Stevenage January 2023

The Forum was filled with steady focus over the weekend of January 21 to January 22 as 195 competitors gathered in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom. Tables hummed with activity as judges reset timers and runners shuttled puzzles across nine distinct disciplines. With 21 rounds spread across the schedule, the competitive structure demanded both stamina and immediate precision. Each stage narrowed the fields systematically, ensuring that only the most consistent solvers advanced through the weekend brackets at Stevenage January 2023.

The cut structure in the main events rewarded steady pacing through every phase. In the classic Rubik's Cube, 184 competitors took to the tables for an exhaustive four-round battle. James Alonso navigated each round with composure, ultimately sealing victory in the final with a winning average of 7.21 seconds alongside a best single solve of 6.05. Ainesh Sevellaraja of Malaysia secured second place with an 8.17 average, while Daniel Partridge finished third on 8.76 to wrap up the official 3x3 results.

Alonso demonstrated identical mastery in the 2x2x2 Cube, which featured 158 competitors filtered down through three distinct stages. Facing high pressure in a fast-paced sprint event, Alonso captured the title with a tournament-best average of 1.73 seconds, supported by a 1.60 single. The shorter rounds left no margin for error, yet the top tier maintained exceptional consistency through each qualification hurdle during the busy cubing competition.

Across the specialized events, Cham J. Chambers proved to be a dominant force, capitalizing on multi-round formats. In the 4x4x4 Cube, which whittled down 103 starters over two rounds, Chambers clinched first place with a 32.44 average and a 26.88 single, holding off Nicholas Archer at 33.82 and Danny Morgan at 34.06. Chambers also triumphed in the fast-moving single round of Clock, recording a winning average of 3.89 seconds, with Morgan and Partridge claiming the remaining podium positions.

Beyond the podium battles, several competitors produced remarkable milestones that the overall standings often conceal. Boaz Reuben delivered a stunning 2x2x2 Cube personal best of 3.94 seconds, which was 62.8 percent faster than their previous best of 10.58, alongside a first ever attempt at Pyraminx of 5.56 seconds. Zixuan Wang notched a Pyraminx personal best of 2.49 seconds, marking a 62.6 percent improvement over their prior 6.66 mark, while also posting a first ever attempt at 5x5x5 Cube of 2:20.25. Kai Hatano improved their 3x3x3 One-Handed personal best by 62.6 percent down to 22.26 seconds, while also completing a first ever attempt at 4x4x4 Cube in 42.74 seconds. Peter Pulpan achieved a 58.8 percent improvement in 3x3x3 One-Handed with a 32.24 mark and set a Skewb personal best of 6.97.

Other dedicated solvers embraced new challenges by taking on unfamiliar disciplines at Stevenage January 2023. Jeannie Farquharson-Wood tackled eight events, recording a Skewb personal best of 4.74 seconds—a 56.4 percent improvement—and logging a first ever attempt at Clock with 20.33 seconds. Thomas Seed achieved a Skewb personal best of 7.25 seconds, dropping 47.8 percent from 13.88, while registering a first ever attempt at 4x4x4 Cube in 1:24.04. Jack Nolan entered eight disciplines, logging a 3x3x3 One-Handed personal best of 14.06 seconds and a first ever attempt at Skewb of 14.83 seconds. Esper Goddard tackled eight events, setting a first ever attempt at Skewb with a time of 7.37 seconds and earning a weekend best finish of 26th in that event.

In the 3x3x3 One-Handed event, two rounds of intense manual dexterity culminated in a win for Nicholas Archer, who averaged 10.11 seconds to edge Tao Yu on 12.13 and Chambers on 14.33. The Pyraminx contest spanned three full rounds, where Daniel Partridge topped a field of 138 competitors by averaging 2.31 seconds. Partridge remained exceptionally busy all weekend, collecting podium spots in four different events while handling the progressive round requirements with remarkable adaptability.

The big cubes and blindfolded solving highlighted the sheer variety present throughout this speed cubing weekend. Ainesh Sevellaraja took top honours in the 5x5x5 Cube with a 56.98 average across two rounds, finishing ahead of Partridge and Ben Stokes. Stokes then earned a victory of his own in the two-round 3x3x3 Blindfolded event, posting a single of 23.34 seconds, requiring complete memorisation and flawless execution without sight. Harry Owen captured the Skewb crown with a 4.48 average, edging Ariel Benchetrit by just two hundredths of a second.

With competitors from the United Kingdom claiming 22 podium spots alongside strong showings from Malaysia and Ireland, the gathering showcased deep regional and international talent. Every round format tested mental resilience, rewarding those who could manage time pressure across multiple qualification cutoffs. The lively action at Stevenage January 2023 closed out another memorable chapter for the community, setting a high standard of competitive speedcubing as the 2023 season gets underway at each future WCA competition.