Montana Madness 2023

Six competitors took their seats for the 6x6x6 Cube, where the unforgiving mean-of-3 format leaves zero room for error. With three solves and every single time counting directly toward the final average, a solitary lapse in concentration or an awkward lockup can dismantle an entire podium run. In East Helena, Montana, USA, the high-stakes discipline set a demanding tone for the day, requiring pristine consistency across every turn and layer without the safety net of a dropped slowest attempt.

France speedcubing standout Clément Cherblanc demonstrated complete control in the big cube discipline, securing victory in the 6x6x6 Cube with a winning average of 2:08.90 and a best single solve of 2:02.93. Elizabeth Cutting earned second place with a 2:25.29 average, while Stone Amsbaugh locked up third with a mark of 2:43.32. Across the single-round contest, Cherblanc navigated the lengthy solves cleanly, laying the foundation for an extraordinary individual sweep across the board.

Held on July 8, 2023, Montana Madness 2023 gathered 24 competitors at East Valley Middle School for a packed schedule of 9 events and 18 rounds. The cubing competition showcased a wide variety of disciplines, ranging from lightning-fast puzzles to memory challenges. In the 3x3x3 Blindfolded category, where competitors must fully inspect and solve without sight, Elizabeth Cutting took top honors with a winning single time of 1:05.65, demonstrating remarkable execution on the classic puzzle.

Cherblanc continued his dominant run through the standard NxN categories, capturing first place in the 5x5x5 Cube with a 1:08.38 average and a best single of 1:06.36, ahead of Cutting in second at 1:22.23 and Amsbaugh in third at 1:22.48. In the 4x4x4 Cube, Cherblanc topped the field of 15 competitors with a 38.34 average and a 35.17 single, while Amsbaugh took the silver spot at 41.94 and Cutting placed third at 46.92.

The classic 3x3x3 Cube drew 21 competitors through three rounds of rigorous speed cubing action. In the final round, Cherblanc claimed the top step with a winning average of 9.19 and a 8.73 single. Chance J. Lockwood delivered strong 3x3 results to take second place with an average of 10.03, while Ben Streeter rounded out the podium in third with a 12.41 average. Cherblanc added another victory in 3x3x3 One-Handed, posting an average of 16.36 to finish ahead of Amsbaugh at 19.25 and Colton Hulin at 24.37.

Away from the top steps of the podium, the weekend featured tremendous personal milestones and breakthroughs across the roster. Lander Schwab delivered a massive drop in the 2x2x2 Cube, cutting their personal best to 8.97 from 39.95, representing a 77.5 percent improvement, while also logging a first ever attempt at Pyraminx in 14.25 and placing 10th in 5x5x5 Cube. Tate Ackerman knocked 34.7 percent off their Pyraminx best with a 26.71 and logged a first ever attempt at 3x3x3 One-Handed in 34.52. Oliver Pate-Briggs improved their Pyraminx mark by 14.5 percent to 11.30 and trimmed their 3x3x3 Cube time by 13.8 percent to 29.25, while Caleb Surdock made a first attempt at 3x3x3 One-Handed with 41.60 and lowered their 3x3x3 Cube best to 14.24.

Several competitors also made their debut appearance at an official WCA competition during the gathering. Owen Emory Stark tackled 6 events in their first tournament, recording a first ever attempt at 4x4x4 Cube in 1:57.23 and earning a best finish of 9th in 5x5x5 Cube. Amelia Windisch also took on 6 events, posting a first attempt of 32.66 on the Rubik's Cube and placing 8th in 5x5x5 Cube. Knox Folsom entered 4 events and posted a 4.96 on 2x2x2 Cube alongside a 24.16 on 3x3x3 Cube, while Benjamin Cooper completed a first Pyraminx solve of 5.97 to claim 7th place in the event.

The remaining puzzle divisions delivered exciting finishes as well. In the Pyraminx final, Corbin Rodriguez earned the championship with a winning average of 4.50, edging out Cherblanc who took second at 5.64, and Lucas Chandler Moorehead who finished third at 6.33. Cherblanc rebounded in the Megaminx, winning the event with an average of 54.87 and a 52.39 single, as Amsbaugh followed in second at 1:16.00 and Hulin took third at 1:21.94.

The 2x2x2 Cube concluded three rounds of play with Cherblanc securing the title on a 2.97 average, followed by Morgan French at 3.49 and Rodriguez at 3.75. In total, competitors from the USA earned 19 podium placements while France earned 8. Montana Madness 2023 delivered a comprehensive day of competition in East Helena, blending veteran mastery with memorable debuts across every bracket.