UBC Big & Blind 2023

Inside the Irving K Barber Learning Centre (IBLC) at the University of British Columbia, timing mats lined the tables as competitors prepared for a demanding schedule of specialized disciplines. The atmosphere was focused and energetic, filled with the steady plastic clatter of turning layers and the quiet concentration of memorisation. Taking place on December 2, 2023, the gathering brought together 35 competitors in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada for a dedicated showcase of complex puzzles, big hardware, and mental stamina.

For several participants, UBC Big & Blind 2023 marked the very first step into the world of official speedcubing. Stepping up to the competition table for an official solve brings a distinct mix of anticipation and nerves, entirely different from practicing at home. Debuting at a cubing competition requires learning the cadence of the staging area, waiting for the judge to lift the cover, and placing hands flat on the timer. The single-day schedule gave these newcomers an immediate immersion into high-stakes solving.

Among those making their debut, Kaveh Sadr-Chung took on the twelve-sided puzzle for the first time, logging a result of 5:14.87 in Megaminx. Levi Cummings also marked their first official appearance in the same event, completing an opening mark of 2:50.16. At the one-handed station, Leon Yucheng Sun recorded a debut time of 1:20.96, while Holton Cheung completed their first official solve with a time of 1:23.67. Facing the official timer for the first time in such technical events demands poise, and each newcomer established their baseline on the WCA stage.

Beyond the debuts, numerous returning competitors secured massive personal improvements across the technical schedule. Kayden Zhang entered three events and delivered a standout performance in 3x3x3 One-Handed, setting a personal best of 32.87 seconds to improve by 50.9 percent, alongside first-ever attempts in Megaminx at 3:10.89 and 6x6x6 Cube at 8:01.68. Aaditya Kudva tackled three events, logging a 3x3x3 One-Handed personal best of 54.84 seconds, 12.6 percent faster than before, while posting initial official marks of 5:19.43 on 6x6x6 Cube and 3:11.29 on Megaminx.

The progress continued across the field as David Ghabour took on two events, setting an initial mark of 5:50.08 on 6x6x6 Cube and improving their 3x3x3 One-Handed mark by 24.9 percent down to 1:09.34. Tristan Lee took on four events, earning a 7th-place finish in 7x7x7 Cube with a personal best of 3:56.23 that cut 28.7 percent off their previous standard, alongside personal bests of 1:04.63 in Megaminx and 2:51.86 in 6x6x6 Cube. These breakthrough moments across multiple puzzle categories highlighted the quiet depth of development across the regional community.

The 3x3x3 One-Handed event drew the largest field of the day with 32 competitors across two rounds. Kenny Zhong captured the title, posting a winning average of 14.12 seconds and a best single of 11.35. Noah Stelting secured second place on the podium with a 14.64 average, while Griffin Clem claimed third place with a 17.03 average. The event showcased high-level single-handed agility on the classic Rubik's Cube mechanism, serving as a dynamic counterpart to the standard 3x3 results seen at multi-event opens.

Large cubes formed the core of the afternoon programme, requiring immense physical endurance and precise pattern recognition across ten total rounds of action. In the 6x6x6 Cube final, Jack Anderson took first place with a winning average of 1:49.14 and a single of 1:48.31, finishing ahead of Griffin Clem at 1:52.26 and Diego Núñez at 1:58.35. Griffin Clem then took the top spot in the 7x7x7 Cube with a 2:44.26 average, besting Jack Anderson who finished in 2:46.18, and Diego Núñez who claimed third with 3:02.09.

Jack Anderson added a second victory during the weekend by winning the Megaminx event with an average of 52.21 seconds and a single of 50.35, leading Aamir Saifee in second at 57.48 and Peter Barnwell in third at 59.02. Meanwhile, the blindfolded disciplines tested memory and spatial awareness under total sensory deprivation. Bernabe Kondrak won the 4x4x4 Blindfolded event with a single of 8:12.94, followed by Vianne Chang in second place at 14:57.00. In 5x5x5 Blindfolded, Kevin Matthews secured the win with an official single of 13:53.00.

The single-day meet concluded with Canada taking 14 podium positions, the United States securing 4, Chile earning 2, and India claiming 1. Across 6 events, UBC Big & Blind 2023 offered an intensive platform for specialized speed cubing disciplines in Vancouver, celebrating both the sharpest blindfolded solves and the enduring spirit of new competitors starting their journey at an official WCA competition.