Lucky Lynnwood 2023

Inside the Lynnwood Convention Center on September 30, 2023, the floor was filled with the rhythmic clatter of plastic pieces and the hum of timers reset across dozens of stations. While speed cubing demands frantic turns and lightning instincts, the quiet discipline of methodical analysis always underpins the best solves. At Lucky Lynnwood 2023, a gathering of 146 competitors in Lynnwood, Washington, USA put that dedication on display through five separate events and 11 rounds of intense tournament action.

Sameer Aggarwal emerged as the dominant force of the day, securing four event victories in a commanding showcase. The premier test of the weekend centered on the classic Rubik's Cube, where 141 competitors battled through three rounds. Aggarwal claimed top honors in the 3x3 results with a winning average of 6.75 seconds alongside a best single of 5.89. Ethan Rusnak took the second step on the podium with a 7.08 average, while Max Siauw completed the top three with a 7.21 mark.

The 2x2x2 Cube proved equally rapid, featuring 126 competitors across two competitive rounds. Aggarwal took another gold by averaging 1.84 seconds in the final round, having posted a swift 1.30 best single. Siauw earned the runner-up position with an average of 2.25 seconds, while Greyson James secured the bronze medal with a 2.56 average, contributing to an event full of tight finishes at the top of the table.

Aggarwal continued his winning run on the triangular Pyraminx, leading a 112-competitor field across two rounds with a winning average of 3.83 seconds and a best single of 2.16. Ron G. Arama placed second with an average of 4.07 seconds, closely followed by Siauw, who claimed third with 4.10 seconds. On the Square-1, Aggarwal edged out the 65-competitor bracket with a 6.29 average and a 5.56 single, just ahead of Siauw's 6.34 average and Calvin Nielson's 9.40 mark.

The Clock event provided the only break in Aggarwal's streak, where Dilshawn Sidhu captured the victory among 61 competitors with an average of 4.64 seconds and a single of 4.25. James earned second place with a 4.80 average, while Alex Moscibroda picked up third place with an average of 6.06 seconds. Overall, podium finishes across the WCA competition were shared among three nations, with the United States collecting 12 podium spots, Canada earning two, and Switzerland taking one.

Beyond the medalists, the true heart of the cubing competition lived in the massive personal leaps achieved across the field. Sanmannireth Ouk Kongsaisy entered three events, logging a first ever attempt at Pyraminx with a 7.04 mark while slashing a 2x2x2 personal best down to 2.25 seconds, an improvement of 77.3 percent from a previous 9.93. Anay Khandelwal produced a dramatic 71 percent drop on 2x2x2, clocking 2.39 seconds compared to an older 8.25 best, alongside an 18.97 on 3x3x3 that was 19.4 percent faster than before. Malachi Severson cut his 2x2x2 record by 65.8 percent with a 5.35 solve, while Kayden Zhang tackled four events, recording a first Square-1 attempt of 33.29 and dropping his Pyraminx best by 41.6 percent to 6.18.

First-time event entries brought immense energy to the staging area throughout the afternoon. Matthew Franchini took on five events, earning a 10th-place finish in Pyraminx with a debut 4.55 mark, alongside a first 2x2x2 time of 2.39 and a Clock debut of 18.72. Elijah Shin also completed a five-event slate, making first attempts at Square-1 with a 45.56 and Clock with 15.07 while lowering his Pyraminx best by 30.7 percent to 5.96. Hamza Elsharkawy recorded his first attempts in Pyraminx at 13.29 and 2x2x2 at 3.57 while cutting his 3x3x3 best by 25.4 percent to 31.52. Ashley Anderson achieved a 14th-place Clock finish with a 9.86 personal best, improving by 24.5 percent while posting first attempts at Pyraminx and Square-1.

With hundreds of solves logged and dozens of personal milestones achieved, Lucky Lynnwood 2023 highlighted the strength and depth of the regional speedcubing community. The single-day tournament brought together solvers across all skill levels, setting a high standard of precision and competitive drive as participants prepare for future challenges across the Pacific Northwest circuit.