Open de Gatineau B 2023

The tables at Légion royale Canadienne Filiale Norris bustled with intense focus on March 26, 2023, as competitors adjusted their timers, inspected puzzle alignments, and prepared for a dense day of action. Gatineau, Quebec, Canada welcomed solvers from near and far to test their mettle across six distinct disciplines. The atmosphere inside the hall captured the essence of high-stakes speedcubing, where split-second decisions dictate the standings and every solve carries the weight of months of practice.

Record-setting performances defined the early momentum of the gathering, particularly during the rapid-fire rounds of the 2x2x2 Cube. A flurry of national and personal milestones reshaped individual standings throughout the competition. Daniel Daoust posted a single of 10.01 seconds and an average of 12.78 seconds, while Jack Chicoine secured marks of 3.12 single and 5.32 average. Bogdan Andrei Feher produced a 3.27 single and a 3.86 average, and Gabrielle Morasse delivered a 5.84 single alongside a 6.96 average, illustrating the exceptional speed coursing through the bracket.

The 2x2x2 Cube record surge continued with Ken Brunet logging a 5.38 single and 6.61 average, while Guillaume Bouchard recorded a 3.98 single and 5.34 average. Reid Robblee clocked marks of 4.77 and 5.70, Omar Ouadouha delivered a 5.61 single and 7.12 average, and Jérôme Fréguin registered 7.14 and 7.69. Isaac Bradley completed the remarkable string of 2x2x2 milestones with a 9.92 single and 21.83 average. Each milestone reflected intense dedication on the competition floor.

Beyond the record-breaking marks, Hong Kong standout Burno Li Chak Kwan delivered an extraordinary display across the board, capturing five titles at Open de Gatineau B 2023. In the 3x3x3 Cube, Li led the 43 competitors through three demanding rounds, securing top honours with an average of 7.53 seconds and an event-best single of 6.19 seconds. Feher took second place on the podium with a 9.16 average, while Louis Meunier from the USA finished third with a 9.50 average, completing an impressive set of 3x3 results.

Away from the main podiums, several solvers delivered major breakthroughs that highlighted the depth of the field. Louis Egan took on four events, achieving a 10th-place result in Clock, completing a first ever Clock attempt of 18.24 seconds, tackling the 4x4x4 Cube for the first time in 1:53.85, and cutting their 3x3x3 Cube personal best to 25.37 seconds, an improvement of 45.4 percent. Sophie Desgagne entered six events and finished fifth in the 2x2x2 Cube, trying Clock for the first time in 15.22 seconds, Square-1 in 24.05 seconds, and slicing their 4x4x4 Cube personal best to 50.26 seconds, which was 36.4 percent faster than before.

That spirit of rapid advancement was shared by many others making strides across varied formats. Victor Piochon tackled three events, finishing 12th in the 4x4x4 Cube while making a first attempt at the 3x3x3 Cube in 15.94 seconds, a first 2x2x2 Cube solve in 3.43 seconds, and dropping their 4x4x4 Cube mark to 1:13.89, an improvement of 21.1 percent. Mikel Remuzgo Salas logged a first attempt at Clock in 26.19 seconds and reduced their 2x2x2 Cube best to 10.16 seconds, trimming 35.9 percent. Ethan Polonsky finished seventh in Megaminx, recorded a first 2x2x2 Cube try of 5.56 seconds, lowered their Megaminx mark by 24.6 percent to 1:36.88, and improved their 3x3x3 Cube best to 9.26 seconds. Ty Cyr registered a Clock debut of 19.40 seconds and cut their Megaminx best to 3:16.47, a 27.3 percent drop. Tristan McCandie Glustien attended their first WCA competition, taking on five events with a ninth-place Megaminx result, a first 3x3x3 Cube attempt of 26.91 seconds, and a first Clock mark of 32.52 seconds. Skye Mcfadzen also took part in their first WCA competition, placing sixth in Square-1, attempting the 3x3x3 Cube for the first time in 24.38 seconds, and logging a 23.05-second Square-1 debut.

The larger puzzles and side events produced equally compelling outcomes at Open de Gatineau B 2023. Li secured the 2x2x2 Cube title with a 2.96 winning average ahead of Meunier with 3.31 and Breton MacDonald with 3.74. In the 4x4x4 Cube, Li posted a winning average of 28.31 seconds to outpace Meunier at 37.30 and Ouadouha at 45.00. Li also dominated the Megaminx, taking victory with an average of 38.03 seconds over MacDonald at 58.17 and Matt Hudon at 1:10.05. In Square-1, Li claimed another gold with a 9.44 average, followed by Chicoine at 18.05 and Nicholas Rakobowchuk at 22.76.

Canada found glory in the Clock event, where Chicoine captured victory with a 6.94 winning average and a top single of 6.29 seconds across two rounds of play. Morasse earned the runner-up spot with a 7.73 average, and Hudon rounded out the podium at 8.51 seconds. The overall medal count reflected a strong domestic showing, with Canadian solvers securing 9 podium spots, alongside 5 for Hong Kong, 3 for the USA, and 1 for Morocco.

Over the course of 12 rounds in a single day, the cubing competition celebrated technical mastery across traditional Rubik's Cube solving and specialized events alike. The tournament demonstrated how speed cubing continues to thrive in Quebec, offering both seasoned title-chasers and ambitious newcomers a platform to excel. As the equipment was packed away, solvers departed with fresh personal bests, solidifying the legacy of a thrilling weekend of competition.