Loon Cubikon 2023

The SNHU Dining Center Banquet Hall buzzed with quiet intensity as competitors took their stations in Manchester, New Hampshire, USA. Hands hovered over timers, cubes clicked into alignment, and judges watched closely as 105 competitors gathered for an action-packed day of speedcubing. Held on November 19, 2023, the event brought together seasoned solvers and newcomers alike across six distinct puzzles, spanning eleven rounds of sharp, focused play in the Granite State.

While blindfolded disciplines typically require extraordinary memorisation and silent focus from competitors, every puzzle on the schedule demanded its own brand of deep concentration. Loon Cubikon 2023 tested mental fortitude and tactile agility across varied formats, ranging from the frantic pace of the smaller puzzles to the strategic layer rotations required on larger cubes and specialty hardware. With a bustling roster of events, solvers stepped up under the pressure of the clock to deliver personal bests and race for podium positions.

The premier 3x3x3 Cube event drew a massive field of 104 competitors across three intense rounds. When the dust settled, Graeme Stone captured top honours with a blistering winning average of 7.30 seconds, backed by a best single solve of 6.32 seconds. Stone held off a determined charge from Aidan McKenzie, who secured second place with an average of 7.81, while Sam Cooperman rounded out the podium in third with an 8.04 average. The official 3x3 results demonstrated exceptional consistency at the top of the standings.

Aidan McKenzie stayed exceptionally busy throughout the cubing competition, capturing a victory in the 4x4x4 Cube with a winning average of 31.90 seconds and a best single time of 28.61 seconds among 62 competitors. Stone took the runner-up spot on the 4x4x4 podium with a 33.83 average, followed by Derek White in third at 34.70. McKenzie also demonstrated his versatility across the weekend by claiming third-place finishes in both 3x3x3 One-Handed and Square-1, highlighting his stamina across different puzzle formats.

Away from the top of the podium, several competitors delivered massive breakthrough moments throughout the weekend. Samuel Nichols posted a standout performance, chopping his 3x3x3 Cube personal best down to 10.37 seconds, which was 46.3% faster than his previous mark of 19.31, while also logging his first ever attempt at 4x4x4 Cube in 47.66 seconds. Peter Stein cut his 3x3x3 Cube personal best by 47.8% down to 26.15 seconds, and made his first ever attempt at 2x2x2 Cube with a 7.14. Jonah Yoken achieved a dramatic 50.7% improvement in Clock with a new personal best of 14.48 seconds, while Lucy LaRock improved her 2x2x2 Cube mark by 42% down to 7.58 seconds.

Other competitors took on ambitious new challenges across the schedule at this WCA competition. First-timer Liam J. Meredith tackled five events in his debut, recording his first ever attempt at 3x3x3 Cube in 30.19 seconds and a 4x4x4 Cube finish in 3:46.60. Jasper Paley entered six events, logging his first ever attempt at Clock with a 27.09 and an initial Square-1 time of 51.48. Cole Gibson recorded a personal best of 3.19 in 2x2x2 Cube, an improvement of 35.8%, along with his first ever attempt at Square-1 in 30.17. William Carlone set a 3x3x3 One-Handed personal best of 28.03 seconds, a 30.2% improvement, and made his first ever attempt at Clock with 16.52.

The 2x2x2 Cube brought high-speed thrills across two rounds for 90 competitors. Curtis Chai took the title with a rapid winning average of 1.58 seconds and a single of 1.15 seconds, edging Ethan Zhuang who averaged 1.66 seconds, while Jacob Schwartz secured third place with 2.10. In the 3x3x3 One-Handed event, Levi Gibson outpaced a field of 63 competitors to win with an average of 14.02 seconds, finishing ahead of Charles Amarello at 15.03 and McKenzie at 15.24.

Specialty disciplines rounded out the action in Manchester. Joshua Marriott claimed the Clock title with an average of 4.28 seconds and a single of 3.64 seconds, besting Canadian competitor Gabrielle Morasse who finished second with 5.51, and Edward Habeck IV who took third with 5.97. In Square-1, Braden Richards earned first place on a tiebreak average of 12.52 seconds with a best single of 10.21, matching Derek White who also averaged 12.52, while McKenzie took third at 12.60.

With 17 podium places claimed by United States competitors alongside an international podium finish for Canada, the competition provided a brilliant showcase of speed cubing excellence. From first-time entrants discovering the classic Rubik's Cube stage to seasoned winners executing flawless solves, Loon Cubikon 2023 delivered a memorable day of racing for the New England community as solvers look ahead to the next season.