Up in the North 2023

Inside the Egan Convention Center in Anchorage, Alaska, USA, tables were lined with timers, mats, and inspection covers as competitors gathered on April 1, 2023. Speedcubing demands extreme precision under pressure, testing finger dexterity and pattern recognition across an array of puzzles. For the 78 competitors attending this WCA competition, the single-day gathering provided an intense test of concentration across 8 events and 13 rounds of head-to-head action in the far north.

The 3x3x3 Cube, the world standard Rubik's Cube discipline, stood as the centerpiece of the tournament schedule. Shane Grogan delivered commanding 3x3 results across three competitive rounds, sealing first place with a winning average of 9.34 seconds and a best single of 8.49. Raymond Goslow secured the runner-up position with a 10.86 average, while Eric Zhao finished third with an average of 11.04. Grogan set the bar across a crowded field of 77 competitors.

Grogan extended his dominant run into the larger cubes, claiming victories across every big-cube category on the schedule. In the 4x4x4 Cube, he took first place with a 35.04 average, edging out Goslow who posted 35.45 for second, ahead of Zhao in third at 41.07. Grogan continued his winning streak in the 6x6x6 Cube with a 2:14.71 average, followed again by Goslow at 2:19.83 and Zhao at 2:49.19. Rounding out the big puzzles, Grogan captured the 7x7x7 Cube with a 3:23.37 mark, leading Goslow at 3:37.70 and Zhao at 4:37.59.

The side events at Up in the North 2023 belonged almost entirely to Owen Yepeng Sun. Demonstrating rapid recognition and flawless turning, Sun captured three distinct titles throughout the day. In Pyraminx, Sun secured victory with an average of 2.49 seconds, ahead of Goslow in second with 5.14 and Chris Martin in third at 6.23. Sun added another gold in Skewb with a 4.52 average, leaving Goslow with 6.74 for second and Davien Zan with 7.76 for third.

Sun completed his triple-crown performance with a decisive triumph in Clock, turning in a winning average of 6.57 seconds. Samuel Higgins claimed the silver step with an 8.63 average, while Goslow picked up another podium finish in third with 9.25. Across the entire cubing competition, Goslow proved to be a constant presence on the award stand, collecting podium placements in seven different disciplines, highlighted by six second-place finishes.

The 2x2x2 Cube event delivered one of the tightest battles of the weekend. Luke Johnson took the top spot on the podium with a winning average of 3.26 seconds, just holding off Goslow who matched his 3.26 personal mark in the rounds and finished second in the final with 3.41. Grogan added another medal to his tally by taking third place with an average of 3.53, completing a fiercely contested final round among 63 competitors.

Away from the top steps of the podium, Up in the North 2023 showcased massive personal breakthroughs across the roster. Randy Jordan achieved enormous improvements, dropping his 4x4x4 Cube personal best to 44.01 seconds, which was 56.9 percent faster than his previous mark, alongside a 3x3x3 personal best of 10.84. Lucas Bennett took on four events, setting a Pyraminx personal best of 6.01 that shaved 51.2 percent off his old time, while also recording his first ever attempt at 2x2x2 Cube with a 6.82. Rafe Price posted a 3x3x3 Cube personal best of 14.73, an improvement of 31.1 percent, and took on his first ever attempt at 4x4x4 Cube with a 1:09.18. Cody Egeland improved his Skewb best to 7.33, dropping 26.1 percent from his previous mark, while making his first ever attempt at 4x4x4 Cube at 1:24.48.

The breadth of competition was highlighted by athletes taking on ambitious multi-event schedules. Isabella Wight entered eight events at her first WCA competition, securing a best finish of fourth place in the 6x6x6 Cube and logging a first ever attempt at 3x3x3 Cube of 11.29 seconds. Gideon Bedingfield also took on his first official meet, entering seven events with a best finish of ninth in the 6x6x6 Cube and registering a first ever attempt at Pyraminx of 6.72. Dawn Latimer contested eight events, achieving a best finish of sixth place in 7x7x7 Cube with a first attempt of 9:38.93, while Michael Kier Doxey tackled six events, highlighted by a 13th-place finish in Skewb and a first ever attempt at Clock of 20.60.

The tournament highlighted the growing depth of speed cubing in the region, bringing together experienced champions and ambitious newcomers on a single stage. With national delegations representing the USA and China, the event produced high-caliber marks across all 8 disciplines. As the curtains fell on Up in the North 2023, the Egan Convention Center concluded a memorable chapter of competitive solving in Alaska.