Please Be Quiet in Astana 2023

Grigorii Alekseev produced the most striking mark of the weekend by registering a stunning 38 out of 46 cubes in one hour and two seconds during the multi-blind event. The feat anchored an intense schedule held at the Astana Garden School in Astana, Kazakhstan across October 28 and October 29. While standard speed cubing events often favor swift one-handed dexterity, blindfolded disciplines shift the focus toward intricate memory Palace technique, careful planning, and flawless spatial execution. Please Be Quiet in Astana 2023 brought together a focused field of seven competitors taking on five specialized events across five direct rounds.

The 2023 cubing competition offered a rare and quiet stage where competitors tackled memory-heavy and efficiency challenges. Alekseev emerged as the dominant force across the blindfolded disciplines, claiming three distinct titles. His execution in the 3x3x3 Multi-Blind was unmatched, setting the high bar for the gathering. Behind him, Xinyun Chen (陈新运) managed a successful 9 out of 10 cubes in 59:22 to take second place, while Vladimir Sergeev completed the podium by securing 10 of 16 cubes in 59:28.

Alekseev also took top honors in standard 3x3x3 Blindfolded, posting a sharp winning single of 22.79 seconds to seal first place despite a DNF average. Sergeev pushed him right to the limit, logging an impressive 23.04 single for the runner-up spot. Chen finished third on the podium with a single time of 1:26.67. Damir Zhanataev recorded a 1:32.72 single for fourth place, and Altynbek Sagyndyk rounded out the 3x3 results with a 3:17.09 mark on the classic Rubik's Cube platform.

The big-cube blindfolded events continued the duel between Alekseev and Sergeev at Please Be Quiet in Astana 2023. In the 4x4x4 Blindfolded event, Alekseev captured the victory with a single of 1:49.24. Sergeev followed in second place with a time of 2:23.97, while Zhanataev earned third place for the host nation with a single of 9:40.62. Solving large cubes without sight tests both algorithmic knowledge and endurance, requiring solvers to track numerous pieces without error.

Sergeev reversed the order when the puzzle grew larger in the 5x5x5 Blindfolded contest. Delivering a composed attempt, Sergeev won the event with a decisive single of 7:05.28. Chen claimed the second spot on the podium after completing a marathon solve in 17:30.00. Alekseev rounded out the three-person field in third place after registering a DNF on his attempts, highlighting the immense difficulty and high risk inherent in complex memory challenges.

Efficiency was the sole metric in 3x3x3 Fewest Moves, where Chen captured the gold medal. Chen registered a winning single of 30 moves and secured a victorious average of 36.67 moves over the hour-long round. Damir Issakov took second place on the podium with an average of 45.00 moves built upon a best single of 43. Zhanataev secured third place with a single of 41 moves, while Shyngys Sharapadin (Шынгыс Шарападин) logged a single of 57 moves.

Away from the top steps of the podium, the weekend featured meaningful milestones that the final tables often obscure. Altynbek Sagyndyk took on two events, highlighted by a first ever attempt at 3x3x3 Multi-Blind where he achieved a perfect 2 out of 2 in 13:37 to claim a best finish of 4th place, alongside a 3x3x3 Blindfolded personal best of 3:17.09 that was 16.4 percent faster than his prior mark. Shyngys Sharapadin (Шынгыс Шарападин) took on one event, earning a best finish of 4th in 3x3x3 Fewest Moves during his 37th career competition appearance.

The overall medal tally reflected an impressive international showing at the WCA competition. Solvers representing Russia secured eight podium positions across the five events, while China gathered four and Kazakhstan claimed three. The specialized nature of the weekend pushed each participant to their limit across extended mental tests, delivering standout moments of focus and technical precision.

As Please Be Quiet in Astana 2023 concluded, the intimate gathering at Astana Garden School highlighted the immense breadth of modern speedcubing. From the grueling multi-cube memory lines to the methodical deductions of fewest moves, the weekend delivered high-caliber problem solving. The participants now look forward to refining their methods and setups as preparations turn toward the challenges of the next season.