Mini-sota 2023

Inside the New Brighton Community Center, the atmosphere was defined by intense focus, ticking timers, and silent concentration across every station. A field of 18 dedicated competitors gathered for a demanding schedule that tested mental stamina across some of the most challenging disciplines in the sport. The venue in New Brighton, Minnesota, USA provided the stage where precision mattered far more than raw turning speed alone. With nine rounds spanning six non-traditional events, every single solve carried championship weight from the opening scramble to the final buzzer.

Held on November 25, 2023, Mini-sota 2023 offered a pure test of endurance and complex problem solving. Rather than standard sprinting, this cubing competition rewarded competitors capable of executing long memorisation sequences and intricate mathematical algorithms. Participants faced a gauntlet of blindfolded disciplines alongside complex twisty puzzles, making every round a battle of nerves. The year 2023 highlighted how deep the talent pool has grown in North American speedcubing, with specialists eager to prove themselves under tournament conditions.

The 3x3x3 Blindfolded contest emerged as a marquee highlight of the weekend. Andy Wong claimed the championship title with a winning single time of 20.70 seconds, edging out Carter Kucala, who finished second with a 34.90. Kaius Young took third place on the podium with a time of 1:03.78. Although Wong did not register an average in the final round due to a DNF result, his best single stood strong against a field of 12 blindfolded solvers. The standard Rubik's Cube proved as treacherous as ever when solved purely by touch and memory.

Carter Kucala enjoyed a prolific tournament across multiple disciplines, securing victories in two major blindfolded categories. In the 3x3x3 Multi-Blind event, Kucala took first place by successfully resolving 23 out of 33 cubes in exactly 1:00:00, outpacing Simon Kellum, who solved 10 of 12 cubes in 56:45, and Walker Welch, who solved all 4 of 4 attempts in 18:47. Kucala added another gold in 4x4x4 Blindfolded with a winning single time of 3:17.38, while Welch secured second place in 8:16.86. Meanwhile, the grueling 5x5x5 Blindfolded competition saw Walker Welch claim victory with a sole successful single of 14:41.00.

Away from the blindfolds, efficiency and dexterity took center stage in the remaining events at Mini-sota 2023. The 3x3x3 Fewest Moves contest produced an extraordinarily tight battle, where Evan Brown earned top honors with a winning average of 25.00 moves and a tournament-best single of 22 moves. Simon Kellum matched that 25.00 average to take second place, while Kucala finished third with an average of 26.67. In Megaminx, Brian Johnson captured the title over three rounds among 16 competitors, putting together a winning average of 45.23 seconds and a best single of 42.81.

Beyond the championship podiums, the official WCA competition ledger hides numerous breakthrough performances and individual milestones. Carl Overbye tackled two events and delivered a standout Megaminx personal best of 42.49 seconds, representing an improvement of 8.5 percent over a previous mark of 46.46, alongside a first career attempt in 3x3x3 Fewest Moves that yielded 41 moves. Zach Calin competed in Megaminx and set a personal best of 46.56 seconds on the way to a 7th place finish. Tyler Robinson took on the dodecahedron puzzle as well, posting a sharp Megaminx personal best of 36.50 seconds. Liam Sheldon entered three events, logging a 14th place finish in 3x3x3 Fewest Moves and a Megaminx personal best of 1:50.98.

New milestones continued across the floor as competitors ventured into unfamiliar events for the first time. Lisa Kucala took on two events and recorded an official best finish of 8th in 3x3x3 Fewest Moves while logging a first ever attempt at Megaminx with a time of 3:41.48. Walter Tilstra entered a single event, producing a first ever attempt at Megaminx timed at 3:02.52. Manas Verma competed in two events, earning a 9th place finish in 3x3x3 Blindfolded and logging a first ever attempt at 3x3x3 Fewest Moves with 49 moves. Nathan Rahn rounded out a versatile showing across four events, achieving a best finish of 5th place in 3x3x3 Multi-Blind.

The technical variety on display demonstrated why specialist speed cubing tournaments remain essential proving grounds. Whether navigating move-count restrictions or executing high-pressure multi-cube memorisation, the participants pushed their mental limits in every discipline. The overall 3x3 results across both blindfolded and fewest-moves variations reflected a tournament defined by exacting technical discipline rather than pure mechanical speed.

As the final scores were ratified, Mini-sota 2023 concluded as a showcase of strategic mastery in New Brighton. With 21 podium places earned across six demanding events, the competitors established a high benchmark for regional speedcubing excellence. The athletes now carry valuable competition experience and personal milestones forward as they prepare for the challenges of the next season.