The Core of Hobart 2023

The competition floor at County Line Orchard was alive with rapid turns and flying plastic as speedcubing talent gathered under one roof. Across the room, solvers traded glances and paced near the staging tables, each eager to claim bragging rights for their home turf. With timers primed and judges stationed across 14 packed rounds, the stage was set for an intense single-day battle where regional rivals pushed one another through every solve.

The Core of Hobart 2023 brought together 89 competitors in Hobart, Indiana, USA on December 3, 2023. Speed cubing enthusiasts from across the area faced off across six official events. At the center of the clash was Brian Johnson, who delivered a commanding run that repeatedly held off the surrounding field. By the end of the day, all 18 podium positions went to contenders representing the USA, sparking heated head-to-head showdowns in every final.

Johnson stamped his authority on the premier puzzle, taking top honors in the 3x3x3 Cube final. Navigating a field of 85 entrants across three rounds, he locked in a winning average of 7.15 seconds, backed by a best single of 6.23 seconds. Rival challenger Ellery Dillon kept the pressure on by securing second place with a 7.64 average, while Henry Lichner rounded out the podium in third at 7.97. These 3x3 results highlighted how narrow the margins remained among the front-runners on the classic Rubik's Cube.

The 2x2x2 Cube event became an extraordinary regional shootout where tenths of a second decided everything. Brian Johnson captured the title with a 1.40 average, including a 0.92 single, barely edging out Sujan Feist who posted a 1.42 average. Carter Kucala took third with an average of 1.83. The battle pushed personal standards through the ceiling across two rounds, as multiple competitors logged standout solves in their bid to overtake one another.

Beyond the podium battles, The Core of Hobart 2023 showcased remarkable individual breakthroughs from competitors who made significant strides across their events. Jacob Webb slashed his previous marks across the board, trimming his 2x2x2 Cube time to 6.96 seconds for a 62.7 percent improvement, reducing his Pyraminx mark by 50.7 percent to 10.00 seconds, and taking his 3x3x3 Cube time down 22.1 percent to 35.35 seconds. Conor Alanis cut his 2x2x2 Cube personal best by 56.7 percent to 3.19 seconds, improved his 3x3x3 Cube mark to 15.61 seconds, and logged a first ever attempt at Pyraminx of 14.32 seconds. Bennett Capina took on four events, securing a 55.2 percent improvement on the 3x3x3 Cube with a 13.56 solve while recording first attempts at Pyraminx in 9.77 seconds and 3x3x3 One-Handed in 26.71 seconds. Andrew Ryan trimmed his Clock record by 50.5 percent down to 18.45 seconds and lowered his Pyraminx best by 15.4 percent to 16.06 seconds.

The progress continued across the venue as competitors tackled demanding new disciplines. Caleb D. Novick entered six events and logged first attempts in Clock at 10.42 seconds, 2x2x2 Cube at 3.72 seconds, and Square-1 at 44.46 seconds. Owen Van Derven cut his 3x3x3 Cube personal best by 29.3 percent to 25.59 seconds and notched a first Pyraminx solve of 17.34 seconds. Bennett Courington stepped up across five events, securing a first one-handed solve of 1:05.02 alongside personal bests of 4.24 in 2x2x2 Cube and 15.47 in Clock. Cara Crowe delivered a major step forward in the 3x3x3 Cube, cutting her previous best by 44.4 percent to register a 1:05.14 single.

Johnson continued his winning ways in the alternate disciplines, leaving his rivals to fight for remaining placements. In 3x3x3 One-Handed, Johnson secured first place with an 11.38 average and an 8.89 single, finishing well ahead of Carter Kucala at 14.87 and Henry Lichner at 15.56. Turning to Square-1, Johnson earned his fourth victory of the day with a 7.57 winning average and a 6.27 single, holding off Kucala who finished second at 9.07 and Aidan Halloran in third at 9.23.

The other events provided thrilling finishes as specialists traded quick times. In Clock, Reed W. Richardson clinched the win with a 4.90 average and a 3.34 single, holding off Carter Thomas who finished second with an average of 4.98, while Simon Kellum claimed third in 6.20. In Pyraminx, Ezra Shere took the title with a 2.14 winning average and a 1.32 single, narrowly topping Carter Kucala at 2.20 and Brian Johnson at 2.50 across two competitive rounds.

By the time the final awards were distributed, The Core of Hobart 2023 had delivered non-stop drama and high-level speedcubing across every round. The spirited rivalry between local and visiting competitors brought out peak performances, from title-winning runs to major milestones for newer competitors. As the season rolls on toward future gatherings on the cubing competition calendar, the standard established at County Line Orchard will serve as a sharp benchmark for everyone who took part in this WCA competition.