Shenzhen Open 2023

Sub-thirty Megaminx solving is one of the most demanding benchmarks in modern speedcubing, and Ziyu Wu turned that standard into reality at the Shenzhen Open 2023. Facing twelve colored faces and forty-three competitors, Wu mastered the final with an outstanding 29.84 winning average, anchored by a best single of 29.18. The performance established an imposing standard in a discipline that demands relentless endurance and precise recognition, setting a competitive tone that resonated through the entire weekend schedule in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China.

Held at the Hongfeng Hotel on December 24, 2023, the single-day WCA competition attracted 186 competitors across six distinct disciplines and thirteen rounds of play. While conventional three-layered events drew heavy entries, the gathering distinguished itself through the sheer variety of puzzle mechanics on display. Specialists in dodecahedral turning, corner-rotating mechanisms, and single-handed execution shared equal footing on the main stage, demonstrating how wide the technical spectrum of competitive speed cubing has become in 2023.

The Skewb bracket delivered an equally fierce clash of specialists across two tightly contested rounds. Jiawen Liu claimed the title with a tournament-leading 2.93 average and a top single of 2.70 across the 55-person field. Liu edged out Kaixi Guo, who took the runner-up spot with a 3.11 mark, while Zhe Wang rounded out the podium at 3.46. The lightning-fast turns and unconventional rotational axes rewarded those who could plan entire sequences into inspection, leaving no margin for hesitant turning.

One-handed solving added another layer of mechanical finesse to the specialty lineup. Xiangmin Zhou secured victory in 3x3x3 One-Handed with an elite 10.84 average, driven by a blistering single of 8.26 among ninety-three entrants. Tao Wen followed in second place with an 11.25 average, while Yuzhe Gan earned third on the strength of a 12.18 result. Controlling the classic Rubik's Cube with five fingers demands unmatched finger dexterity and algorithmic ergonomics, proving that single-hand mastery remains one of the hardest disciplines to conquer.

Away from the top steps of the podium, the Shenzhen Open 2023 featured tremendous breakthroughs from competitors exploring new territory. Cheng Chi Mik entered four events, posting an initial 1:09.36 in their first ever attempt at 4x4x4 Cube, an 8.37 in their first Skewb appearance, and a massive 2x2x2 Cube personal best of 2.84, which was 47.1% faster than their previous mark. Yecheng Cao also tackled four events, recording a 34.08 in their first ever attempt at 3x3x3 One-Handed, a 10.42 on Skewb, and a 16.46 personal best on the 3x3x3 Cube, improving by 25.4%. Mingtao Xu branched into four events as well, logging a 56.00 in a first 4x4x4 Cube attempt, a 5.64 in their first 2x2x2 Cube run, and a 13.19 personal record on 3x3x3 that was 24.5% faster.

The progress continued across the scorecards as other dedicated solvers expanded their repertoires. Qianhan Zhang took on all six events on the schedule, marking a first ever attempt at Skewb with 6.64, a first Megaminx result of 1:31.59, and an 18% improvement on the 4x4x4 Cube with a 39.44 personal record. Sichen Li contested four categories, notching 4.71 on a first 2x2x2 Cube attempt, 17.81 on a first 3x3x3 One-Handed trial, and an 17.7% drop on 4x4x4 Cube to 46.85. Wenjie Li also tackled four events, registering a first Skewb mark of 6.85 while carving out personal records of 2.81 on 2x2x2 Cube, 39.2% faster, and 22.01 on One-Handed, an 18.9% leap forward.

The four-layered big cube provided high-speed drama over two intense rounds, where Ivan Li Ka Leong of Hong Kong dominated the field of ninety-six competitors. Li Ka Leong captured first place with an impressive 24.42 average and a round-best 22.63 single. Andy Mok Man Cheuk took second place with a 27.90 average, while Zijian Cai secured third at 28.28. The 4x4x4 podium illustrated the precision required to resolve parity hurdles under intense tournament pressure.

Shorter, faster sprints rounded out the card, starting with the 2x2x2 Cube where Jack Pan took first place with a 1.67 average after throwing down a 1.30 single among 125 entrants. Zhenyu Wang finished second at 1.82, while Zijian Cai placed third with 1.95. The flagship 3x3 results brought the house to its feet as Shuda Huang survived three rounds among 185 competitors to win the 3x3x3 Cube with a 6.94 average and a 6.61 single. Zijian Cai stood on his third podium of the competition in second at 7.09, just ahead of Kangze Wang in third at 7.14.

When the final timers stopped, the Shenzhen Open 2023 stood as a vibrant celebration of diverse speedcubing formats. Mainland China competitors earned fifteen total podium positions alongside three for Hong Kong, celebrating both established veterans and rising talents across the region. As the 2023 calendar drew to a close, the memorable times achieved in Shenzhen left the regional community energized for the battles that await in the upcoming cubing competition season.

在年终岁尾的竞逐中，Shuda Huang (黄黍达)在三阶魔方决赛交出6.94秒的优胜平均成绩与6.61秒的单次成绩，登顶全场焦点项目。2023年12月24日，Shenzhen Open 2023在位于Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China的Hongfeng Hotel正式举行。作为2023赛季末段的重要一役，这场WCA魔方赛事为整个年度的速拧征程写下了极具分量的一笔。

本次Shenzhen Open 2023共吸引了186名选手同场竞技，设置了6个项目并进行了13轮角逐。在参赛人数达185人的三阶魔方项目中，竞争尤为激烈。经过三轮筛选，Zijian Cai (蔡子健)以7.09秒位列亚军，Kangze Wang (王康泽)以7.14秒夺得季军，与冠军Shuda Huang (黄黍达)一同站上最高荣誉台。

二阶魔方项目中，Jack Pan (潘杰康)在125名选手中脱颖而出，以1.67秒的决赛平均成绩和1.30秒的最佳单次夺得冠军。紧随其后的是Zhenyu Wang (王振宇)，以1.82秒摘得银牌，Zijian Cai (蔡子健)则以1.95秒再添一枚铜牌。值得一提的是，Shuda Huang (黄黍达)在二阶项目中做出了0.90秒单次与1.56秒平均的亮眼发挥。

高阶与异形项目同样在深圳展现了极高水准。四阶魔方赛场共有96人参赛，来自中国香港的Ivan Li Ka Leong (李嘉亮)以24.42秒的平均成绩及22.63秒单次夺冠，Andy Mok Man Cheuk (莫文卓)以27.90秒获得亚军，Zijian Cai (蔡子健)以28.28秒获得季军。五魔方项目中，Ziyu Wu (吴子钰)以29.84秒的绝佳平均成绩强势折桂，Ivan Li Ka Leong (李嘉亮)与Zijian Cai (蔡子健)分获二、三名。

在三阶单手项目中，Xiangmin Zhou (周向民)以10.84秒的平均成绩和8.26秒的单次拔得头筹，Tao Wen (温韬)与Yuzhe Gan (甘宇喆)分别以11.25秒和12.18秒分获亚军与季军。斜方魔方项目里，Jiawen Liu (刘佳雯)以2.93秒的平均成绩斩获金牌，Kaixi Guo (郭铠希)以3.11秒紧随其后，Zhe Wang (王喆)以3.46秒位列第三。

在领奖台之外，Shenzhen Open 2023的赛场更记录了许多选手的飞速突破。Zihan Zhu (祝梓涵)完成了职业生涯的第2场比赛，在参与的3个项目中不仅迎来四阶首秀并取得1分16.11秒，其二阶个人最好成绩更提升38.2%达到3.56秒，三阶亦进步7.9%至14.25秒。Weiming Chen (陈伟铭)在单手项目献出首秀取得40.24秒，并在三阶魔方将个人最好成绩大幅缩短35.7%至11.68秒，二阶成绩也提高12.3%至6.26秒。出战3个项目的Yexin Weng (翁业心)在四阶魔方取得40.84秒的新个人最好成绩，较此前提升34.2%，三阶个人最好成绩亦突破28.3%达到12.10秒，同时完成了4.77秒的二阶首秀。

赛场上的突破力量持续涌现。Danning Zhao (赵丹宁)在迎战的3个项目中完成了四阶魔方首次正式尝试，记录为31.75秒，其二阶魔方个人最好成绩则提升35.2%达到3.74秒。出战3个项目的Yetao Pang (庞业韬)迎来了五魔方首秀并录得2分35.78秒，三阶个人最好成绩提升30.3%至14.31秒，斜方魔方成绩亦提升23%至8.62秒。出战2个项目的Yubin Du (杜宇斌)在单手项目迎来首秀并取得14.77秒，其三阶魔方个人最好成绩同样迎来飞跃，以8.11秒较此前提升31.4%。

随着全天所有轮次尘埃落定，本届Shenzhen Open 2023圆满落下帷幕。中国选手在各个单项中拿下15个领奖台席位，中国香港选手斩获3席。在这场承前启后的年终魔方赛事中，顶尖高手的稳定发挥与广大选手的自我超越共同交织，为2023年的魔方赛季画上了圆满的句号，也为选手们积蓄了迈向新赛季的力量。