 2023

Carson Widjaja delivered a masterclass at High Peaks Resort, putting down a decisive 6.43 winning average in the 3x3x3 Cube to secure victory at the top of the podium. Across three intense rounds, Widjaja displayed veteran consistency, also posting the tournament best single of 5.64 seconds. The performance set the tone for the entire gathering, drawing attention to how seasoned hands navigate high-stakes moments. Behind him, Maxence Leboeuf secured second place with a 7.88 average, while Shaun Mack took third with an 8.10 mark in the final round.

Held on December 2, 2023, Lake Placid 2023 gathered 62 competitors in Lake Placid, New York, USA for a full day of speedcubing across 6 events and 11 rounds. The regional cubing competition attracted talent from across the continent, with competitors from the United States taking 15 podium places and Canadian solvers claiming 3. Speed cubing enthusiasts were treated to elite standard displays across traditional Rubik's Cube categories as well as specialty twisty puzzles.

Widjaja made his presence felt well beyond the traditional three-layered puzzle, orchestrating a triple-crown performance across the larger cubes. In the 4x4x4 Cube, Widjaja captured first place with an average of 26.18 seconds and a best single of 25.34, outpacing runner-up Evan Liu who averaged 33.63, and third-place Shaun Mack at 35.53. In the 5x5x5 Cube, Widjaja returned to the top step with a winning average of 58.55 and a single of 56.04. Evan Liu finished second in 1:00.46, followed by Shaun Mack in third at 1:08.20.

Shaun Mack also demonstrated remarkable command across multiple disciplines throughout the competition. In 3x3x3 One-Handed, Mack claimed the title with a 12.62 winning average and a single of 10.00, edging out Widjaja who recorded a 14.57 average for silver, while Charles Amarello took third place with 15.79. Mack doubled his gold medal haul in Pyraminx, taking first place with a rapid 2.93 average and a 2.14 single. Maxence Leboeuf took second place with 3.65, and Widjaja rounded out the podium with 5.11.

The Clock competition delivered one of the closest podium battles of the entire day. Evan Liu came away with the gold medal thanks to a 5.57 winning average and a 4.31 single. Jack Chicoine pushed the pace to earn second place with a 5.70 average, while Edward Habeck IV finished third at 6.24. Liu added the Clock victory to his silver medals in both 4x4x4 Cube and 5x5x5 Cube, highlighting a diverse skill set in a packed schedule.

Away from the top of the standings, several competitors achieved remarkable milestones across the board. Landon Elkins cut his Pyraminx personal best down to 5.77 seconds, an improvement of 64.8 percent over his previous 16.40 mark, while also recording his first ever attempt at Clock with a 25.71 and finishing 20th in Pyraminx. Jacob Hughes slashed his Pyraminx personal best by 57.3 percent down to 5.95 seconds and took on his first ever attempt at 3x3x3 One-Handed, registering a 34.31. Fox Gheen improved his 4x4x4 Cube personal best by 44.3 percent to 1:02.16 and made his first official attempts at 5x5x5 Cube and Clock.

Other competitors took on extensive event loads and made breakthroughs during their tournament journeys. Nicholas D. Burlarley contested 6 events, marking first attempts in Pyraminx with 12.42, Clock with 33.04, and 5x5x5 Cube with 2:44.08, earning a best finish of 21st place in the 5x5x5 Cube. Phoenix Mascellino tackled 6 events, logging a first 3x3x3 One-Handed time of 1:17.32 and a first 5x5x5 Cube mark of 4:28.10. Henry Murphy lowered his 3x3x3 Cube personal best by 35.9 percent down to 23.28 seconds. Matthew Chermak improved his 4x4x4 Cube personal best by 28.1 percent to 1:18.25, while YiFei Chen dropped his 3x3x3 One-Handed personal best by 25.3 percent to 27.84 seconds.

The 3x3 results across the weekend highlighted the competitive depth present in northern New York. As the WCA competition drew to a close, Lake Placid 2023 stood as an example of veteran poise matching up against personal ambition across every round, delivering memorable solves across six distinct disciplines.

With 11 rounds successfully completed in the High Peaks Resort hall, competitors left the tables having tested their limits against both the clock and an experienced field. The 2023 speedcubing calendar in the region concluded another chapter of sharp turns and fast times.