Michigan Mini 5 2023

Thirty-three competitors assembled at the Plymouth Arts and Recreation Center on May 19, 2023, turning a streamlined schedule of two events into an intense demonstration of field depth. With five total rounds contested over the single-day gathering, earning a spot on the finals table required precision from the first turn. The Plymouth, Michigan, USA venue set a brisk tempo for speedcubing, demanding that every entrant hit high gear immediately or risk an early exit.

The flagship Rubik's Cube event drew the full roster of 33 solvers across three competitive rounds. Navigating the cutoffs proved unforgiving as the pack battled for top-tier rankings. Stanley Chapel of the United States set the benchmark across the board, capturing the 3x3x3 Cube title with a winning average of 7.25 seconds and delivering the event best single solve of 7.05 seconds. The battle for the remaining podium steps pushed solvers to their limits, reflecting the high quality of this WCA competition.

Chapel was flanked on the main podium by fellow American Ben Saperstein, who claimed second place with a final round average of 8.46 seconds. Spain's Borja Perez secured third place with an average of 10.73 seconds, rounding out an international top three. The official 3x3 results demonstrated how slim the margins were throughout the day, as contenders traded rapid solutions through the preliminary stages to secure their positions among the finalists.

The one-handed discipline added technical complexity to the program, featuring 17 competitors across two rounds. Stanley Chapel earned a second gold medal of the meet, posting a winning average of 12.77 seconds in 3x3x3 One-Handed and logging the fastest single of the event at 10.58 seconds. Borja Perez stepped up to take the runner-up spot with an average of 15.42 seconds, while Ben Saperstein secured third place with an 18.25-second average.

Away from the top steps of the podium, Michigan Mini 5 2023 provided a platform for dramatic breakthroughs and career milestones across the board. Logan Youngman produced massive gains, dropping their 3x3x3 One-Handed personal best to 20.65 seconds, a 45.2 percent improvement over their prior mark of 37.70, while also lowering their 3x3x3 Cube best to 10.46 seconds. Doug Li took on two events and cut his 3x3x3 One-Handed mark to 35.57 seconds, improving by 35.8 percent. Naomi Mackler showed sharp form by carving 21.8 percent off her standard solve, recording a personal best of 1:29.60, and Malek Ettaher posted a personal best of 19.58 seconds, which was 20.4 percent faster than his previous best.

First-time experiences and steady improvements highlighted the depth of the field throughout the afternoon. Sullivan Bryant tackled two events and recorded a first ever attempt at 3x3x3 One-Handed of 29.81 seconds, alongside a 3x3x3 Cube personal best of 9.85 seconds. Evan Krebs also logged his first ever attempt at 3x3x3 One-Handed with a time of 2:21.17 and established a 3x3x3 Cube personal best of 35.62 seconds. Amalia de Jong lowered her standard cube mark to 53.77 seconds, an improvement of 4.2 percent, while Kohki Fukuda contested two events, achieving a personal best of 9.45 seconds and earning a best finish of 6th place in the 3x3x3 Cube.

Newcomers made their presence felt right from their opening solves. Kolby Youngman stepped onto the official floor for a first WCA competition and delivered a 23.32-second mark on the 3x3x3 Cube, while Jackson Edgell opened his career with a 21.88-second effort. Bryant Glowczewski recorded a 28.49 on his opening attempt, and John Bourbeau completed his first official solve in 43.39 seconds, adding to the vibrancy of the regional speed cubing scene.

Across the international tally, the United States collected four podium placements while Spain earned two, highlighting a focused day of racing. The five rounds demonstrated the depth required to excel in a compact format where every turn counted. Michigan Mini 5 2023 concluded as an efficient showcase of talent, leaving the field ready to build on their marks when the circuit moves to the next challenge.