Spokane Winter 2023

A blistering 2.42-second winning average in the Skewb final set the tone as Ash Black delivered one of the standout performances of Spokane Winter 2023. Staged on December 30, 2023, at the Spokane First Church of the Nazarene in Spokane, Washington, USA, the single-day gathering brought together 61 competitors across five distinct events. With ten rounds packed into the schedule, the multi-stage progression demanded immediate consistency. Speedcubing talent from across the region tackled everything from corner-turning puzzles to the classic Rubik's Cube, navigating the pressure of progression cuts to earn spots in the finals.

The 3x3 results formed the centerpiece of the tournament, structured across three demanding rounds designed to separate the field. Out of 58 competitors in the opening stage, Caiden Lee maintained control throughout each phase to claim victory with a final winning average of 8.41 seconds. Lee also posted the best single of the entire event with a 7.11-second solve. In the decisive third round, Ash Black secured second place on the podium with an average of 8.85 seconds, while Clément Cherblanc from France earned third place with a 9.60-second mark.

Beyond the main event, the format of Pyraminx tested short-format speed across two rapid rounds. Ash Black emerged on top among 41 competitors, securing the title with a 3.25-second winning average and a sharp single of 2.41 seconds. Clément Cherblanc earned another podium spot by taking second place with an average of 5.24 seconds. Ashland Schnell completed the top trio by logging a 5.54-second average in the final round, demonstrating how fine margins in two-round brackets reward steady hands.

In the Skewb event, the two-round format again favored sharp precision from the start. Ash Black locked in a second tournament victory by leading 32 competitors with a 2.42-second average and a best single of 1.92 seconds. Eli Kirk took second position with an average of 3.67 seconds, followed by Clément Cherblanc who secured third place with a 6.10-second mark. The podium sweep by Black across multiple puzzle styles highlighted versatility across disparate turning mechanics.

Long-form solving brought a distinct shift in pace, where the 12-sided Megaminx challenged 30 entrants over two rounds. Ethan Davis commanded the event, capturing first place with a 34.09-second winning average and a top single of 30.48 seconds. Mia Sponseller took the second spot on the podium with an average of 51.69 seconds, while Ash Black collected a third-place finish averaging 52.61 seconds. The multi-minute demands of the puzzle required relentless stamina through both stages of competition.

The mental rigors peaked in 3x3x3 Blindfolded, where pure recall and solving under a single-round format left no room for hesitation among 14 entrants. Ethan Davis took top honors once again, finishing with a winning average of 28.02 seconds and a best single solve of 23.69 seconds. Ashland Schnell delivered a silver-medal performance with a time of 1:45.69, while Ash Black rounded out the top three with a solve of 2:20.04 to close out a successful multi-event campaign.

Away from the top of the podium, the open rounds gave emerging competitors space to make substantial personal leaps. Daniel Hewitt showed massive progress by cutting his Skewb personal best down to 4.65 seconds, an improvement of 63.6 percent, while also taking on his first ever attempt at Pyraminx in 7.72 seconds. Elijah Keller dropped his 3x3x3 Cube personal best by 38.8 percent to 21.67 seconds, while also posting a first ever attempt at Pyraminx with 6.66 seconds and Megaminx with 4:41.91. Atticus Fraser Gorski shaved 19.5 percent off his 3x3x3 Cube mark to record 15.61 seconds and logged a first Pyraminx attempt of 8.39 seconds. Emerson G. Le reached a best finish of 5th in Skewb with a 5.03-second personal best, improving by 12.8 percent after making first attempts in Pyraminx and Megaminx.

The depth of the field was further demonstrated by competitors taking on new challenges across the schedule. Parker Bright dropped his 3x3x3 Cube best by 10.8 percent to 15.32 seconds and notched a first Skewb attempt of 9.99 seconds. Wes Hanley improved his Skewb best by 19.1 percent to 9.12 seconds and registered a first Pyraminx mark of 11.00 seconds. Preston Bright logged an initial Pyraminx solve of 12.89 seconds while cutting 13.8 percent off his 3x3x3 Cube time with a 24.62-second result. For Logan Clark, who attended their first WCA competition, the event served as an introduction to three disciplines, recording first marks in Skewb at 11.86 seconds, Pyraminx at 13.82 seconds, and Megaminx at 5:12.25.

The overall medal count showed strong international representation within the church venue, with USA competitors earning 12 podium places and France capturing 3. As the speed cubing calendar drew to a close in the Pacific Northwest for 2023, Spokane Winter 2023 provided an efficient proving ground across all five categories. The structured elimination rounds rewarded consistent execution, delivering memorable finishes for seasoned contenders and new milestones for the broader field at this lively cubing competition.