Perth Time Trial 2023

The competition hall at Sacred Heart College buzzed with the steady rhythm of turning layers and resetting timers as 79 competitors gathered for the Perth Time Trial 2023. Over the July 1 to July 2 weekend in Perth, Western Australia, Australia, tables filled with puzzles ranging from pocket-sized cubes to hefty multi-layered challenges. The venue hosted 16 rounds of action, demanding sustained focus across every solve rather than momentary bursts of speed.

Across the schedule, the tournament proved that steady execution across an entire five-solve set beats single moments of fortune. While individual fast times drew attention, the top spots in this cubing competition were claimed by those who maintained composure round after round. The two-day gathering brought together seasoned hands and emerging speedcubing talents from across the region to test their preparation on the official stage.

In the marquee 3x3x3 Cube, Lachlan Stephens demonstrated supreme discipline to secure victory. Stephens compiled a winning average of 8.64 across the final round, anchored by a best single of 7.83, to lead the 79-competitor field through three rigorous rounds. Joshua Hounslow took the second step on the podium with an 8.88 average, while Jonathan Charlesworth earned third place with an 8.99 average, leaving the final 3x3 results decided by fractions of a second.

Joshua Hounslow stood out across multiple formats through sheer consistency. In the 2x2x2 Cube, which featured 74 competitors over three rounds, Hounslow captured first place with a 2.61 average and a 1.83 single, edging out Jonathan Charlesworth at 2.78 and Jeann Valdez at 2.92. Hounslow returned to the top of the podium in the 5x5x5 Cube, mastering the complex layers to post a 1:01.10 winning average and a 54.80 single, finishing ahead of Charlesworth at 1:02.55 and Jaxon Foster at 1:04.68.

Jonathan Charlesworth secured his own title in the 4x4x4 Cube, delivering a decisive 33.23 winning average with a best single of 29.92 across three rounds. Tyler Williams claimed second place with a 37.04 average, followed closely by Alevio Hamizan Ersha at 37.06. Charlesworth proved to be one of the most reliable performers of the weekend, earning top-three finishes across four distinct disciplines.

The big cubes belonged to Indonesia representative Alevio Hamizan Ersha, who swept both the 6x6x6 Cube and 7x7x7 Cube events. In the 6x6x6 Cube, Ersha took first place with a 1:59.76 average and a 1:53.14 single, beating Charlesworth at 2:05.52 and Valdez at 2:05.71. Ersha followed with victory in the 7x7x7 Cube, posting a 2:56.32 average with a 2:49.66 single ahead of Tyler Williams at 2:59.96 and Valdez at 3:02.88, bringing Indonesia three podium finishes alongside 15 for Australia.

Beyond the championship podiums, several solvers reached major personal milestones across the weekend. Oliver Kandiah sliced 49.6 percent off his 2x2x2 Cube personal best with a 3.37 single, while trimming his 3x3x3 Cube mark to 13.49 and his 4x4x4 Cube best to 1:38.46. Jason Manuel-Zamora improved his 3x3x3 Cube best by 45.8 percent down to 24.03, set a 2x2x2 Cube mark of 11.32, and made his first ever attempt at 4x4x4 Cube with a time of 1:59.63. Vishwath Srinivasan tackled six events, cutting 29.5 percent from his 4x4x4 Cube best to hit 1:05.74, lowering his 3x3x3 Cube time to 11.86, and completing a first ever attempt at 5x5x5 Cube in 2:24.39. Bella Laing dropped her 2x2x2 Cube best by 23.7 percent to 3.73, posted a 16.49 in 3x3x3 Cube, and logged a first ever attempt at 4x4x4 Cube with 1:18.41.

New ventures into unfamiliar puzzles defined the competition for many other participants as well. Lachlan Paton took on three events, recording first ever attempts in the 3x3x3 Cube at 13.71, the 2x2x2 Cube at 3.10, and the 4x4x4 Cube at 1:34.29. Carter Barnes contested five events, improving his 5x5x5 Cube mark by 20.1 percent to 1:54.07 and logging a first ever attempt at 6x6x6 Cube with 5:05.38. Lachlan Manson lowered his 3x3x3 Cube best to 31.35, improved his 2x2x2 Cube time to 10.15, and made a first ever attempt at 4x4x4 Cube with 2:30.14. Louis Peter Barnsby Wilson took 15 percent off his 3x3x3 Cube record with a 31.63 single while making his first ever attempt at 2x2x2 Cube with an 8.65.

The depth of skill in speed cubing was evident as first-time competitors also made their marks on the official tables. Blane Negash entered their first WCA competition, logging initial marks of 10.87 in the 2x2x2 Cube, 27.07 in the 3x3x3 Cube, and 2:53.60 in the 4x4x4 Cube. Lucas Roberts also debuted, recording 8.01 on the 2x2x2 Cube and 36.72 on the classic Rubik's Cube across three entered events.

When the final round concluded at the Perth Time Trial 2023, the weekend stood as a testament to the power of methodical pacing and mental endurance. Across all 16 rounds in Perth, the competitors showed that navigating tense situations and maintaining solid averages remains the true heart of competition. As solvers pack away their puzzles, the stage is set for another exciting chapter in Australian cubing.