Selangor Big & Blind 2023

Inside The Box Event Space in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia, the atmosphere was defined by measured focus and intense concentration. Tables were neatly arranged under bright lights as solvers prepared for a specialized lineup of large puzzles and blindfolded challenges. The rhythm of turning layers and resetting timers filled the room throughout the single-day gathering on July 30, 2023. Unlike standard meets centered around classic Rubik's Cube races, this event tested the outer limits of endurance and memory, bringing together a dedicated field of 28 competitors ready to tackle eight grueling rounds across four distinct categories.

The competitive structure placed heavy demands on every participant from the opening turns. Across the multi-phase formats, competitors faced strict cutoffs and round progressions where efficiency was mandatory to secure a full mean or average. The large cubes required steady stamina through three rounds of competition, while the blindfolded disciplines operated as high-stakes single-round finals where every attempt carried immense weight. Navigating these round formats shaped the entire dynamic of Selangor Big & Blind 2023, rewarding consistency under pressure.

In the 6x6x6 Cube, China's Anyu Zhang demonstrated complete control across all three stages of the event. Zhang topped the final with a winning average of 1:24.94, anchored by a best single solve of 1:22.50 against a field of 24 starters. Malaysia's Lim Hung secured the second spot on the podium with an average of 1:28.55, while compatriot Ivan Lew Yi Wen finished third with a mark of 1:35.46. The progression through multiple rounds demanded unwavering pace, and Zhang delivered the weekend's gold standard on the six-layer puzzle.

The rivalry between the top two finishers intensified in the 7x7x7 Cube, which also featured three rounds of head-to-head racing among 21 competitors. This time, Lim Hung claimed the victory for Malaysia, recording an impressive winning average of 2:00.83 and a tournament-best single of 1:50.19. Anyu Zhang took second place with an average of 2:05.27, while Ivan Lew Yi Wen completed another strong performance on the podium, locking down third position with a 2:25.81 average in the final round.

The blindfolded events brought true high-wire tension to the hall, where solvers spent minutes memorizing piece orientations before pulling on blindfolds. Hill Pong Yong Feng earned the victory in 4x4x4 Blindfolded, recording a winning single of 1:05.14 to finish ahead of Kaijun Lin, who logged 1:16.52, and Sora Wenjie Xu with 2:05.40. In the 5x5x5 Blindfolded division, Kaijun Lin captured the title with an exceptional winning single of 2:55.40. Sora Wenjie Xu earned second with 5:17.01, and Ng Jia Quan claimed third in 8:55.01, completing two punishing blindfolded finals that rewarded flawless mental execution.

Beyond the championship battles, the tournament was packed with personal breakthroughs that revealed the depth of effort across the roster. Charles Chong Wen Jian delivered the weekend's most dramatic time drop, shaving 22.1% off his 6x6x6 Cube benchmark with a personal best of 5:11.42. Ethan Ling took on two events during the meet, logging his first ever attempt at 7x7x7 Cube in 4:11.03 alongside his first ever attempt at 6x6x6 Cube in 2:34.45. Hishwararao Krishnamorthy entered two events and slashed 11.3% from his previous 6x6x6 Cube mark, securing a personal best of 2:42.23.

The momentum continued as Ahmad Ilham Salahuddeen Bin Anuar earned a best finish of 4th in 7x7x7 Cube while setting a 6x6x6 Cube personal best of 1:36.01, which was 3.3% faster than his previous standard across his two events. Charlize Tam Shi Kei competed in three events, finishing 8th in 4x4x4 Blindfolded while setting personal bests of 3:56.48 in 7x7x7 Cube, an improvement of 9.4%, and 2:38.24 in 6x6x6 Cube, dropping 9.2%. Teh Zhe Wen completed a first ever attempt at 4x4x4 Blindfolded in 32:06.00 to finish 7th, while also posting a 7x7x7 Cube personal best of 4:19.82, which was 4% faster, and a 6x6x6 Cube personal best of 2:37.72 across three events.

The single-day schedule proved that a focused cubing competition can produce world-class speedcubing action even without standard 3x3 results on the program. With six podium placements each for Malaysia and China, the event served as a testament to regional mastery in big cubes and blindfolded solving. Competitors who traveled to Selangor Big & Blind 2023 navigated the rigorous round structures and sharp turnarounds with technical poise, setting a high standard as the speed cubing circuit moves forward into the season.

Satu minit 5.14 saat merupakan catatan masa luar biasa yang membuktikan tahap tumpuan mutlak yang diperlukan dalam acara menutup mata. Diadakan di The Box Event Space di Petaling Jaya, Malaysia pada 30 Julai 2023, kejohanan Selangor Big & Blind 2023 menghimpunkan seramai 28 peserta merentasi lapan pusingan sengit. Menyelesaikan kiub Rubik tanpa melihat memerlukan hafalan corak yang mendalam serta keyakinan mekanikal yang sempurna sebelum penutup mata dipasang, menjadikan setiap percubaan sebagai ujian ketahanan mental yang cukup mendebarkan.

Tumpuan utama kejohanan tertumpu kepada kategori 4x4x4 Blindfolded yang menyaksikan seramai 13 peserta bertanding dalam satu pusingan penentu. Hill Pong Yong Feng dari Malaysia mempamerkan ketangkasan hafalan yang sukar ditandingi apabila dinobatkan sebagai juara menerusi catatan masa terpantas 1:05.14. Kaijun Lin dari China memberikan saingan rapat untuk tempat kedua dengan rekod masa 1:16.52, manakala rakan senegaranya, Sora Wenjie Xu, mengesahkan tempat ketiga di atas podium dengan catatan 2:05.40.

Ujian ingatan diteruskan dalam kategori 5x5x5 Blindfolded yang menampilkan sembilan peserta berani menyahut cabaran. Kaijun Lin dari China mendominasi pentas akhir apabila meraih kejuaraan dengan catatan masa terbaik 2:55.40. Sora Wenjie Xu sekali lagi melangkah ke podium di tempat kedua dengan catatan 5:17.01, sementara wakil tuan rumah, Ng Jia Quan, mempamerkan ketabahan luar biasa untuk menamatkan cabaran di tangga ketiga dengan catatan masa 8:55.01 dalam format tunggal.

Persaingan kiub besar turut menyajikan aksi kepantasan bertaraf tinggi dalam acara 6x6x6 Cube yang membabitkan 24 peserta merentasi tiga pusingan. Anyu Zhang dari China berjaya merebut kejuaraan dengan purata kemenangan 1:24.94 serta catatan masa terbaik 1:22.50. Lim Hung dari Malaysia menamatkan saingan di tempat kedua dengan purata 1:28.55, diikuti rakan senegaranya Ivan Lew Yi Wen yang membawa pulang tempat ketiga dengan purata 1:35.46 dalam perlawanan speedcubing yang cukup padat.

Kategori 7x7x7 Cube membuktikan kehebatan tuan rumah menerusi aksi Lim Hung yang mengungguli 21 peserta lain dalam tiga pusingan sengit. Beliau dinobatkan sebagai juara menerusi purata masa kemenangan 2:00.83 dan catatan terbaik 1:50.19. Anyu Zhang dari China mengekori rapat di tempat kedua dengan purata 2:05.27, manakala Ivan Lew Yi Wen dari Malaysia sekali lagi melengkapkan senarai pemenang di tempat ketiga menerusi purata 2:25.81.

Di sebalik perebutan podium utama, sebahagian besar keindahan kejohanan ini terletak pada kemajuan peribadi para peserta di luar kelompok teratas. Boying Li dari China mempamerkan peningkatan besar apabila mencatat rekod peribadi 2:20.25 dalam 6x6x6 Cube, memotong 16.1 peratus daripada catatan terdahulu 2:47.10. Bryan Gan Tze Yang dari Malaysia turut cemerlang dengan menyertai tiga acara, merakam rekod peribadi 1:55.90 dalam 6x6x6 Cube yang 8.2 peratus lebih pantas serta 3:05.63 dalam 7x7x7 Cube iaitu 7.6 peratus lebih laju selain menamatkan saingan di tempat kelapan dalam 6x6x6 Cube.

Keberanian mencuba disiplin baharu turut menghiasi dewan pertandingan apabila Gregory Soo Jo-Huang dari Malaysia melakukan percubaan rasmi pertamanya dalam 7x7x7 Cube dengan catatan 4:34.90 dan percubaan pertama 6x6x6 Cube dengan masa 2:53.37. Shawn Lee Zhi Xuan dari Malaysia menyertai empat acara dan mencatat rekod peribadi 3:48.90 dalam 7x7x7 Cube serta 15:59.00 dalam 5x5x5 Blindfolded sambil meraih tempat kelima. Nordarwish Akmal Bin Noor Ibrahim dari Malaysia memperbaharui rekod peribadi 7x7x7 Cube kepada 2:34.50 iaitu 3.6 peratus lebih pantas untuk menduduki tempat kelima, manakala Daniel Chen Rui dari Hong Kong bertanding dalam satu acara dan menamatkan saingan di tempat kelapan bagi 4x4x4 Blindfolded.

Pertembungan sengit sepanjang hari di Petaling Jaya membuktikan keseimbangan bakat yang kukuh di rantau ini, di mana Malaysia dan China masing-masing berkongsi enam kedudukan podium daripada empat acara yang dipertandingkan. Kehadiran para peserta merentasi pelbagai peringkat pengalaman memperkayakan suasana pertandingan kiub yang penuh dengan disiplin dan tumpuan tinggi.

Penganjuran Selangor Big & Blind 2023 menjadi bukti betapa komuniti sukan ini terus berkembang dalam menguasai cabaran fizikal serta hafalan rumit. Setiap pusingan dalam pertandingan WCA ini menguji batas keupayaan mental para peserta, sekali gus menandakan satu lagi babak penting dalam kalendar sukan pantas ini sebelum musim seterusnya menjelang tiba.