Square-Fun in Bloomsburg 2023

Eighteen podium positions across six different events were available at the Espy Fire Company, and competitors representing the United States claimed every single one of them. Square-Fun in Bloomsburg 2023 brought 90 competitors together on September 9, 2023, staging 13 packed rounds of speedcubing action in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, USA. The absolute sweep of top-three placements demonstrated exceptional depth across both standard puzzles and specialty formats, ensuring that the host nation remained entirely unchallenged at the top of the standings throughout the entire one-day cubing competition.

The premier 3x3x3 Cube event drew a large lineup of 89 competitors across three competitive rounds. Shaun Mack set the standard in the final round, taking first place with a winning average of 7.25 seconds and delivering a best single of 6.96 seconds. Carson Widjaja followed closely behind in the 3x3 results with a 7.36-second average for second place, while Alex Felsenfeld secured third with an average of 7.89 seconds. The high level of consistency across the field made the classic Rubik's Cube category one of the most closely contested battles of the entire weekend.

Shaun Mack also proved to be the standout performer in the 3x3x3 One-Handed event, securing a second gold medal of the day among 67 competitors. Over two rounds of competition, Mack produced a winning average of 12.96 seconds alongside the round's best single of 10.59 seconds. Zayn Khanani claimed the runner-up spot with an average of 14.48 seconds, while Will Callan stepped onto the podium in third place with a mark of 16.03 seconds, showcasing remarkable dexterity under strict single-hand rules.

The big cube events saw Benjamin Wei control the tables across single-round finals. In the 5x5x5 Cube, Wei paced a field of 52 competitors to claim the title with a winning average of 50.75 seconds and a best single of 48.69 seconds. Evan Liu took second place with a 55.70-second average, and Carson Widjaja earned another podium spot in third with 56.86 seconds. Wei returned to the tables for the 7x7x7 Cube, defeating 30 competitors with an average of 2:08.31 and a single of 2:04.60. Liu took silver at 2:46.72, and Kyle Meade took bronze at 3:00.24.

Short-format and specialty puzzles produced blisteringly quick times during the afternoon sessions. In the Skewb event, which featured 54 competitors across three rounds, Zayn Khanani captured victory with an extraordinary winning average of 1.60 seconds, backed by a best single of 1.45 seconds. Kyle Meade took second place with an average of 3.49 seconds, and William Klauer earned third with 3.58 seconds. The event highlighted just how precise modern speed cubing has become when executing fast setups and rapid corner turns on unconventional puzzle shapes.

Square-1 served as a major focal point of the schedule, drawing 50 competitors through three full rounds. Hassan Khanani delivered a commanding performance to capture the championship, logging a winning average of 6.05 seconds along with a sharp single of 4.86 seconds. Zayn Khanani claimed the second-place spot with an average of 9.13 seconds, while Shaun Mack added another medal to his collection by taking third place with a 10.21-second average in the final round.

Beyond the podium battles, several competitors achieved remarkable milestones in their personal progression. Aarav Guglani took on six events, achieving a best finish of 12th in 7x7x7 Cube with a first ever attempt of 3:34.39, recording a first Skewb attempt of 6.86, and cutting a Square-1 personal best to 19.33 seconds, which was 73 percent faster than before. Andrew Franklin competed in six events, setting a 3x3x3 One-Handed personal best of 22.63 that was 63.5 percent faster, alongside personal records in Square-1 at 18.59 and 5x5x5 Cube at 1:29.48. Jacob A. Abell entered five events, logging a first 5x5x5 Cube solve of 3:25.35 and improving personal bests in Square-1 to 1:31.64 and one-handed to 41.97. Malek Altaouil completed a first 3x3x3 One-Handed attempt of 31.86 and set a 3x3x3 Cube personal best of 13.75, which was 45.3 percent faster.

The day also provided major breakthroughs for newcomers and multi-event specialists throughout the roster. Zachary Van De Water tackled six events, finishing 8th in Skewb with a personal best of 3.94 seconds, an improvement of 48.2 percent, while adding personal bests in one-handed at 20.67 and Square-1 at 28.53. Jaeden Inocentes entered five events, recording a first Square-1 attempt of 16.69, a first 5x5x5 Cube try of 1:53.42, and a Skewb personal best of 6.64. Khoi Tran attended their first WCA competition, taking on five events with debut attempts of 15.63 in Skewb, 3:12.38 in 5x5x5 Cube, and 16.20 in 3x3x3 Cube. Daniel Tang also marked a first official tournament appearance, recording debuts in one-handed at 1:05.52, Skewb at 11.36, and Square-1 at 48.95.

The successful conclusion of Square-Fun in Bloomsburg 2023 highlighted both top-tier dominance and widespread personal milestones. From Shaun Mack taking multiple gold finishes to Benjamin Wei sweeping the big cubes and the Khanani family excelling in Skewb and Square-1, the day offered non-stop competition. With all 18 podium spots going to domestic competitors, the 2023 gathering at the Espy Fire Company closed as an undisputed showcase of local speedcubing excellence.