SPAMtown II 2023

Inside the Holiday Inn Austin, the rhythmic clack of twisting plastic and the steady beep of timers filled the air as the event got underway. Tables lined the venue floor, each station staffed with judges, runners, and competitors watching the displays tick upward. Speedcubing has a distinct atmosphere on the competition floor, where seasoned veterans share warm-up space with first-timers taking their very first official solves. The gathering brought together 78 competitors on November 18, 2023, turning Austin, Minnesota, USA into a vibrant hub for the regional puzzle community.

For anyone attending their first WCA competition, the experience of sitting behind the official timer for the very first time is unforgettable. Stepping onto the stage transforms home practice into an official mark in the record books. The single-day tournament featured six events and 11 distinct rounds of play, testing agility across a variety of puzzle types from classic Rubik's Cube designs to towering multi-layered puzzles. That shared test of skill created plenty of memorable moments across every stage of the draw.

The spotlight shone brightest on the under-the-radar competitors who made massive leaps forward throughout the competition. Walter Everett Nelson had a standout day across four events, cutting his 2x2x2 Cube personal best by 53.1 percent down to 7.08 seconds, dropping his 3x3x3 Cube best by 30.7 percent to 36.21 seconds, and logging his first Pyraminx attempt at 16.01 seconds. Liam Allyn Johnson took on two events and improved his Pyraminx personal best by 48.2 percent to 10.43 seconds while recording an 11.90 in his first 2x2x2 Cube attempt. Camden Swenson entered four events, securing 15th place in Megaminx with an initial try of 2:07.52 and trimming 34.5 percent off his 2x2x2 Cube mark to reach 3.55 seconds. Levi Wallace tackled all six events on the schedule, earning 11th in the 6x6x6 Cube with a 26 percent personal best improvement to 3:34.75, alongside a 2.21 personal best on 2x2x2 Cube.

The progress continued through the ranks as other dedicated solvers posted huge milestones. Harrison Chandler entered five events and recorded a 12th place Megaminx debut of 2:03.01, alongside an 18.5 percent personal best reduction on 2x2x2 Cube to 4.05 seconds and a 10.48 on 3x3x3 Cube. Steven Stenemann registered four events, delivering a 26.8 percent personal best improvement on 2x2x2 Cube to 3.98 seconds, while setting first-time marks in Pyraminx at 7.73 seconds and Megaminx at 2:39.54. Bennett Rule handled five events, placing 24th in 5x5x5 Cube with a first attempt of 3:07.23 and shaving 19.8 percent off his Pyraminx personal best to post 8.54 seconds. Nolan Kothe took on five events, earning 27th in 5x5x5 Cube, achieving a 25.4 percent drop in his 2x2x2 Cube personal best to 5.22 seconds, and recording initial marks in Megaminx at 3:40.35 and Pyraminx at 8.94 seconds.

Among the 75 entrants tackling the main event, the official 3x3 results delivered intense action across three rounds. Brody Meschke captured the 3x3x3 Cube title with a winning average of 7.80 seconds, bolstered by a best single of 6.97 seconds in the final. Brody Rhoades secured second place on the podium with an 8.73 average, while Kaius Young took third place with a 9.15 mark. The competition highlighted how fractions of a second decide top placements in modern speed cubing.

In the 2x2x2 Cube, Nathan Rahn proved unbeatable across two rounds featuring 65 competitors, capturing first place with a 1.76 winning average and a top single of 1.21 seconds. Joseph Ong followed in second place with a 2.51 average, and James Ekins claimed third with a 2.88 average. The fast-turning event gave the audience rapid-fire drama from start to finish on the tournament floor.

The side events brought technical variety to the schedule, beginning with the Pyraminx final where Carl Overbye won first place with a 2.39 average over 62 competitors, edging out Chris Van Der Brink at 2.49 and Nathan Rahn at 2.87. In the dodecahedral Megaminx, James Ekins secured the title with a 49.47 average, followed by Carl Overbye in second with 51.02 and Kaius Young in third with 1:04.24.

Big cubes rounded out the roster with high-intensity tests of endurance and memory. Kaius Young took first place in the 5x5x5 Cube with a winning average of 59.05 seconds, finishing ahead of Tyler Johnson at 1:01.40 and Carl Overbye at 1:07.49. Tyler Johnson then captured the 6x6x6 Cube title with a winning average of 1:47.59, leading Kaius Young at 1:52.84 and Chris Van Der Brink at 2:20.87 on the podium.

All 18 podium positions at the cubing competition were claimed by solvers representing the United States. SPAMtown II 2023 celebrated both high-caliber podium finishes and the beginning of new competitive journeys for dozens of enthusiastic cubers. As solvers packed their puzzles and left Austin, they carried fresh personal records and valuable stage experience into the next chapter of the season.