Pickering Side Events 2023

Inside the Chestnut Hill Developments Recreation Complex, the atmosphere was charged with intense focus as timers started and puzzle faces turned at blistering speeds. Competitors gathered in Pickering, Ontario, Canada on July 2, 2023, ready to tackle a lineup dedicated entirely to non-standard puzzles. Spectators and participants leaned forward in their seats as the final rounds unfolded, watching margins of victory shrink down to mere fractions of a second across multiple tables. The single-day tournament delivered edge-of-the-seat drama from the opening heats right down to the final podium presentations.

The 5x5x5 Cube final provided the most dramatic finish of the entire weekend, where victory was decided by just two tenths of a second. Burno Li Chak Kwan of Hong Kong captured the top spot on the podium with a winning average of 50.45, barely holding off Canada's Omar Ellabban, who finished in second place with an average of 50.65. China's Max Xiong completed the elite trio in third place with an average of 53.43. Li Chak Kwan also posted the round's best single solve of 41.40, setting a high standard in a battle that had the entire room holding its breath.

The tight margins were not limited to the five-layered puzzle. In the 4x4x4 Cube, Burno Li Chak Kwan once again showed nerves of steel during the three-round event featuring 54 competitors. He secured first place with an average of 26.71 and a best single of 24.05, edging out Canada's Morgan Yeh, who posted a runner-up average of 27.11. Max Xiong claimed another third-place finish with an average of 27.71. For fans scanning the leaderboards for traditional 3x3 results, this specialized cubing competition offered an electrifying demonstration of high-level talent across bigger hardware.

Pickering Side Events 2023 featured a compact program of 6 events and 11 rounds, drawing 54 competitors eager to test their versatility. With no standard Rubik's Cube on the schedule, the spotlight fell on the complex mechanisms of big cubes, dodecahedrons, and shape-shifting puzzles. Across the day, Canadian solvers took home 8 podium places, while competitors from Hong Kong secured 6 and China collected 4. The single-day speed cubing schedule kept the competition tables full and the judges busy from early morning until the final round.

Li Chak Kwan continued his dominance throughout the day, claiming two more decisive victories. In the 6x6x6 Cube final, he achieved a first-place average of 1:28.13 and a single of 1:24.44, outpacing Omar Ellabban's 1:31.53 and Max Xiong's 1:36.88. Li Chak Kwan then captured the Megaminx crown with a winning average of 36.59 and a single of 35.39, finishing ahead of Canadian competitors Matthew Lee, who took second in 40.19, and Evan Liu, who took third in 43.84.

Beyond the top steps of the podium, several participants made substantial breakthroughs across diverse disciplines. Jeremy Anderson took on all 6 events at the competition, achieving a Square-1 personal best of 22.64 that was 46.7 percent faster than his previous mark, along with a 6x6x6 Cube personal best of 2:35.27 and his first ever attempt at 7x7x7 Cube with a time of 4:22.79. Kevin Xu also tackled all 6 events, securing a 6x6x6 Cube personal best of 3:59.26, which marked a 23.1 percent improvement, and a 5x5x5 Cube personal best of 1:45.38. Sascha Pugar entered all 6 events as well, logging a 6x6x6 Cube personal best of 3:18.21, an improvement of 20.6 percent, while recording a first attempt at 7x7x7 Cube of 5:13.57.

Other competitors reached personal milestones during their rounds. Erika Walker achieved a Square-1 personal best of 11.87 to mark a 17.5 percent improvement and finish 6th overall, while also recording a first attempt at 5x5x5 Cube of 2:02.84. Marjan Ahmad earned a best finish of 12th in 6x6x6 Cube with a personal best of 2:34.64, which was 10.5 percent faster, and posted a first attempt at 7x7x7 Cube of 4:19.96. Kayden Park cut 8.5 percent off his previous 4x4x4 Cube mark to post a personal best of 56.08 and logged a first attempt at Square-1 of 43.48. Meanwhile, Dan Huynh competed in his first WCA competition, recording a first attempt at 4x4x4 Cube of 1:13.75, and Krish Jani also made his debut WCA competition appearance, logging a first attempt at 4x4x4 Cube of 2:10.65.

The remaining events at Pickering Side Events 2023 brought additional titles to top contenders. In the Square-1 final, Canada's Matthew Lee delivered a winning average of 8.49 and a best single of 8.02 to claim the victory over Burno Li Chak Kwan, who finished second in 9.29, and Arhaan Sareen, who took third in 10.37. The 7x7x7 Cube saw China's Max Xiong rise to the top with a winning average of 2:06.49, clear of Omar Ellabban in second at 2:18.97 and Li Chak Kwan in third at 2:28.62.

The memorable day of speedcubing concluded with handshakes and congratulations among competitors who pushed each other to the absolute limit. From the razor-thin 0.20-second difference in 5x5x5 Cube to sweeping performances across multiple categories, Pickering Side Events 2023 showed the depth of talent currently thriving in Ontario and beyond as solvers look forward to another thrilling year of competition.