Orange Zest 2023

Inside the Orange Ex-Services Club, timers beeped and plastic clicked in steady rhythm as 55 competitors settled at the solving stations. Warm-up tables were packed with scrambled puzzles and stopwatches while judges took their places across the hall. The gathering brought together seasoned hands and energetic contenders from across the region to contest four distinct disciplines over nine rounds. With a full day of action ahead on January 8, 2023, the event marked an assertive start to the new year of competition in the central tablelands.

Veteran competitors brought sharp focus to Orange Zest 2023, turning deep experience into commanding stage presence. Bryan Eng delivered a masterclass across the schedule, asserting control from the earliest preliminary rounds through to the finals. In the premier 3x3x3 Cube event, Eng set the standard with a winning average of 7.33 seconds and the single fastest time of the weekend at 6.54 seconds. The performance kept him clear of runner-up Matthew Cook, who finished on a 9.27 average, while Peri Le Dain took third place with a 10.49 average across the 55-person field.

Eng carried that momentum directly into the 4x4x4 Cube contest, securing another victory in the single-round format. He logged a 31.17 average alongside a best single solve of 30.17 seconds to claim the top spot. Cook once again earned a podium finish, taking second place with an average of 38.94 seconds, followed by Matthew Sieredzinski in third with an average of 40.62. The larger puzzle tested precision and turning consistency, allowing the most seasoned campaigners to showcase their technical efficiency under strict tournament conditions.

The one-handed discipline provided another showcase of Eng’s refined mechanics. Facing 29 competitors across three rounds in the 3x3x3 One-Handed event, he locked down his third title with a 12.14 winning average and an 11.07 single solve. Cook followed in second position with an 18.60 average, while Jamie Otsu earned third place with a 19.44 average. The contest highlighted the physical dexterity required to manipulate the standard cube using only five fingers on the timing pad.

Otsu had his own major moment atop the podium in the 12-sided Megaminx event. Across two rounds featuring 20 solvers, Otsu captured first place with an impressive winning average of 46.44 seconds and a top single of 44.22. Le Dain secured second place with a 48.84 average, while Eng added to his medal tally by taking third place on a 54.56 average. The complex dodecahedron format offered a grueling test of endurance, wrapping up a clean sweep of twelve podium positions by Australian competitors.

Beyond the trophies and final podium spots, the cubing competition served as a launchpad for remarkable personal breakthroughs. Pavan Kumar Krishnan Swaminathan entered four events and dropped his 3x3x3 Cube personal best to 11.22 seconds, which was 43.5 percent faster than his previous mark of 19.87, while also making his first ever attempt at Megaminx with 1:54.68. Joshua Sim had a standout weekend across four disciplines, lowering his 4x4x4 Cube mark by 39.1 percent to 58.64 seconds, his one-handed best by 35 percent to 26.14, and his Megaminx best by 33.5 percent to 1:31.89.

Other solvers expanded their repertoire with daring debuts across multiple categories. Seth Chung tackled four disciplines, improving his 4x4x4 Cube best by 26.9 percent to 1:14.92 and making his first ever attempt at 3x3x3 One-Handed in 58.74 seconds. Aidan Sabri Kamal achieved a 7th-place finish in the 4x4x4 Cube while making his first tournament attempt at the standard Rubik's Cube with an 11.90 single. Sebastian King improved his 3x3x3 Cube best by 22.5 percent to 17.33 seconds and logged his first ever attempt at 4x4x4 Cube in 1:20.83. William Kupkee, Jacob Shem, and Nick Matheson also posted notable personal bests and first attempts across their respective events.

The official 3x3 results also registered benchmark single and average times for competitors like Lachlan Cooke, Jack Appleyard, and Vinz Navales as the field made the most of their nine rounds. The vibrant energy at Orange, New South Wales, Australia highlighted the depth of local talent in both traditional and specialty formats. As speedcubing continues to attract fresh energy alongside seasoned tournament regulars, Orange Zest 2023 offered a complete snapshot of modern speed cubing at its finest, setting a strong competitive tone for the remainder of the calendar year.