Salem Spooktacular 2023

A single solve separated triumph from heartbreak in the 3x3x3 Cube final at Salem Spooktacular 2023, where Bo Ahn-Lewandowski held his nerve in a tight finish. Ahn-Lewandowski captured the championship with an 8.54 average, edging ahead of Benjamin Li at 9.17 and Ezra Fish at 9.24. The final phase of the classic speedcubing discipline proved relentlessly competitive across three full rounds, punctuated by a best single of 6.16 that kept the table tightly grouped until the very end.

Held at the Salem Convention Center in Salem, Oregon, USA, the one-day WCA competition on October 28, 2023, brought together 97 competitors across six distinct events and ten rounds of high-pressure action. With a packed schedule and intense matchups, the gathering delivered classic Rubik's Cube solving alongside specialized puzzles. The United States dominated the overall medal haul with 17 podium places, while Spain secured one podium spot courtesy of a sharp performance in Skewb.

Beyond the main event, Benjamin Gottschalk put together a remarkable multi-event campaign, capturing titles across three different formats. In the 4x4x4 Cube, Gottschalk topped a 41-competitor field with an average of 34.92 and a single of 34.07, finishing ahead of Ezra Fish with 41.15 and Tripp Peters with 43.13. His command of larger and specialty puzzles continued seamlessly in Megaminx, where he secured victory with a 54.74 average, besting Ahn-Lewandowski at 1:08.51 and Peters at 1:18.80.

Gottschalk rounded out his triple crown of victories in Square-1, recording an 8.00 average alongside a 5.60 single to defeat Ahn-Lewandowski at 9.68 and Fish at 10.04. He also made his presence felt on other podiums, taking second in Pyraminx with a 4.96 average and third in Skewb with a 5.72 mark. His versatility across geometric variations highlighted the deep puzzle expertise on display at the cubing competition.

Tripp Peters seized the title in Pyraminx, taking top honors with a 4.42 winning average and an eye-catching 1.47 single over two rounds. Peters outpaced Gottschalk and Abhay Cheemalapati, who took third with a 5.03 average. In Skewb, Spain's Núria Pérez Casas prevailed in a closely fought duel among 40 entrants, clocking a winning average of 5.40 and a 4.33 single to narrowly edge American Ezra Severson at 5.51 and Gottschalk at 5.72.

Behind the headline winners, numerous competitors achieved major personal milestones on the tournament floor. Emery Martyn delivered a massive breakthrough in Pyraminx, logging a personal best of 5.58 that was 58.5 percent faster than their previous mark of 13.43, while also recording a first attempt at Skewb with 9.37. Brennan Jaworski produced a dramatic leap in Megaminx, registering a personal best of 1:34.87, which was 39.7 percent faster than their prior best of 2:37.34. Owen Jaworski similarly made giant strides in Pyraminx, posting a 7.60 personal best that improved on their previous mark by 45.3 percent.

The tournament also offered an ideal stage for tackling fresh challenges across multiple disciplines. Simon Iliushin entered their first speed cubing tournament and took on five events, completing a first attempt at Skewb in 7.20 and a first 3x3x3 Cube solve in 25.23. Luke Pierce also debuted, entering four events and marking a first attempt at 4x4x4 Cube in 1:00.74 alongside a 13.24 first attempt in 3x3x3. Arnav Arora logged six events and cut their Skewb personal best by 30.4 percent to 5.87, while Drake Robertson tackled six events and notched a 55.01 personal best in 4x4x4 Cube. Violeta Lanari Cordel took on four events, setting a first 4x4x4 Cube time of 1:21.68 and a Pyraminx time of 10.17.

The 3x3 results across the weekend highlighted a deep, skilled field in Oregon. Ezra Fish led all single times across the preliminary phases with a sharp 7.53, while Benjamin Li turned in an impressive 7.36 single during the rounds. The relentless pace across 92 entrants in the main event reinforced how every hundredth of a second counts under tournament conditions.

As Salem Spooktacular 2023 drew to a close, the weekend demonstrated the immense dedication of Northwest competitors. From the climactic solves in the 3x3x3 Cube to the technical mastery shown in Megaminx and Square-1, Salem Spooktacular 2023 delivered a memorable day of racing the clock and establishing new benchmarks for the region.