Reykjavík Windy Open 2023

Inside the Veðurstofan venue on a crisp late-autumn day, stacks of puzzles lined the warm tables as 35 competitors took their places. Hands hovered over timing mats, practice turns clicked rhythmically, and scoresheets shuffled back and forth across nine rounds of intense play. Speedcubing action was in the air as competitors settled in for a packed one-day schedule in Reykjavík, Iceland, ready to test their preparation on November 25, 2023.

The regional clash between domestic frontrunners and international challengers took center stage at the Reykjavík Windy Open 2023. While visiting solvers aimed to steal top honors on foreign ground, the Icelandic contingent held firm across almost every discipline. In total, local solvers claimed 11 of the 12 available podium positions, defending their home tables against talented international entries across four official events.

Leading the home defense was Óskar Pétursson, who delivered a commanding triple-crown performance across three different cube categories. In the marquee 3x3x3 Cube, Pétursson took first place among 35 competitors with a winning average of 9.85 and a best single of 8.56. The main challenge came from Poland, as Radosław Drozdowicz pushed the pace to claim the silver medal with a 12.25 average. Ramita Selma Rattanaprathum secured third place for the home nation with an average of 13.65.

Pétursson continued his dominant run in the 2x2x2 Cube, topping a field of 28 solvers with a winning average of 2.45 and an event-best single of 1.28. The final round turned into an all-Icelandic battle, where Stefán Dagur Pálmason claimed second place with a 3.92 average, narrowly edging out Magnús Freyr Björnsson, who took third on a 3.93 average. The event saw a flurry of national records established throughout the earlier rounds.

The big-cube contest in the 4x4x4 Cube brought another gold medal to Pétursson at the Reykjavík Windy Open 2023. Facing 20 competitors, he posted a winning average of 40.27 and a best single of 33.07 to run away with the title. Eysteinn Daði Hjaltason took the second spot on the podium with an average of 1:02.04, while Aron Markús Sigurjónsson earned the bronze medal with a 1:03.57 mark across two rounds of play.

Beyond the podium battles, several solvers made huge personal leaps that highlighted the day. Kolbeinn Noi M. Zahawi entered four events, posting a personal best of 19.15 on the classic Rubik's Cube, which was 32.1 percent faster than their previous mark of 28.22, alongside a first ever attempt at 4x4x4 Cube of 1:50.45 and a first Pyraminx solve of 6.11. Patrekur Nói Atlason recorded a massive 49.1 percent improvement in the 2x2x2 Cube with a personal best of 2.28 and shaved 23.5 percent off their 4x4x4 Cube personal best to finish in 1:39.34.

New milestones continued as Arnór Snær Hauksson improved their 3x3x3 Cube time by 27.4 percent to 20.28, while also taking on their first ever attempts in 4x4x4 Cube at 1:51.61 and Pyraminx at 11.78. Atli Axfjörð Friðgeirsson lowered their 3x3x3 Cube best by 25.1 percent to 22.63 and recorded an 11.67 in their first 2x2x2 Cube attempt. Emil Birkir Gruber Þormarsson cut 30 percent off their previous best to hit 47.70, and Garðar Þór Jónsson dropped their 2x2x2 Cube best by 30 percent down to 3.31 while finishing 9th in 4x4x4 Cube. Skírnir Þrastarson improved their 4x4x4 Cube time by 14.8 percent to 1:27.97, while first-time WCA competition entrant Egill Ari Hreiðarsson successfully debuted with a 21.19 3x3x3 Cube solve, a 7.99 on the 2x2x2 Cube, and a 1:55.77 on the 4x4x4 Cube.

The lone event to break Pétursson's golden streak came in the Pyraminx, where Guðmundur Brynjar Bergsson delivered a standout performance. Bergsson captured the title with a winning average of 5.73 and a best single of 4.61 over two rounds. Pétursson followed closely in second place with a 6.67 average, while Steingrímur Ari Helgason rounded out the podium in third with an average of 10.02 to complete another domestic sweep.

As the final timers reset at Veðurstofan, the Reykjavík Windy Open 2023 concluded a day of exceptional speed cubing competition in the capital. Solvers across the board celebrated major personal milestones alongside the headline 3x3 results, reinforcing the depth of talent present in the local community as attention turns to the upcoming season of competitive play.