Peterborough Summer 2023

Inside the South Grove Community Centre, solve mats were laid out across tables while competitors took their stations for a packed two-day schedule. Across June 3 to June 4, speedcubing enthusiasts gathered in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom, bringing solvers together from across the British Isles and beyond. The travel commitments behind the weekend were evident as 57 competitors made the journey to test their skills over 13 separate disciplines, spanning 22 official rounds.

The 2023 season brought a diverse lineup to this WCA competition, with solvers navigating long trips to take part in everything from classic three-layered puzzles to complex rotational challenges. Among the field, representation extended overseas to Macau alongside a substantial contingent from across the United Kingdom. Every event offered a fresh contest as participants unpacked their gear and prepared for intense head-to-head heats across both days.

The premier 3x3x3 Cube event drew a large turnout of 52 entrants across three rounds of play. Danny Morgan delivered standout consistency to secure top honours with a winning average of 8.09 seconds alongside a best single of 6.28 seconds. Eben Clarke took second place with an average of 9.17 seconds, while Thomas Patterson joined the podium in third with an average of 9.31 seconds, rounding out the top 3x3 results of the tournament.

Danny Morgan also found triumph on the Pyraminx, claiming the title with an average of 3.26 seconds and a fast single of 2.90 seconds, ahead of Ben Stokes in second at 4.24 seconds and Fabio Schwandt in third at 4.66 seconds. The 2x2x2 Cube saw a tight battle at the summit, where Ben Stokes captured the victory with a 2.23 average, narrowly besting Fabio Schwandt who registered a 2.25 average, with Morgan securing third place on a 2.46 mark.

A massive share of the weekend silverware went to Fabio Schwandt, who put together an exceptional run across multiple formats. Schwandt won the 4x4x4 Cube in an average of 32.05 seconds, captured the Skewb with a 3.33 average, and prevailed in 3x3x3 One-Handed with an average of 13.87 seconds. He continued his dominance on the big cubes, winning the 6x6x6 Cube in 1:46.26 and the 7x7x7 Cube in 2:48.97, while also claiming the Square-1 event with a 9.90 average.

Cham J. Chambers also enjoyed a prolific run across the schedule, earning multiple titles. Chambers secured the Clock title with a winning average of 4.56 seconds, finishing ahead of Sam Shaw at 4.98 seconds and Ben Stokes at 6.93 seconds. Chambers also won the 5x5x5 Cube with an average of 1:00.99, besting Schwandt and Morgan, and clinched the Megaminx event with a decisive 48.09 average. In the 3x3x3 Blindfolded category, Ben Stokes earned first place with a single solve of 22.61 seconds.

Away from the top steps of the podium, numerous competitors delivered massive breakthroughs that highlighted the depth of the field. Paige Lovell dropped her Clock personal best down to 18.75 seconds, an improvement of 33.9 percent over her previous mark, while also taking on her first ever attempt at 5x5x5 Cube with a time of 2:49.51. Isaac Obrien improved his 3x3x3 Cube personal best by 33.3 percent to 18.99 seconds, while Sachith Ahangama cut 32.7 percent off his classic Rubik's Cube best down to 22.91 seconds alongside his first Clock attempt of 38.92 seconds. Jacob Byford-Rew tackled 13 events, achieving a 31.2 percent Pyraminx personal best of 5.56 seconds and completing his first ever Megaminx attempt in 2:26.05.

Other solvers expanded their repertoires across new puzzles throughout the weekend. Aaron Anderson shaved 27.6 percent off his Clock best to reach 12.44 seconds and completed a first 4x4x4 Cube attempt in 1:19.17. Philip Dubois took on his first Clock solve in 13.14 seconds while lowering his Pyraminx personal best by 27.7 percent to 9.80 seconds. Matas Pabreza entered seven events, logging a 10th-place Clock finish with a debut 9.41 mark, while Joel Adcock attended his first WCA competition, taking on the 3x3x3 Cube in 27.85 seconds and finishing 28th in Pyraminx.

The extensive lineup of 13 disciplines proved to be a comprehensive test of dexterity, speed cubing technique, and mental focus. As the concluding rounds wrapped up, Peterborough Summer 2023 stood as a vibrant celebration of the sport, offering memorable milestones for veteran champions and newcomers alike before competitors packed their puzzles for the trip home.