Lisle Summer 2023

A total of 26 solved puzzles out of 30 attempts in 54 minutes and 3 seconds secured Thomas Reinke the top spot in 3x3x3 Multi-Blind at Lisle Summer 2023. While blindfolded events require intense memorisation, quiet calculation, and methodical tracing far removed from rapid-fire turning, the single-day gathering on August 26, 2023, delivered a sharp contrast between deliberate discipline and outright turning velocity. Across four events and eight rounds, 34 competitors converged at the Lisle Library in Lisle, Illinois, USA, testing their preparation against the clock.

The 3x3x3 Cube event drew the full roster of 34 competitors across three full rounds of head-to-head speedcubing. Braden Richards captured the title with a winning final average of 9.61 seconds, backed by a best single of 8.27 seconds. Sadie Sullivan secured second place with an average of 10.18 seconds, while Mitchell Toth earned third on the podium with a 10.24 average. The official 3x3 results showcased intense consistency among the finalists throughout the afternoon.

In addition to his victory in the marathon multi-blind discipline, Thomas Reinke claimed first place in standard 3x3x3 Blindfolded at Lisle Summer 2023. With nine competitors vying for the title over two rounds, Reinke recorded a winning single time of 37.25 seconds, overcoming a DNF average. Tommy Moreno earned second place with a mark of 54.52 seconds, and Ian Dimler rounded out the podium positions with a best single solve of 1:55.13.

The 3x3x3 Multi-Blind event brought immense focus to the tables, featuring seven competitors tackling multiple cubes in one go. Following Reinke on the podium, Tommy Moreno delivered an impressive 18 out of 20 cubes in 50:18 to take second place. Mitchell Toth claimed the third-place spot by successfully solving all 3 of his attempted cubes in a time of 21:49, demonstrating remarkable efficiency in the memory-heavy contest.

The Skewb tournament added rapid rotations and clever finger tricks to the schedule, featuring 22 competitors across two elimination rounds. Jory Hullin took the top honour with a winning average of 4.47 seconds and a best single solve of 2.82 seconds. Braden Richards took second place with a 5.23 average, and Sadie Sullivan completed the top three with an average of 6.54 seconds in the final round.

Away from the top steps of the podium, Lisle Summer 2023 served as a breakthrough stage for several competitors logging monumental improvements. Luke Mackey cut his Skewb personal best down to 6.75 seconds, an improvement of 53.3 percent over his previous 14.46 mark. Nick Rohla tackled four separate events, lowering his Skewb best to 4.49 seconds for a 52.6 percent gain, while also dropping his 3x3x3 Blindfolded best by 17.9 percent to 2:14.18 and taking fourth in multi-blind with 4/6 in 50:37. Brendon Meyer dropped his Skewb best by 44.8 percent to 4.04 seconds to finish fifth, while Dave Dribin improved his 3x3x3 Cube best to 30.10 seconds, cutting 41 percent off his prior benchmark.

Other competitors marked significant milestones through first-time attempts and strong finishes across the tournament. Joshua Gil completed his first official attempt at Skewb with an 11.05 single and reduced his classic Rubik's Cube best by 30 percent to 13.93 seconds, finishing seventh. Brendon Ohlinger chopped 41.1 percent off his Skewb mark to hit 5.67 seconds while finishing ninth. Andrew Phanthavong logged his first Skewb solve at 12.11 seconds, and Nate Keeley tackled his first WCA competition, recording a best finish of 12th in Skewb alongside an opening mark of 5.51 seconds.

The single-day cubing competition demonstrated the impressive breadth of modern speed cubing, balancing the meticulous planning of blindfolded puzzle solving against the split-second reflexes of Skewb and traditional 3x3. With all twelve podium positions claimed by athletes from the USA, Lisle Summer 2023 wrapped up a memorable day of racing and personal milestones in the heart of Illinois.