Santa Ana Summer B 2023

Nancy Liu produced an astonishing display of precision on August 19, 2023, capturing the classic Rubik's Cube crown with a decisive 6.58 winning average and an event-leading single of 5.72. The victory in 3x3x3 Cube headlined a stellar day of speedcubing at Santa Ana Summer B 2023, setting a high standard against a deep field. Held at the Mendez Fundamental Intermediate School in Santa Ana, California, USA, the gathering brought together 93 competitors across three distinct events and seven full rounds of intense table action.

Liu was not done with a single championship triumph. In the 2x2x2 Cube event, Liu demonstrated total control through two rounds, securing the title with a rapid 1.93 winning average and a top single of 1.63. Throughout the day, seasoned contenders leaned on their extensive stage experience to navigate tense cutoffs and high-pressure finals. The 2023 contest showed that veteran calm often proves decisive when fractions of a second separate the top tier of international solvers.

The 3x3 results confirmed Liu at the pinnacle of the podium for China, while Ethan Yeh representing the USA earned the runner-up position with an 8.36 average. Gavin Torreflores rounded out the top three for the host nation with a mark of 9.48. In total, 91 competitors battled through three grueling rounds of 3x3x3 Cube, illustrating the tremendous depth present in the Southern California speed cubing circuit.

In the 2x2x2 Cube competition, the battle for silver and bronze was equally sharp among 80 competitors. Yuyang Zhen of China took second place behind Liu with a 2.30 average, while Gavin Torreflores collected another podium finish for the USA by securing third place at 2.87. Torreflores showed remarkable stamina across multiple formats, maintaining his competitive edge while juggling the explosive pace of short puzzles and the marathon demands of bigger hardware.

Torreflores truly took center stage in the 7x7x7 Cube final, showing masterclass pacing across the intricate big cube layers. Conquering a field of 14 specialists over two rounds, Torreflores secured the gold with a winning average of 3:41.59 and the best single of 3:35.70. Fellow American solvers Aileen Vo and Alexander Watson completed the podium, earning second and third with respective averages of 3:53.71 and 3:59.41 in an all-American top three sweep.

Away from the top steps of the podium, several dedicated competitors achieved monumental individual milestones that elevated the spirit of the event. Zayyan Anwar dropped previous marks dramatically, recording a 2x2x2 Cube personal best of 5.27 that was 62.4 percent faster than before, alongside a 3x3x3 Cube personal best of 21.73 that improved by 40 percent. Emiliano Ramirez also showed remarkable progress, cutting his 2x2x2 personal best down to 2.25 for a 62.3 percent leap and improving his 3x3 mark to 18.58. Isaac Lopez lowered his 3x3 personal best to 19.79, an improvement of 40.3 percent, while shaving 32.6 percent off his 2x2 time at 6.02.

Major breakthroughs continued throughout the roster of this WCA competition. Liam Svetina recorded a brand new personal best of 23.54 in 3x3, beating their previous benchmark by 43.1 percent, and logged a first ever attempt in 2x2 with an 8.04 single. Elijah Morales-Rodriguez trimmed 42.6 percent off their previous best on 2x2 to stop the timer at 4.63. Expanding their repertoire, Flynn Wang tackled a first ever attempt at 7x7x7 Cube with a 4:43.76 while also improving in 2x2 and 3x3. Joel Penetrante similarly completed a first attempt at 7x7 in 6:11.45, took on three events, and earned a 12th place finish in 3x3 with a 9.49 personal best. First-time entrant Christina Li made an impressive debut, registering a 15.41 single on 3x3 and a 7.13 on 2x2.

The official podium counts across the three disciplines saw the United States claim six top-three positions, while China secured three podium finishes thanks to dominant performances from Liu and Zhen. The smooth execution of all seven rounds demonstrated the strong organizational foundation of the local cubing community, providing a fair and efficient arena for both newcomers and seasoned champions.

When the tables cleared at Santa Ana Summer B 2023, the event stood as a celebration of technical mastery and sheer persistence. From Liu sweeping the shortest formats to Torreflores conquering the longest solve of the tournament, the cubing competition delivered exceptional moments across the board. Solvers left the Mendez Fundamental Intermediate School venue with fresh benchmarks established, turning their attention toward training for the next challenges on the calendar.