The Last Frontier Fall 2023

Sixty-two competitors gathered in Anchorage, Alaska, USA on November 4, 2023, as the Egan Convention Center played host to The Last Frontier Fall 2023. Across seven events and fourteen total rounds of high-stakes Rubik's Cube solving, one competitor consistently rose above the pack. Luke Johnson commanded the schedule, claiming three distinct titles and reaching the podium in two additional categories to define the tempo of the entire speedcubing gathering.

Johnson began his standout run in the classic 3x3x3 Cube, navigating three rounds of intense speed cubing against a field of sixty-one entrants. In the final round, Johnson posted an unmatched winning average of 10.33 seconds and delivered the round's best single time of 9.04 seconds. The decisive 3x3 results secured top honours over Eli Milam, who finished second with an average of 11.90 seconds, and Hayden Slaski, who claimed third place with an average of 13.07 seconds.

Expanding his dominance beyond the standard puzzle, Johnson delivered another commanding performance in the 2x2x2 Cube. Out of fifty-seven participants across two rounds, he sealed first place with a final winning average of 3.30 seconds alongside a best single of 1.43 seconds. Eli Milam took second place with a 3.49-second average, while Wyatt Hardin secured third place on the podium with an average of 4.07 seconds.

Johnson completed his trio of victories in the 3x3x3 One-Handed event, taking top honours among thirty competitors with a winning average of 16.79 seconds and a tournament-best single of 15.08 seconds. David Steele followed in second place with an average of 21.23 seconds, and Wyatt Hardin placed third with 28.77 seconds. Johnson also added two third-place finishes to his haul, taking bronze in the 4x4x4 Cube with an average of 52.07 seconds and bronze in the 5x5x5 Cube with an average of 1:48.78.

David Steele proved to be the weekend's dominant force in the larger twisty puzzles. In the 4x4x4 Cube, Steele won first place with an average of 47.91 seconds and a best single of 42.16 seconds, finishing ahead of Wyatt Hardin in second at 51.71 seconds and Johnson in third. Steele doubled his gold medal count in the 5x5x5 Cube, winning the single-round contest in an average of 1:28.00 over runner-up Randy Jordan at 1:34.47. Steele capped his busy day by taking third place in Skewb with a 10.16 average.

Beyond the title fights, this cubing competition provided fertile ground for remarkable individual progress across the roster. Leith Asher Jordet made massive strides by slicing 60.9 percent off his previous benchmark in the 2x2x2 Cube with a new personal best of 2.95 seconds, alongside a first ever attempt at Pyraminx yielding 7.73 seconds. Cody Egeland took on seven events and dropped his 2x2x2 personal best down to 2.90 seconds, a 55.2 percent improvement, while also recording his first ever attempt at 5x5x5 Cube in 2:14.53. Jonathan Yost cut 53.6 percent off his 3x3x3 One-Handed best to log 57.35 seconds, and Mason Dolphin dropped 41.4 percent off his 2x2x2 Cube mark with a 4.51 single.

Several other competitors broadened their competitive repertoire during this WCA competition. Max Yost took on five disciplines and improved his 5x5x5 Cube single by 45.2 percent to 2:19.96, while also completing a first ever attempt at 3x3x3 One-Handed in 1:03.95. Gideon Bedingfield contested seven categories, achieving his best finish of seventh place in Skewb and setting a 2x2x2 Cube personal best of 3.96 seconds. Entering their first official tournament, Carter Strohmeyer tackled five events and recorded a 14.56-second single in the 3x3x3 Cube, while Phelan Lee Kitchens took on six events and opened his journey with a 4.92-second single in the 2x2x2 Cube.

Side events offered thrilling finishes that crowned two additional champions. In Pyraminx, Wyatt Hardin took first place across two rounds with a winning average of 5.48 seconds and a single of 4.20, edging Luke Johnson at 6.41 and Hayden Slaski at 6.79. Skewb concluded with Isabella Wight earning the title with an average of 8.07 seconds and a best single of 7.24, finishing ahead of Lewis Knier in second at 9.60 and David Steele in third.

With twenty-one total podium positions filled exclusively by United States contenders, The Last Frontier Fall 2023 wrapped up an intense day of northern competition. From Luke Johnson's three event sweeps to the dozens of personal milestones achieved across the venue, the tournament delivered an energetic showcase of speedcubing depth in Anchorage as the community looks ahead to the next competitive calendar.