Medan Speedcubing Showdown 2023

Indonesia established absolute dominance across a packed schedule at the Centre Point Mall, claiming an overwhelming 25 podium places across the weekend. The Medan Speedcubing Showdown 2023, staged in Medan, North Sumatra, Indonesia from December 23 to December 24, delivered high drama as 28 competitors tackled 12 distinct events spanning 20 total rounds of action. Host nation competitors swept the podiums entirely in several categories while fending off tough international challenges from visiting speedcubing specialists hailing from Malaysia, China, and Singapore.

The premier 3x3x3 Cube event served as a major highlight, concluding three intense rounds with Malaysia's Tee Kai Yang taking the top step. Tee delivered a lightning-fast 6.68 winning average and secured the weekend's best single solve of 5.81 seconds. Indonesian finalists locked down the remainder of the podium positions, with Michael Tjandra securing second place on an 8.12 average and Justin Lawrence taking third with an 8.69 mark. The definitive 3x3 results demonstrated world-class dexterity at the classic Rubik's Cube puzzle throughout the weekend.

Beyond the main event, Tee Kai Yang proved nearly unstoppable in the standard puzzle categories, picking up additional victories in both the 4x4x4 Cube and 3x3x3 One-Handed events. In the 4x4x4 Cube, Tee posted a winning average of 27.53 and a best single of 24.02, ahead of Indonesian contenders Wilson Alvis who averaged 37.45 and Michael Tjandra who averaged 40.19. In 3x3x3 One-Handed, Tee secured the gold with a 10.84 average, while Wilson Alvis and Michael Tjandra once again completed the podium with averages of 16.12 and 17.07 respectively.

Indonesian standout Firstian Fushada assembled a masterclass across multiple disciplines, winning four separate events at the Medan Speedcubing Showdown 2023. Fushada triumphed in Pyraminx with a 3.81 winning average, Skewb with a 3.60 average, and Megaminx with a 38.01 mark. Fushada also delivered a memorable victory in the 3x3x3 Blindfolded division, mastering the memorisation and execution phases to log a winning single of 44.93 seconds, leading an Indonesian podium sweep ahead of Michael at 2:13.19 and Wilson Alvis at 2:29.92.

The big cube categories featured an exceptional duel between Firstian Fushada and China's Anyu Zhang. Zhang took top honours in the 5x5x5 Cube with a 51.12 winning average ahead of Fushada's 52.86 and Tee's 56.09. Zhang doubled his gold tally by taking the 7x7x7 Cube with a 1:59.92 average, while Fushada earned second at 2:18.60 and Michael took third at 3:01.69. Fushada struck back in the 6x6x6 Cube, winning the event with an average of 1:25.23 over Zhang's 1:26.34 and Michael's 1:57.51. In the 2x2x2 Cube final, Indonesia's Farrel Enzo Tanaputra took gold with a 2.81 average, while Wilson Alvis won Clock with a 13.03 average.

Away from the podium battles, several competitors achieved remarkable milestones across the tournament schedule. Ernest Loui Mok took on six events and achieved a career best 4th place finish in Clock with a first ever attempt of 13.92, logged a first attempt in 5x5x5 Cube at 2:36.15, and cut his 3x3x3 One-Handed personal best down to 25.35, making it 52.8 percent faster. Muhammad Ammar Naufal registered a first attempt in 3x3x3 One-Handed at 41.77, while lowering his 2x2x2 Cube best to 3.78, which was 32.1 percent faster, and dropping his 3x3x3 Cube mark to 14.93. Singapore's David Ang contested seven events, logging a first Megaminx result of 3:42.84, a Pyraminx personal best of 8.97 which was 21 percent faster, and a 4x4x4 Cube personal best of 1:15.35. Shane Arden Yang recorded a first attempt in Pyraminx at 14.95, while improving his 3x3x3 Cube best to 25.58, an improvement of 27.4 percent, and his 2x2x2 Cube best to 7.88.

The depth of progress continued across the lineup as Kenzie Otto Tjoa completed a first ever Skewb attempt of 13.27 and a first 3x3x3 Cube solve of 33.00, placing 11th in Skewb. Nelson Deva Lim contested five events, securing a 6th place finish in 2x2x2 Cube with a first attempt of 3.36, while dropping his 4x4x4 Cube mark to 56.20 for a 17.4 percent improvement and shaving his 3x3x3 Cube best to 11.22. Louise Derizhy placed 5th in Skewb, improved their Clock mark to 14.25 to go 28.1 percent faster, lowered their 4x4x4 Cube time to 58.63, and recorded a 3.11 in 2x2x2 Cube. Meanwhile, Sutrisno took on all 12 events on the programme, placing 5th in 3x3x3 Blindfolded, cutting their 7x7x7 Cube best to 4:47.20 to go 19.3 percent faster, improving in Clock to 55.37, and lowering their 5x5x5 Cube time to 1:21.27.

The Medan Speedcubing Showdown 2023 served as an ideal showcase for the growing regional talent pool, bringing a memorable close to the 2023 calendar. With 25 podium spots secured by Indonesian solvers alongside strong performances by Malaysian, Chinese, and Singaporean representatives, this cubing competition highlighted the high standard of speed cubing in the region. As competitors look ahead to the next competitive season, the performances at Centre Point Mall set a high benchmark for future WCA competition events in North Sumatra.

From the rapid turns in the short-format puzzles to the endurance required in the big cubes, the Medan Speedcubing Showdown 2023 brought top-tier excitement to the local community. The gathering reaffirmed the enthusiasm for official competition in Medan, leaving participants with fresh personal records and setting an inspiring tone for upcoming speedcubing tournaments across Southeast Asia.

Firstian Fushada tampil luar biasa sepanjang akhir pekan dengan mengamankan lima gelar juara dalam ajang Medan Speedcubing Showdown 2023. Bertempat di Centre Point Mall, Medan, North Sumatra, Indonesia, kompetisi yang berlangsung pada 23 hingga 24 Desember 2023 ini menyajikan pertarungan ketat di berbagai disiplin kubus Rubik. Keberhasilan Firstian merebut kemenangan di nomor Pyraminx, Skewb, Megaminx, 6x6x6 Cube, hingga 3x3x3 Blindfolded menjadikannya sosok paling dominan dalam perhelatan akbar penutup tahun tersebut.

Kompetisi speedcubing bergengsi ini mempertemukan sebanyak 28 peserta yang bertarung memperebutkan gelar dalam 12 cabang lomba melalui total 20 babak penyisihan dan final. Selain aksi Firstian Fushada, delegasi asal Malaysia Tee Kai Yang turut mencuri perhatian besar dengan menyapu bersih tiga nomor utama. Tee Kai Yang membuktikan kecepatannya di kategori 3x3x3 Cube, 4x4x4 Cube, serta 3x3x3 One-Handed dengan torehan waktu yang menempatkannya di puncak persaingan.

Pada nomor paling bergengsi 3x3x3 Cube, Tee Kai Yang mengunci posisi teratas dengan catatan rata-rata 6.68 detik setelah melewati tiga babak, termasuk torehan single terbaik 5.81 detik. Michael Tjandra menyusul di peringkat kedua dengan rata-rata 8.12 detik, disusul Justin Lawrence di tangga ketiga lewat catatan 8.69 detik. Sementara di nomor 2x2x2 Cube, Farrel Enzo Tanaputra keluar sebagai pemenang lewat rata-rata 2.81 detik, mengungguli Tee Kai Long dan Justin Lawrence yang finis kedua dan ketiga dengan catatan waktu identik 3.61 detik.

Dominasi Firstian Fushada berlanjut di nomor-nomor non-kubus standar serta teka-teki berukuran besar. Dalam kategori 6x6x6 Cube, Firstian mencatatkan rata-rata 1:25.23, menundukkan Anyu Zhang yang mencatat 1:26.34 dan Michael di posisi ketiga dengan 1:57.51. Firstian juga membukukan rata-rata 38.01 detik di Megaminx, 3.60 detik di Skewb, 3.81 detik di Pyraminx, serta kemenangan blindfolded lewat single 44.93 detik. Di kategori 5x5x5 Cube dan 7x7x7 Cube, giliran Anyu Zhang yang mengamankan podium tertinggi masing-masing dengan catatan 51.12 detik dan 1:59.92.

Perolehan gelar lainnya juga terbagi merata melalui penampilan solid sejumlah peserta unggulan. Tee Kai Yang menuntaskan 4x4x4 Cube dengan rata-rata 27.53 detik, unggul atas Wilson Alvis yang mencatat 37.45 detik dan Michael Tjandra dengan 40.19 detik. Di cabang 3x3x3 One-Handed, Tee Kai Yang kembali tak terbendung dengan torehan 10.84 detik, mengungguli Wilson Alvis dan Michael Tjandra. Adapun di cabang Clock, gelar juara diraih oleh Wilson Alvis dengan rata-rata 13.03 detik.

Di balik persaingan podium utama, Medan Speedcubing Showdown 2023 menghadirkan cerita kemajuan nyata bagi sejumlah peserta yang menunjukkan potensi terbaik mereka di atas panggung resmi. Wilfredo Wesly yang turun di tiga nomor berhasil memecahkan rekor personal best miliknya di kategori 3x3x3 Cube dengan catatan 16.43 detik, lebih cepat 7.2 persen dibandingkan torehan sebelumnya 17.71 detik. Sementara itu Zahra Khairina yang berlaga di empat cabang sukses membukukan personal best 1:09.02 pada nomor 4x4x4 Cube.

Ajang ini juga menjadi debut resmi dalam kompetisi WCA bagi deretan peserta baru yang langsung turun di banyak nomor. Hiroyuki Ang menjalani lima cabang sekaligus dan meraih peringkat ke-8 di nomor 2x2x2 Cube dengan single perdana 3.19 detik, selain mencatatkan waktu resmi pertamanya di 4x4x4 Cube sebesar 2:13.17 dan Pyraminx 7.79 detik. Jayden Zhan tampil di empat cabang dengan finis terbaik posisi ke-10 di Pyraminx dan membukukan waktu awal 21.19 detik pada 3x3x3 Cube, 3.95 detik di 2x2x2 Cube, serta 1:38.69 di 4x4x4 Cube. Wesley Oliver Young menyelesaikan tiga cabang dengan waktu perdana 35.89 detik di 3x3x3 Cube, 15.68 detik di 2x2x2 Cube, dan 9.56 detik di Pyraminx yang mengantarkannya ke posisi ke-13.

Daftar debutan berbakat berlanjut lewat partisipasi Sheryl Audrey Yang yang mencatatkan waktu awal 56.18 detik di 3x3x3 Cube, 15.18 detik di 2x2x2 Cube, dan 15.44 detik di Pyraminx dengan finis terbaik posisi ke-16. Dylan Jayden Chua langsung tampil menonjol dengan menempati peringkat ke-4 di Megaminx lewat torehan 1:13.45 pada percobaan perdananya, selain mengukir waktu 11.51 detik di 3x3x3 Cube. Eugenie Lizzy Mok melengkapi debut perdananya dengan menuntaskan nomor 3x3x3 Cube lewat waktu 46.97 detik serta 20.12 detik di 2x2x2 Cube.

Secara keseluruhan, rangkaian kompetisi cubing competition ini ditutup dengan dominasi podium oleh tuan rumah Indonesia yang mengumpulkan 25 posisi tiga besar, disusul Malaysia dengan 5 podium, China dengan 4 podium, dan Singapura dengan 2 podium. Melalui penyelenggaraan yang rapi dan atmosfer kompetitif yang sehat, gelaran Medan Speedcubing Showdown 2023 menjadi arena penutup tahun yang berkesan bagi komunitas speedcubing di Sumatera Utara dan sekitarnya.