Pickering C 2023

Seventy-two competitors converged on March 25, 2023, turning the Chestnut Hill Developments Recreation Complex into an energetic hub of speedcubing activity. Across five distinct events and eight rounds of intense play, the venue in Pickering, Ontario, Canada buzzed with focus as timers started and finished throughout the single-day schedule. The community gathered in force to celebrate puzzle solving at its highest level, creating a lively atmosphere where seasoned champions and eager newcomers traded turns at the solving stations.

The premier event of the cubing competition was the classic 3x3x3 Cube, where all seventy-two entrants tested their speed on the traditional Rubik's Cube. After three rigorous rounds to narrow down the field, Matthew Lee emerged victorious with an exceptional winning average of 7.08 seconds, backed by a best single solve of 6.68 seconds. Burno Li Chak Kwan took second place with a 7.36 average, while Alan Jia completed the top three with an average of 8.33 seconds in an exceptionally fast final.

The 3x3 results formed just one part of a comprehensive programme at Pickering C 2023. Five different events tested various skill sets across the day, spanning from mechanical precision to asymmetric manipulation. With ninety-nine podium placements awarded across Canada, Hong Kong, and Mexico, the competition hall witnessed world-class talent delivering high-stakes performances across every bracket.

One-handed solving brought its own unique tension to the venue as forty-four entrants tackled the 3x3x3 One-Handed event across two rounds. Alan Jia captured the title with a composed winning average of 13.22 seconds and a best single solve of 12.58 seconds. Matthew Lee followed closely behind in second place with an average of 13.45 seconds, while Burno Li Chak Kwan secured third place on a 15.27 mark.

Burno Li Chak Kwan took top honours in the dodecahedral Megaminx event, leading a field of thirty-one solvers with a dominant 36.70 winning average and a 31.80 single. Matthew Lee claimed second position with a 43.48 average, while Elliot Mauricette reached the podium in third with 51.35. In the Clock event, Lucas Nieuwland delivered a crisp 4.88 winning average and a 4.50 single to claim victory over twenty-nine competitors, finishing ahead of Burno Li Chak Kwan at 5.95 and Jonathan Wang at 6.68.

Square-1 action closed out the specialized events with Diego Brizuela Crespo taking first place among twenty-six solvers with an 8.38 average and a 6.66 single. Matthew Lee added yet another podium finish to his day by taking second place with a 9.02 average, while Burno Li Chak Kwan secured third place at 10.42. The varied roster of puzzles gave the entire room a constant rhythm of differing mechanics and solving techniques.

Away from the top of the standings, the heart of the speed cubing gathering lived in the personal milestones achieved across the competition floor. Avyukth Boopathiraj delivered a massive breakthrough in the 3x3x3 Cube, recording a personal best of 1:09.54 to cut 43.6 percent off their previous best mark. Carl De Groote made their first ever attempts at Megaminx with 3:04.83 and 3x3x3 One-Handed with 1:03.40, alongside dropping their 3x3x3 Cube best by 40.2 percent to 21.17. Brian Huynh took on five separate events, finishing 9th in Square-1, trying Clock and 3x3x3 One-Handed for the first time, and trimming their 3x3x3 Cube mark by 39.4 percent down to 12.96. Aria Rodrigo set a personal best of 34.21 in the 3x3x3 Cube, improving by 26.5 percent, and completed their first Megaminx solve in 5:19.03.

Debut appearances and event milestones continued throughout the day at Pickering C 2023. Evan Latour logged first ever attempts in Square-1 at 44.26 and Megaminx at 2:23.79 while improving their 3x3x3 Cube best by 25.9 percent to 12.36. Roger Chen posted a 20.7 percent personal best improvement in the 3x3x3 Cube at 17.38 and tackled Clock and Square-1 for the first time. For first-time WCA competition participants Linus Duncan and Jennifer Fang, the weekend provided an exciting introduction to the circuit, with Duncan posting a 16.50 single in the 3x3x3 Cube and Fang registering a 9.47 single on the 3x3x3 Cube along with a 12th-place finish in 3x3x3 One-Handed.

By the time the final awards were presented, Pickering C 2023 had showcased the very best of the regional speedcubing community. From the precise execution on the main stage to the personal victories celebrated at every table, the Chestnut Hill Developments Recreation Complex served as an ideal venue for a memorable day of competition as solvers look ahead to the next chapter of the season.