Tauranga Open 2023
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Winners
All results- 3x3x3 CubeJames Macdiarmid9.42
- 2x2x2 CubeYuki Gao2.15
- 4x4x4 CubeCheng-Ru Yang36.03
- 5x5x5 CubeJames Macdiarmid1:08.69
- 3x3x3 BlindfoldedJames Macdiarmid24.32
- 3x3x3 One-HandedJim Zhu14.49
- ClockBrandon Harris5.70
- MegaminxBrandon Harris42.58
- PyraminxAshley Foster3.46
- SkewbOscar McEvoy5.32
- Square-1Ashley Foster12.59
- 3x3x3 Multi-BlindKacper Paweł Dworak17/17 in 58:20
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Competition recap
A written summary of Tauranga Open 2023, generated from the official results on this page.
International Contenders Clash With Local Talent at Tauranga Open 2023English
A thrilling cross-border contest defined the weekend as Poland's Kacper Paweł Dworak locked in a perfect 17 out of 17 solve in 58 minutes and 20 seconds during the 3x3x3 Multi-Blind event, barely edging out New Zealand's James Macdiarmid who attempted a massive 41 cubes and solved 29 in 59:00. Held at Tauranga Boys College over August 19 to August 20, the Tauranga Open 2023 brought together 53 competitors across 12 events and 19 intense rounds. The regional and international rivalries created an electric atmosphere from the opening round all the way to the final solves.
The premier 3x3x3 Cube event served as a major battleground among domestic standouts. With 50 competitors entering the classic Rubik's Cube category, three grueling rounds whittled the field down to an elite podium. James Macdiarmid emerged on top to claim victory with a winning average of 9.42 seconds, bolstered by a best single of 8.33 seconds. Fellow New Zealanders Brandon Harris and Xavier Courteau-Laing pushed hard for the crown, securing second and third place with final averages of 9.86 and 10.18 seconds respectively in the headline 3x3 results.
Beyond the main event, the rivalry between top performers expanded across varied formats at this premier cubing competition. In the 3x3x3 Blindfolded division, Macdiarmid claimed another win for the host country with a best single of 24.32 seconds, finishing ahead of Dworak's 54.00 single and Jim Zhu's 1:21.81. Zhu found redemption in the 3x3x3 One-Handed event, taking gold with a 14.49 average over Cheng-Ru Yang's 18.32 and Courteau-Laing's 20.02. In the 5x5x5 Cube, Macdiarmid struck again with a 1:08.69 average to defeat Zhu and Yang, who posted 1:12.98 and 1:15.10 respectively.
International talent left a distinct mark in the short-format puzzles. In the 2x2x2 Cube final, Yuki Gao representing China secured the victory with a 2.15 average, holding off New Zealand's Ashley Foster who averaged 3.07 and Tymon Mieszkowski who took third with 3.91. Brandon Harris captured top honors in Clock with a 5.70 average, besting Poland's Dworak who finished second with 9.21 and Luke Heath-Edwards in third at 10.44. Harris added another gold in Megaminx with a 42.58 average, while Foster dominated both Pyraminx and Square-1 with averages of 3.46 and 12.59 seconds.
Across the larger cubes and side events, Cheng-Ru Yang delivered a commanding performance in the 4x4x4 Cube, posting a winning average of 36.03 to outpace Zhu's 38.55 and Macdiarmid's 38.75. Oscar McEvoy rounded out the weekend's champions by winning the Skewb event with an average of 5.32 seconds. Altogether, New Zealand racers claimed 30 podium positions, while Poland earned 4 and China secured 2, demonstrating the impressive caliber of speedcubing on display throughout the two days of competition in Tauranga, New Zealand.
Away from the top steps of the podium, several competitors achieved remarkable milestones in the tournament hall. Caylum Hudson took on 11 events and registered a massive Square-1 personal best of 21.03 seconds, shaving 68.2 percent off his previous mark. Cole Bullen tackled 10 events and made a huge breakthrough in Pyraminx, cutting his personal best by 50.7 percent down to 5.64 seconds. Stanisław Dworak dropped his Clock personal best by 57.1 percent to 31.08 seconds, while Terence Brown made his first ever attempt at Clock with a 24.10 single.
The spirit of speed cubing continued to shine through first-time event entries and new competitors making their mark. Zavier Leith entered 7 events and made his first career attempt in 3x3x3 One-Handed with a 38.58 single, while Oliver Ren improved his 2x2x2 Cube mark by 36.8 percent to 3.23 seconds. First-time competitor James Gore made his debut at this WCA competition, recording a 15.52 single on the 3x3x3 Cube, while fellow newcomer Thanatorn Yiamsombat tackled three events and achieved a 12th-place finish in the 5x5x5 Cube with a 1:33.24 single.
With intense matchups across every format, the Tauranga Open 2023 delivered memorable clashes between local favorites and visiting contenders. The 2023 season in the Bay of Plenty region proved that every round brings fierce competition, setting a high standard of precision and determination for all participants involved.