Ukrainian Nationals 2023

The usual hum of a cubing competition fell to a hush inside the Палац Гната Хоткевича as competitors donned their blindfolds. The intense concentration demanded by blindfolded solving shifted the atmosphere in the hall entirely, turning the speedcubing floor into a silent arena of memory and execution. This was the scene at Ukrainian Nationals 2023 in Lviv, Ukraine, where 107 competitors gathered from October 27 to October 29 to test their skills across 16 different WCA events. The weekend brought together veterans and newcomers alike for 29 rounds of competition, but it was the blindfolded events that truly captivated the room.

Lev Golub emerged as the star of the blindfolded disciplines, claiming victory in both 3x3x3 Blindfolded and 3x3x3 Multi-Blind. In the standard 3x3x3 Blindfolded event, Golub secured the win with a best single time of 53.60 seconds, outpacing Ivan Kovach and Bohdan Pylypchak. The multi-blind event, which requires competitors to memorize and solve multiple cubes, saw Golub successfully complete 6 out of 7 cubes in a time of 46:39 to take the top spot ahead of Yurii Riabov. Bohdan Pylypchak found success in the 4x4x4 Blindfolded event with a winning single of 3:57.07, while Serhii Mormul won the 5x5x5 Blindfolded with a time of 15:13.00.

The 3x3x3 Cube event, the classic Rubik's Cube challenge, was also tightly contested at Ukrainian Nationals 2023. Lev Golub proved his versatility by taking the top spot here as well, securing a winning average of 7.62 seconds and a best single of 6.43 seconds against a massive field of 105 competitors. Nazar Lenyshyn finished second with an average of 7.68 seconds, while Vladyslav Hryniuk rounded out the podium with 8.23 seconds. These 3x3 results highlight the depth of talent present at this WCA competition, with competitors pushing each other to faster times across four demanding rounds.

Vladyslav Hryniuk was arguably the most dominant force across the larger NxNxN puzzles and specialized events. He claimed victories in the 4x4x4 Cube (32.62 average), 5x5x5 Cube (57.80 average), 6x6x6 Cube (1:35.68 average), and 7x7x7 Cube (2:37.29 average). Hryniuk also secured the win in the 3x3x3 One-Handed event with an average of 13.16 seconds, and in the Megaminx event with a 39.36 average. His sweeping performance across these diverse puzzles underscored his exceptional speed cubing ability and endurance throughout the busy weekend.

Beyond the headline winners, Ukrainian Nationals 2023 showcased remarkable personal achievements from competitors making significant strides. Nazar Ilevych took on 11 events, achieving a best finish of 11th in Square-1 and completing first ever attempts at 2x2x2 Cube (3.96), Megaminx (1:16.23), and 5x5x5 Cube (1:56.07). Vitalii Medvediev delivered massive improvements, recording a Pyraminx personal best of 4.76 seconds, which was 65 percent faster than his previous mark, and a 3x3x3 Cube personal best of 13.56 seconds, a 54 percent improvement. He also logged his first ever attempt at the 2x2x2 Cube with a time of 7.59.

The personal milestones continued with Danylo Vernoslov, who entered 10 events and managed a best finish of 18th in the 7x7x7 Cube, while completing first ever attempts at Pyraminx (17.30), 4x4x4 Cube (1:00.92), and 5x5x5 Cube (2:22.25). Dmytro Bobrov slashed his 3x3x3 Cube personal best down to 23.16, an impressive 46.6 percent faster than his previous record, and recorded first attempts in 2x2x2 Cube and Clock. Bogdan Oreshin tackled 12 events, finishing 6th in the 7x7x7 Cube and recording first attempts at Clock, 7x7x7 Cube, and Skewb. Platon Korobov also expanded his repertoire with first ever attempts at Clock (26.97), 4x4x4 Cube (1:30.19), and Pyraminx (8.64).

In the shorter events, Danylo Dobrogorskyi took the title in the 2x2x2 Cube with a rapid winning average of 2.46 seconds. The Pyraminx and Square-1 titles both went to Ihor Kastranets, who secured winning averages of 3.01 seconds and 9.78 seconds, respectively. Serhii Fedorniak claimed the Skewb victory with a 2.22 average, while Lev Golub added to his impressive haul with a win in the Clock event, finishing with an average of 6.68 seconds. The variety of puzzles on display ensured that every type of solver had a chance to shine.

As the final solves concluded and the timers were packed away, Ukrainian Nationals 2023 left its mark as a thoroughly successful event in Lviv for the year 2023. With a strong turnout of 107 participants and a sweeping range of 16 events, the competition provided a comprehensive test of speed, memory, and nerve. From the silent intensity of the blindfolded stages to the rapid-fire action of the shorter cubes, the weekend celebrated the full spectrum of competitive cubing, setting a high standard for future events in the region.