Lynnwood Winter 2023

Inside the Lynnwood Convention Center, the rhythmic clatter of plastic faces turning at breakneck speeds filled the hall as competitors unpacked their mats, adjusted timers, and prepped their puzzles. The winter gathering brought together a massive lineup of puzzle enthusiasts eager to test their skills under official tournament conditions. With 137 competitors registered to tackle five distinct disciplines, the atmosphere remained focused and energetic from the very first group until the final results were entered into the system.

Held on January 7, 2023, the single-day gathering in Lynnwood, Washington, USA delivered 11 rounds of high-intensity action across multiple categories. For fans following the broader circuit, Lynnwood Winter 2023 served as an ideal showcase of local and regional talent tackling everything from standard puzzles to complex dodecahedrons. Speed cubing at this level demands immense precision, and the packed schedule ensured that solving stations remained active throughout the entire day as rounds advanced from early heats to the finals.

The premier event of the cubing competition naturally drew the largest turnout, with 136 entrants battling through three full rounds in the classic 3x3x3 Cube. Max Siauw led the field, securing the championship victory with a winning average of 6.73 seconds and delivering the fastest single solve of the event at 5.52 seconds. Sameer Aggarwal took the second step on the podium with a 7.02 average, while Timothy Castle earned third place with a mark of 7.70 seconds. These official 3x3 results capped an impressive showcase of top-tier solving on the main stage.

Siauw extended his commanding run across several other formats on the schedule, asserting dominance across multiple tables. In 3x3x3 One-Handed, where 67 competitors took on the asymmetric dexterity challenge, Siauw captured another victory with a winning average of 12.50 seconds and a single solve of 10.72 seconds. Aggarwal and Castle followed in second and third place with averages of 13.58 and 15.84 seconds respectively, mirroring their top-tier form from the two-handed division. Siauw also claimed first place in Clock, posting a 7.02 average ahead of Jacob Ambrose at 7.71 and Greyson James at 7.77.

Away from the top of the podium, numerous competitors delivered massive breakthroughs across their respective disciplines. Tristan Enriquez tackled two events and cut his 3x3x3 One-Handed personal best down to 26.52 seconds, a dramatic 53.2 percent improvement over his previous best of 56.67. Adam McBee entered three events, logging his first ever attempt at 3x3x3 One-Handed in 1:04.03 and his first Clock solve in 19.49, while slicing his 3x3x3 Cube personal record down to 23.34 seconds, more than fifty percent faster than before. Jordan Dance logged first-ever marks in Clock with 15.47 and Megaminx with 1:48.18, alongside a 47.7 percent drop to 27.77 in 3x3x3 One-Handed. Deb Kumar Banerji competed in four events, recording a 12th place finish in 3x3x3 One-Handed and a Megaminx best of 1:29.56, which was 43.1 percent faster than his prior mark.

The personal milestones continued across the floor as solvers embraced new challenges at this WCA competition. Petar Cicmir entered three events, trying 3x3x3 One-Handed for the first time with a 34.97 solve and dropping his 3x3x3 Cube best by 30.3 percent down to 14.63. Joaquin Mallari delivered a first attempt in 3x3x3 One-Handed at 32.35 and lowered his Megaminx best by 19 percent to 3:06.14. Julian Hawco took on three events, recording debut efforts of 1:39.77 in Clock and 1:22.82 in 3x3x3 One-Handed while improving his standard Rubik's Cube single to 30.98. Nathan Gallagher notched a 10th place finish in 3x3x3 One-Handed while logging debut marks in both One-Handed at 17.24 and Megaminx at 1:21.48.

The remaining podiums brought spectacular specialty performances, beginning with the complex geometry of the Megaminx. Ethan Davis took the crown in the twelve-sided event with a 35.33 average and a top single of 32.47 across two rounds of 50 competitors. Daniel Yang secured the silver spot with an average of 42.73 seconds, while Siauw added another award to his tally by placing third in 50.52 seconds. Davis demonstrated exceptional turn control and lookahead, managing the extensive color schemes and piece count with remarkable efficiency.

The day concluded with 3x3x3 Blindfolded, a discipline requiring flawless memorisation followed by execution entirely without sight. Kevin Matthews of Canada secured the blindfolded title with a winning average of 37.89 seconds, posting a best single of 31.25. Siauw claimed the second spot on the podium with a 33.02 single, while Davis earned third place with a 33.44 mark. The result gave Canada one podium finish alongside 14 earned by United States competitors across the tournament.

As timers were packed away and the final results certified, Lynnwood Winter 2023 stood out as an exemplary demonstration of modern speedcubing excellence in the Pacific Northwest. Between Siauw sweeping three separate disciplines, Davis commanding the Megaminx, and Matthews delivering in the blindfolded final, the single-day meet highlighted the breadth of skill across all five categories. Competitors left the venue with fresh personal bests, new official event completions, and valuable experience to carry forward into the rest of the season.