The Blantucky Derby 2023

Twelve rounds of head-to-head speedcubing tested the nerves and stamina of 71 competitors on May 13, 2023, as the action unfolded inside Blanchester High School. The one-day schedule demanded rapid adaptability across five events, rewarding competitors who could navigate tight cut structures and maintain consistency. Hosted in Blanchester, Ohio, USA, the gathering brought together a hungry field striving to survive each elimination phase and earn a spot in the final rounds.

Luke Garrett set the standard early and barely looked back throughout the day, claiming four separate tournament victories. In the flagship 3x3x3 Rubik's Cube, Garrett navigated three rounds of competition against 70 entrants to take top honors with a winning average of 5.31 seconds, complemented by the best single time of the event at 4.48 seconds. Luke Griesser chased him to the finish line with a 6.02 average for second, while Phillip Lewicki took third place with a 7.16 mark in the final 3x3 results.

The 2x2x2 Cube event unfolded across a triple-round format featuring 65 competitors, placing a premium on explosive starts and sub-two-second efficiency. Garrett captured the title with an average of 1.63 seconds and delivered the fastest single of the weekend at 0.93 seconds. Simon Kellum secured the runner-up position on the podium with a 1.93 average, while Nolan Wood claimed third with a steady 2.09 average in the final round.

In the 3x3x3 One-Handed event, competitors faced a two-round progression that challenged dexterity and single-arm endurance. Garrett once again topped the standings among 47 entrants, posting a 10.49 winning average and the round's top single of 9.77 seconds. Nolan Wood took second place with a mark of 13.15 seconds, followed closely by Luke Griesser in third at 14.01 seconds. Garrett also conquered the two-round Megaminx contest, solving the complex twelve-faced puzzle in 39.87 seconds on average, ahead of Phillip Lewicki at 47.40 and Simon Kellum at 51.69.

The Pyraminx was the lone discipline to elude Garrett's grasp, yielding a fiercely contested two-round showdown among 59 entrants. Harsha Paladugu captured the victory with a blistering 2.04 winning average and the best single of the event at 1.43 seconds. Garrett settled for second place with an average of 2.38 seconds, while Simon Kellum picked up another podium result by locking in third place with a 2.96 mark, concluding an all-United States sweep across the competition podiums.

Away from the top steps of the podium, several solvers seized the opportunity to register major milestones across the twelve rounds. Lucas Meyer delivered a massive breakthrough in the 2x2x2 Cube, chopping 55.5 percent off his previous benchmark with a personal best of 1.51 seconds to secure a 7th place finish. Shrivasan Muralidhar cut his 2x2x2 Cube standard by 45.1 percent to 2.93 seconds and improved his Pyraminx mark to 10.89 seconds. Graham Hartman lowered his 2x2x2 Cube time by 41.2 percent to 2.80 seconds alongside a 5.70 in his first ever attempt at Pyraminx, while Mason Schmitz trimmed his Pyraminx best by 35.6 percent down to 9.95 seconds.

The tournament atmosphere also fostered rapid progress for emerging talents testing new disciplines on the official stage. Christopher Hawk sliced 32.4 percent off his 3x3x3 Cube time to reach 18.21 seconds while tackling his first ever attempt at Pyraminx in 7.20 seconds. Michael Womack shaved 32.4 percent off his Megaminx standard to register 2:58.19. Taking on his first WCA competition, Sathyachith Ramkiran placed 10th in the 3x3x3 Cube after opening with a 7.30 single, alongside debuts of 2.66 on 2x2x2 Cube and 17.87 in One-Handed. Ethan Hōhn also navigated five events in his debut cubing competition, setting initial benchmarks of 7.35 in 2x2x2 Cube, 10.51 in Pyraminx, and 24.76 in the 3x3x3 Cube.

By the time the final timers were stopped at The Blantucky Derby 2023, the event demonstrated how format depth and varied event disciplines can challenge the fastest hands in speed cubing. From Garrett's four-event sweep to dozens of personal milestones achieved on the gymnasium floor, the day closed out a memorable chapter of competitive cubing in Ohio.