Mayo Cubing 2023

Twelve distinct events across twenty-two rounds gave eighty-three competitors an expansive showcase of speedcubing disciplines at Foxford Sport & Leisure Centre. Held across September 23 and September 24, Mayo Cubing 2023 offered a dynamic test of versatility in Foxford, Ireland. Enthusiasts of every puzzle format found plenty of action on the schedule, ranging from standard two-handed solving to complex big cubes, side events, and intricate memory disciplines in an energetic WCA competition environment.

The premier 3x3x3 Cube event drew a large field of eighty-one solvers, demanding precision across three competitive rounds. Ciarán Beahan emerged at the top of the 3x3 results, capturing victory with a standout 6.98 final average and a best single time of 6.49 seconds. Richard Madden earned the runner-up spot with an average of 8.31, while CJ Furey completed the podium in third with an 8.41 average, underlining the elite speed present in Irish speed cubing.

Beahan extended his mastery well beyond the standard Rubik's Cube, sweeping the remaining major twisty puzzles on the schedule. In the 4x4x4 Cube, he clinched first place with a 23.88 average alongside a single of 22.79, finishing ahead of CJ Furey and Richard Madden. Beahan also secured the 5x5x5 Cube title with an average of 45.12, once again outpacing Madden and Furey, before demonstrating exceptional dexterity to claim the 3x3x3 One-Handed crown with an average of 12.98.

Enda Loftus matched that multi-discipline versatility by securing a remarkable haul of titles across widely differing puzzle types. Loftus claimed the 2x2x2 Cube final with a 2.41 winning average, finishing ahead of Lucas Patrick Dowling and Richard Madden. He doubled his sprint success in the Pyraminx with an average of 2.26 and added a decisive win on the twelve-sided Megaminx by recording a 51.91 average, proving adaptability across puzzles with varying geometries.

The blindfolded categories demanded complete spatial awareness without visual feedback, and Loftus delivered another masterclass by winning the 3x3x3 Multi-Blind event with a flawless 9 out of 9 solved in 53:51. Simon Kelly finished second with 11 out of 15 cubes in 43:17. In the single 3x3x3 Blindfolded discipline, Colm McCarthy secured the victory with a 38.16 average, while Loftus followed in second with 1:00.10 and Kelly claimed third place in 1:07.49.

Beyond the podium battles, Mayo Cubing 2023 delivered immense personal milestones for competitors pushing their individual boundaries. Alfie McClean entered nine events over the weekend, setting a new Clock personal best of 20.61 by dropping his previous mark by 67.9 percent, while also tackling his first ever 5x5x5 Cube attempt in 3:50.06. Jake Thomas improved his Skewb best by 63.1 percent down to 5.94 seconds and completed his first official Megaminx attempt in 3:27.81. Advaith Simha made a first Pyraminx attempt in 12.22 and improved his 2x2x2 Cube best by 61.2 percent to 7.52 seconds.

The breakthroughs continued across every level of experience in Foxford. Yohanush Anuradha Senthilkumar trimmed 57.1 percent from his previous best 2x2x2 Cube time to hit 2.95 seconds. Oisin James Waldron logged a first 4x4x4 Cube solve of 3:49.84 and took 48.3 percent off his Skewb personal best with an 11.19. Laura McHugh improved her Skewb mark by 47 percent to 5.59 seconds while attempting 3x3x3 One-Handed for the first time in 57.08. Frank Killilea tackled seven events including a first 4x4x4 attempt of 1:34.59, and Lorcán Finnegan dropped his 4x4x4 Cube best by 33.7 percent to 2:06.07.

Specialist events brought further variety to the Foxford floor. Cathal Burke captured the Skewb title with a 3.45 average, while Richard Madden earned the Square-1 victory by logging a 10.17 average. In the Clock event, Rían Burke triumphed with a winning average of 5.92, leading Aidan Browne and Seán O'Toole on the podium. The 2x2x2 event also witnessed a flurry of record-setting single and average solves across multiple rounds from competitors throughout the field.

By the close of the weekend, Irish competitors secured all thirty-six available podium places across the full spectrum of events. Mayo Cubing 2023 highlighted how the sheer variety of modern disciplines keeps the community engaged, providing equal room for lightning-fast sprints, intricate mechanical challenges, and complex memory feats. Solvers now turn their focus to the wider 2023 calendar with new personal bests and valuable multi-event experience under their belts.