Newcastle Open 2023

Inside the Shortland Building at the University of Newcastle, rows of stacked timers and inspection mats hummed with constant activity. Competitors sat hunched over their tables, fingers tracing edge pieces and corners before each signal to start. The single-day gathering brought a packed schedule to Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia on July 23, 2023. Speedcubing demands composure in tight quarters, and this tournament tested every entrant over eight intense rounds of action.

The 2023 speed cubing calendar often rewards flash, but the Newcastle Open 2023 proved that relentless consistency across a five-solve average is what secures titles. A field of 122 competitors gathered for the four-event schedule, bringing together puzzle solvers from several nations. While quick individual solves drew attention throughout the heats, the competitors who managed their pace without counting disastrous mistakes rose to the top of the standings.

Bryan Eng put on a clinic in control during the headline 3x3x3 Cube event. Facing a stacked lineup of 118 competitors over three rounds, Eng secured the championship with a winning average of 7.65 seconds, anchored by a best single of 6.77 seconds. Cooper Holmes followed in second place with an average of 9.14 seconds, while Sebastian Lee completed the podium in third with an average of 9.52 seconds. The 3x3 results underlined how maintaining rhythm across every solve separates the leaders from the pack.

Eng repeated that disciplined approach in the 2x2x2 Cube, an event where fractions of a second decide everything. Sifting through 99 competitors across two rounds, Eng took first place with a 1.57-second average and a best single of 1.33 seconds. Sebastian Lee claimed second place with a 2.73 average, while Cooper Holmes took third at 2.92. Eng proved that calm execution beats erratic bursts, keeping his turns precise while navigating the high-speed format of the smaller puzzle.

The Pyraminx brought another demonstration of steady speed over two competitive rounds featuring 74 entrants. Sebastian Lee captured the title with a tournament-winning average of 1.56 seconds, alongside a best single of 1.43 seconds. Edward Burgess took the second podium spot with an average of 2.42 seconds, and Andres Rodriguez earned third with a 2.89 average. Lee controlled the rotations from the opening turn of each attempt to prevent costly lockups on the triangular puzzle.

Blindfolded solving introduces a different mental challenge, demanding flawless memorisation before a single turn is made. In the 3x3x3 Blindfolded event, 17 competitors took on the task across a single round. Eddy Deturche emerged as the winner on the strength of a 39.32-second best single, navigating the layout without sight. Tyler Salburg secured second place with a time of 1:04.66, while Kent Thomson finished third with a mark of 2:17.11.

Beyond the podium battles, Newcastle Open 2023 delivered huge milestones for competitors building their personal records. Rory Yarr tackled two events and recorded a massive 57.6 percent improvement on the classic Rubik's Cube, dropping their personal best down to 18.77 seconds from an earlier 44.28, alongside a first ever attempt at 2x2x2 Cube of 7.70 seconds. Jai Dart took on three events and slashed 47.4 percent from their 3x3x3 Cube best to reach 12.53 seconds, while also posting a 2x2x2 Cube personal best of 2.73 seconds and finishing 10th in that event. Joash Harrison competed across three events, cutting their 3x3x3 Cube mark by 44.2 percent to 21.31 seconds and logging first attempts of 12.40 seconds in 2x2x2 Cube and 10.91 seconds in Pyraminx. Chris Mathews dropped 47.7 percent off their Pyraminx record to reach 9.75 seconds while also lowering their 3x3x3 Cube mark to 14.97 seconds.

The progress continued across the venue as several competitors took on new challenges at this cubing competition. Tobiah Holloway entered three events, posting a 30.6 percent improvement on 3x3x3 Cube to hit 20.44 seconds, while logging first attempts of 7.89 seconds in 2x2x2 Cube and 12.88 seconds in Pyraminx. Alexander Leith knocked 26.8 percent off their 3x3x3 Cube mark to record 21.28 seconds and logged a first Pyraminx solve of 12.00 seconds. Giancarlo Ibarra lowered their 2x2x2 Cube record by 22.6 percent to 3.59 seconds, brought their 3x3x3 Cube best down to 13.03 seconds, and completed a first Pyraminx solve of 8.26 seconds. Ryan Poole took part in their first WCA competition, entering three events and finishing 16th in Pyraminx with a mark of 5.37 seconds.

By the time the final timers were cleared from the Shortland Building, Australian competitors had claimed nine podium positions, with France, the United Kingdom, and the USA earning one apiece. Every division rewarded deliberate execution, showing that victory in speedcubing comes from minimizing mistakes across entire averages. The participants packed their puzzles with fresh milestones in hand, ready for their next opportunity when the community gathers again on the competition circuit.