National Capital Region A 2023

Inside Algonquin College on May 6, 2023, the floor was filled with puzzle cases, timers, and an unmistakable sense of fresh beginnings. A total of 90 competitors gathered in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada for National Capital Region A 2023, where a large wave of newcomers took their very first seats at official stations. Across six official events and nine rounds, the room balanced the steady precision of experienced contenders with the nervous energy of first-timers solving against the clock for the very first time.

The 3x3x3 Cube event drew the largest crowd of the weekend, with 89 competitors taking part across three rounds. Brennen Lin took top honours in the main event, delivering a winning average of 6.72 seconds alongside the fastest single of the day at 4.93 seconds. Burno Li Chak Kwan secured second place with an 8.42 average, while Roan Paone finished third with an 8.79 mark, concluding an intense contest for the podium in Ottawa.

Brennen Lin was not finished with just one victory at National Capital Region A 2023. In the 2x2x2 Cube, Lin captured a second gold medal with a blistering winning average of 1.30 seconds and a best single of 1.05. Maxence Leboeuf took the silver medal with a 2.21 average, followed by Rex Li in third place with 2.54. The fast-paced format highlighted Lin's sharp execution throughout both rounds of the event.

Burno Li Chak Kwan matched Lin's title count by sweeping two major events on the schedule. In the 4x4x4 Cube, Li Chak Kwan posted a decisive winning average of 28.05 seconds, supported by the event's fastest single solve at 26.31. Lin claimed second place in the 4x4x4 Cube with a 32.72 average, narrowly edging Paone, who placed third with 32.99. Li Chak Kwan also took command of the Megaminx, claiming first place with a 36.76 winning average and a 34.66 best single, finishing ahead of Breton MacDonald at 52.34 and Leboeuf at 1:01.64.

The specialised disciplines provided compelling action across the tables. Roan Paone achieved victory in 3x3x3 One-Handed with an impressive 12.99 average and a 10.28 single, finishing ahead of Lin at 13.40 and Li Chak Kwan at 13.84. In 3x3x3 Blindfolded, Elliott Kobelansky claimed first place with a sharp single solve of 16.72 seconds, while Ben Bergen placed second at 56.71 and Charles Hurley secured third in 1:36.15. The blindfolded discipline requires memorisation before the cover drops, making Kobelansky's sub-twenty performance a notable highlight.

Beyond the podium battles, National Capital Region A 2023 served as a breakthrough stage for competitors expanding their repertoires. Nolan Coburn delivered a massive leap in 2x2x2 Cube, clocking a personal best of 2.79 seconds, which was 72.8 percent faster than their prior mark of 10.27. Clément Lefeuvre lowered their 2x2x2 Cube best to 2.20 seconds, a 40.5 percent improvement, and notched their first ever 4x4x4 Cube attempt at 1:10.15 on the way to a tenth-place finish in 3x3x3 Cube. Alexander Li Pi Shan also recorded a 39.7 percent drop to reach a 6.33 personal best in 2x2x2 Cube while cutting their 3x3x3 Cube mark to 15.22. Mathieu Trottier Klein took on four events, setting a 2x2x2 Cube best of 5.13 seconds, which improved their past time by 38.5 percent, and completing a first ever 3x3x3 One-Handed solve in 1:53.24.

The depth of the field was equally apparent among those stepping into official rounds for the very first time. Elliot Gorelov tackled five events in their first WCA competition, recording an 18.56 in 3x3x3 Cube, a 5.47 in 2x2x2 Cube, and a 23rd-place finish in Megaminx. Zackery Philippi entered their debut speedcubing competition across five events, securing 13th place in 2x2x2 Cube while posting a 53.73 in their first 4x4x4 Cube solve. Benjamin Abbott also made their tournament debut, recording a 22.58 in 3x3x3 Cube and a 24th-place finish in 3x3x3 One-Handed. Jude Iziomon completed four events at their first tournament, recording a 14.91 in 3x3x3 Cube, a 5.16 in 2x2x2 Cube, and a 30th-place result in 3x3x3 One-Handed.

The overall medal tally reflected Canada's strong home presence with 13 total podiums, alongside four podium finishes for Hong Kong and one for China. From the classic Rubik's Cube to intricate multi-layered puzzles, this speed cubing gathering in the national capital brought together newcomers and experienced solvers alike on a productive single day of competition.

As the timers were packed away and the tables cleared at Algonquin College, the 3x3 results and breakthrough times stood as proof of a vibrant local community. National Capital Region A 2023 delivered both high-end speed and a welcoming entry point for the sport, leaving many competitors with new personal bests as they prepare for the upcoming tournament season.