Trondheim Friends 2023

Four event podiums and two gold medals told the story of an overpowering performance at Trondheim Friends 2023. Held on September 9, 2023, at Gløshaugen, Kjemiblokk 5, K5 in Trondheim, Norway, the single-day gathering saw 36 competitors tackle 8 rounds across 4 events. In an exceptional display of dexterity, Herman Westerlund Kalland emerged as the central figure of the tournament, capturing top honors in both primary puzzle categories while challenging for victory in every discipline he entered.

The 3x3x3 Cube final served as the marquee showdown of the speedcubing schedule. Over two intense rounds, 35 competitors chased the premier title of the cubing competition. Herman Westerlund Kalland claimed first place with a winning average of 7.01 seconds, bolstered by a best single of 6.41 seconds. Knut Skaug Haraldsen secured second place with an average of 7.23 seconds, while Filip Nilsen rounded out the podium in third at 7.52 seconds. These standout 3x3 results set a demanding standard for the entire gathering.

Herman Westerlund Kalland maintained his relentless pace in the 2x2x2 Cube event, besting a field of 31 competitors over two rounds. He captured the title with a winning average of 2.19 seconds and a best single of 1.71 seconds. Filip Nilsen finished in the runner-up position with a 3.26-second average, followed by Sakeus Løvås in third place at 3.56 seconds. The victory cemented Kalland as the undisputed multi-event frontrunner of the tournament.

The 3x3x3 One-Handed event offered a different challenge, demanding supreme finger control and planning on the classic Rubik's Cube. Knut Skaug Haraldsen delivered a masterclass across the two rounds, besting 20 entrants to win with an average of 10.70 seconds and a tournament-best single of 9.56 seconds. Herman Westerlund Kalland stayed in the hunt to claim second place with an average of 14.83 seconds, while Jonatan Solheim took third with an average of 14.91 seconds.

In the Skewb event, Birger Trætli Storvik captured the top step of the podium among 23 competitors. Storvik recorded a winning average of 4.63 seconds and a sharp single of 4.01 seconds. Filip Nilsen claimed second place with an average of 5.67 seconds, closely followed by Herman Westerlund Kalland, who earned third place with a 5.70 average. Kalland finished Trondheim Friends 2023 with four podium appearances across the four contested disciplines.

Behind the headline winners, several competitors achieved remarkable milestones across the schedule. Guttorm Syvertsen-Wiig took on 4 events and logged massive breakthroughs, cutting his Skewb personal best by 43.4 percent down to 14.84 seconds, his 2x2x2 Cube mark by 26.4 percent to 4.91 seconds, and his 3x3x3 One-Handed time by 5.9 percent to 49.97 seconds. Bjørnar Føre tackled 4 events, earning a best finish of 16th in Skewb after logging an initial mark of 11.24 seconds, notching a first attempt at 2x2x2 Cube with 8.40 seconds, and improving his 3x3x3 One-Handed personal best by 37.4 percent to 1:04.52. Magnus Melkvik Gustavsen entered 3 events and achieved 17th place in Skewb, shaving 38.4 percent off his Skewb mark to 7.40 seconds, 20.9 percent off his 2x2x2 Cube time to 4.17 seconds, and 16.8 percent off his 3x3x3 Cube time to 13.09 seconds. Oliver Mæle Keiseraas placed 9th in Skewb across 4 events, registering a first attempt of 5.90 seconds in Skewb, a first attempt of 1:04.17 in 3x3x3 One-Handed, and a 3x3x3 Cube personal best of 22.84 seconds.

The individual progress continued throughout the roster at Trondheim Friends 2023. Jonathan Naalsund competed in 3 events, placing 24th in 3x3x3 Cube, recording a first attempt of 1:14.30 in 3x3x3 One-Handed, improving his 3x3x3 Cube best by 20.2 percent to 25.17 seconds, and dropping his 2x2x2 Cube best by 13.5 percent to 8.58 seconds. Thang Vinh Vu entered 4 events and finished 11th in 3x3x3 One-Handed, setting personal bests of 10.51 seconds in 3x3x3 Cube with a 26.2 percent drop, 19.12 seconds in 3x3x3 One-Handed with a 16.6 percent drop, and 3.13 seconds in 2x2x2 Cube. Ivar Strangstadstuen took on 4 events, placing 14th in 3x3x3 One-Handed and lowering his 3x3x3 Cube personal best by 19.3 percent to 10.68 seconds. Juri Christian van der Zwart contested 4 events, taking 5th in Skewb, lowering his 3x3x3 One-Handed best by 9.2 percent to 20.77 seconds, and dropping his 3x3x3 Cube best by 6.9 percent to 10.08 seconds.

With 12 podium positions earned by Norwegian competitors, the WCA competition highlighted the strength of regional speed cubing. The single-day tournament demonstrated high-level execution from seasoned podium contenders and delivered substantial milestones for the broader field. Trondheim Friends 2023 closed out an intense day of competition at Gløshaugen, leaving the local community prepared for the next wave of tournament action.

Med et vinnende gjennomsnitt pa 7.01 sekunder i 3x3x3 Cube leverte Herman Westerlund Kalland helgens mest imponerende prestasjon da speedcubing-miljoet samlet seg i Kjemiblokk 5 pa Gloshaugen. Det intense tempoet preget hele stevnet i Trondheim, Norway den 9. september 2023, der 36 deltakere kjempet gjennom totalt 8 runder fordelt pa 4 offisielle ovelser. Selv om de store kubene ofte krever maksimal konsentrasjon og dyp utholdenhet pa lengre stevner, viste denne endagskonkurransen at de mer kompakte formatene kan skape minst like hoy nerve og teknisk krevende oppgjor fra forste til siste forsok.

Trondheim Friends 2023 ble en intens affære der Herman Westerlund Kalland sikret seg toppen av seierspallen i to ulike grener. I 3x3x3 Cube, den klassiske ovelsen som ofte omtales som Rubiks kube pa folkemunne, vant Kalland med 7.01 i snitt og stevnets raskeste enkeltforsok pa 6.41 sekunder blant 35 startende. Bak ham fulgte Knut Skaug Haraldsen med 7.23 pa andreplass og Filip Nilsen med 7.52 pa tredjeplass. Den tette finalen understreket det hoye nivaet i toppen av norsk kubing gjennom hele arrangementet.

Kalland fortsatte suksessen i 2x2x2 Cube foran et startfelt pa 31 utovere. Med et vinnende gjennomsnitt pa 2.19 sekunder og et besteforsok pa 1.71 i finalen tok han helgens andre gull. Filip Nilsen sikret solvplassen med et snitt pa 3.26, mens Sakeus Lovas tok bronsemedaljen med et gjennomsnitt pa 3.56 sekunder. Klassen baud pa en rekke sterke enkeltforsok og solide serier gjennom de to rundene som ble gjennomfort.

I enhandsgrenen 3x3x3 One-Handed var det Knut Skaug Haraldsen som tok kontrollen blant 20 deltakere. Haraldsen vant overbevisende med et snitt pa 10.70 sekunder og et besteforsok pa 9.56 sekunder. Herman Westerlund Kalland fulgte pa andreplass med et gjennomsnitt pa 14.83, tett fulgt av Jonatan Solheim pa tredjeplass med 14.91 i gjennomsnitt etter en jevn duell om pallplassene.

Under Trondheim Friends 2023 stod ogsa Skewb pa programmet med 23 deltakere over 2 runder. Birger Trætli Storvik gikk helt til topps med et vinnende gjennomsnitt pa 4.63 sekunder og en bestetid pa 4.01. Filip Nilsen tok sovlmedaljen med 5.67 i snitt, mens Herman Westerlund Kalland sikret seg nok en pallplassering da han tok bronsen med et gjennomsnitt pa 5.70 sekunder.

Bak seierspallene rommet resultatlistene mange viktige milepæler for loperne som deltok pa stevnet. Philip Syrstdad debuterte i sin aller forste WCA-konkurranse og noterte 23.88 pa sitt forste forsok i 2x2x2 Cube og 54.48 i 3x3x3 Cube over 2 ovelser. Constantin Geiß deltok likeledes i sin forste offisielle konkurranse og fullforte sine forste forsok noensinne med 11.83 i 2x2x2 Cube samt 32.66 i 3x3x3 Cube. Agnes Kennedy Stokker gjennomforte ogsa sitt forste stevne med 12.14 i 2x2x2 Cube og 26.04 i 3x3x3 Cube over sine 2 ovelser, mens Aksel Dahl Georgsen debuterte med 7.61 pa sitt forste Skewb-forsok og 21.73 i 3x3x3 Cube.

Det var ogsa mye solid innsats blant de mer erfarne deltakerne som kjempet om gode plasseringer. Hyunwoo Kim deltok i 2 ovelser og noterte en personlig rekord pa 12.91 samt en 21. plass i 3x3x3 Cube. Henrik Tvervåg stilte opp i 2 ovelser og sikret seg en sterk 8. plass i 3x3x3 Cube. Leander Tiller kjempet seg inn til en 12. plass i 3x3x3 Cube etter a ha stilt i 3 ovelser, mens Pia Havik Hansen fullforte sine 3 ovelser med en 25. plass i 3x3x3 Cube som sitt beste resultat.

Avslutningen pa Trondheim Friends 2023 markerte en vellykket dag for miljoet i Trondheim dette aret. Med 12 pallplasser fordelt pa norske utovere og et bredt spekter av loysere i alle ovelser ble denne kubekonkurransen en flott oppvisning i presisjon og hurtighet foran en ny sesong pa terminlisten.