Mountains Open Up 2023

Inside Tehachapi High School, tables filled with timing mats and displays set the stage for a concentrated single-day speedcubing clash. Forty-three competitors gathered in Tehachapi, California, USA on April 15, 2023, ready to contest five distinct events spanning thirteen rounds of action. The atmosphere across the hall reflected the precision and discipline required for competitive solving, as participants prepared to tackle both standard twisty puzzles and mechanical oddities on the schedule.

While traditional speed cubing setups drew steady focus, the less-common puzzles took center stage throughout the gathering. Clock and Square-1 provided unique tactical challenges, demanding distinct mechanical approaches. Clock features dual faces with nine rotating dials and four pins that require precise manipulation under time pressure. Square-1 brings shapeshifting properties where slice turns alter the geometry of the puzzle entirely, making quick recognition essential from the opening moves of each solve.

Square-1 action delivered exceptional speed as Brendyn Dunagan claimed the title across three rigorous rounds. Dunagan recorded the best single of the event at 4.14 seconds and took first place with a winning average of 6.37 seconds. Wang Ma secured the second podium spot with an average of 9.30 seconds, while Ethan Yeh finished third with an average of 9.95 seconds. The fast-paced solving highlighted the deep execution necessary to master the shapeshifting puzzle at a high level.

Clock proved equally dramatic with one of the closest margins of the entire WCA competition. Ryan Fong captured the victory with a 6.08 average after delivering a best single of 4.57 seconds across two rounds of play. Dunagan pushed Fong to the wire, finishing as runner-up with an average of 6.10 seconds, a mere two hundredths of a second behind. Owen Yepeng Sun completed the international podium for China, locking down third place with a 6.69 average among twenty competitors.

Big cubes also featured prominently as eighteen competitors took on the 5x5x5 Cube over two rounds. Dunagan earned his second victory of the competition by topping the field with a winning average of 50.61 seconds and the round low single of 46.45 seconds. Paul Mahvi followed in second position with an average of 54.52 seconds, while Ireland entrant Nathaniel Timothy Sunil stepped onto the podium in third place with a 55.10 mark, showcasing formidable control over the larger layers.

The deeper rounds revealed outstanding individual gains from competitors across the field. Krish Banker took on five events and made immense progress, trimming his Square-1 personal best to 18.45 seconds, which was 77.6 percent faster than his prior 1:22.43 mark, alongside a Clock best of 16.26 seconds. August Barnard also logged a major breakthrough on Square-1, dropping his personal best by 43.7 percent to 31.47 seconds and reaching eighth place in Clock. Andy Smith cut his 5x5x5 Cube mark by 30.6 percent to 1:15.87 on the way to a sixth-place finish, while Kyle Connolly dropped his 3x3x3 Cube personal best by 27.5 percent to 14.40 seconds.

Other competitors marked important milestones across diverse events during Mountains Open Up 2023. Kylan Sotolongo sliced 31.1 percent off his 3x3x3 Cube personal best with a 26.54 solve. Zack Rubio achieved a 25.1 percent improvement on Square-1 with a personal best of 19.97 seconds while placing thirteenth in 2x2x2 Cube. Making their first appearances in official play, Justin Rhee entered four events, posting opening marks of 24.44 in the 3x3x3 Cube and 33.76 in Clock, while Mattix Ezekiel Aguilera recorded a 2.68 attempt in 2x2x2 Cube and reached fifteenth place overall.

Sprint events concluded with high energy, led by three rounds of 2x2x2 Cube featuring thirty-five entrants. Gavin Sillifant claimed the top step of the podium with a winning average of 2.41 seconds and the fastest single of the event at 1.21 seconds. Mahvi earned his second silver medal of the day with a 2.79 average, while Wang Ma secured third place with a 2.85 mark, finishing ahead of a crowded field where multiple solvers logged new personal best times.

The classic Rubik's Cube concluded the schedule with forty-one contenders battling through three rounds of 3x3 results. Dunagan sealed a dominant triple-crown performance by taking the 3x3x3 Cube title with a 6.81 winning average and a best single of 5.43 seconds. Sunil claimed second place for Ireland with an average of 7.43 seconds, and Elijah Brown finished third with an 8.64 average. The day at Mountains Open Up 2023 illustrated the full breadth of modern cubing competition, celebrating versatility from specialized puzzles to headline mainstays.