UCSD Winter 2023

230 competitors stepped up to the tables as the organizing team and dedicated volunteers guided a massive schedule through the Price Center at UC San Diego. Staging a full World Cube Association sanctioned event requires constant coordination from officials, runners, and judges who ensure every solve is properly timed and recorded. On December 16, 2023, UCSD Winter 2023 brought 13 rounds of intense action to San Diego, California, USA, seamlessly managing six official events in a single day of focused speedcubing operations.

The tournament floor demanded precision from the event staff, who oversaw brackets ranging from classic twisty puzzles to specialized challenges. Managing 228 entrants in the traditional 3x3x3 Rubik's Cube alone required an efficient rotation of scramble stations and judging tables. Thanks to the meticulous work of the crew, every group moved smoothly across the stage, providing the exact platform needed for elite athletes to post world-class times while welcoming newer participants into the atmosphere of a major WCA competition.

In the marquee 3x3x3 Cube event, Max Park delivered an outstanding performance to take the championship with a winning average of 5.62 seconds, complemented by the best single time of the competition at 4.90. The 3x3 results finalized with Nancy Liu taking the second step on the podium with a 6.98 average, while Brendyn Dunagan secured third place averaging 7.30 across the three rounds of play. Park added another gold medal to his tally in the 5x5x5 Cube, recording a winning average of 35.94 and a single of 32.60.

Across the multi-event lineup, several standout competitors captured major hardware. Kyeongmin Choi produced a stellar run, claiming victory in the 2x2x2 Cube with a 1.42 average and best single of 1.18, ahead of Brendyn Dunagan with 1.67 and Dan Tran with 2.16. Choi also topped the Megaminx standings, delivering a winning average of 34.27 and a fast single of 31.91. In Square-1, Brendyn Dunagan captured first place with an average of 6.88, leading Choi with 8.50 and Ethan Yeh with 10.87. Meanwhile, Anto Kam mastered the 3x3x3 Blindfolded division, recording a 19.53 single to finish ahead of Graham Siggins and Nipun Das.

Behind the top podium spots, several competitors achieved remarkable milestones across their individual journeys at UCSD Winter 2023. Noah Diaz demonstrated massive progress by cutting his 2x2x2 Cube personal best to 3.54 seconds, which was 60 percent faster than his prior mark, alongside dropping his 3x3x3 Cube best by 52.7 percent to 19.37 seconds. Benjamin Mead lowered his 2x2x2 Cube standard to 5.81 seconds, improving by 57.7 percent while completing his first ever official 3x3x3 Cube attempt in 43.79 seconds. Jason Chang took on five events, shaving 54.2 percent off his 5x5x5 Cube record with a 2:31.58 while also logging his first Megaminx solve at 3:01.56.

The breakthroughs continued throughout the field as solvers expanded their competitive horizons. Sebastian Sundin posted a 36.84 personal best on 3x3x3 Cube, improving by 45.8 percent, and made his first ever 2x2x2 Cube attempt in 10.68 seconds. Jacob Du entered five events, cutting 37.1 percent off his 2x2x2 Cube mark to reach 4.22 seconds and taking on his first Square-1 solve at 48.76 seconds. Arjun Warrier improved his 2x2x2 Cube best by 32.7 percent to 2.88 seconds while trying both Square-1 and Megaminx for the first time. Aidan Min logged his first official attempts in 3x3x3 Blindfolded and 5x5x5 Cube, and Nikolas Perez tackled five events, recording his first marks in Megaminx, 2x2x2 Cube, and 3x3x3 Blindfolded.

The diverse lineup of categories tested every dimension of speed cubing, from the sheer analytical stamina of Megaminx to the precise algorithmic execution of Square-1. In the 5x5x5 Cube, Dunagan earned silver with a 51.50 average, followed closely by Tran at 52.63. Over in Megaminx, Dunagan and Novaleigh Bui rounded out the top three behind Choi. The overall medal count reflected a strong international presence alongside domestic talent, with competitors representing the USA, Korea, Hong Kong, China, and Vietnam reaching the podium across the weekend.

Delivering a 230-person cubing competition without a hitch stands as a testament to the dedication of the regional staff and volunteers. From the early morning setup at Price Center to the final rounds of the afternoon, every judge, scrambler, and delegate played a vital part in the collective success of UCSD Winter 2023. As the 2023 calendar drew to a close, the San Diego event demonstrated how collaborative organization creates the foundation for personal milestones and top-tier competitive results alike.