Utah Valley Open 2023

Ray Bai produced a clean sweep across all four events at the Utah Valley Open 2023, delivering a masterclass in efficiency and speed on September 9, 2023. Taking place in Spanish Fork, Utah, USA, the gathering at the Spanish Fork Fairgrounds Ponderosa Building brought together 106 competitors for a full day of action spanning 10 rounds. Bai set the standard early and maintained it throughout, claiming the top step in every single discipline staged at the tournament.

The atmosphere of a WCA competition is defined as much by first-time competitors stepping up to the timer as it is by the top seeds chasing titles. Walking onto the floor for an official cubing competition brings a distinct mix of anticipation and focus, with judges inspecting puzzles and displays ready to measure every turn. For newcomers and seasoned solvers alike, taking on official solves in front of an audience transforms casual practice into high-stakes execution.

A total of 106 entrants took part in the classic 3x3x3 Cube, pushing through three rounds of speedcubing. In the final, Bai captured the victory with a 7.15 average, complemented by a tournament-best single of 5.61. Canyon Pettitt secured second place with a 9.02 average, while Eric Pesci claimed third on a 9.20 average. Across the earlier rounds, top-end 3x3 results featured a 6.45 single and 7.42 average from Bai, an 8.05 single and 8.67 average from Pettitt, and a 7.08 single and 8.88 average from Pesci.

Beyond the traditional Rubik's Cube, the schedule provided plenty of variety with big cubes and side events. In the 5x5x5 Cube, Bai secured the title with an average of 51.20 and a best single of 45.40, outlasting Mateo Tiul, who finished second with 1:06.84, and Pesci in third at 1:06.97. Moving up to the 6x6x6 Cube, Bai again prevailed with a winning average of 1:40.76 and a single of 1:35.85, followed by Pesci at 2:00.61 and Cade Beck at 2:11.97.

The 12-sided Megaminx challenged 46 solvers over two full rounds. Bai earned his fourth victory of the day with an average of 37.71 and a single of 33.17. Pettitt took the runner-up position with an average of 1:01.44, while Jared Blanco completed the podium in third place with 1:06.32. Together, the four events highlighted the wide scope of puzzle disciplines contested during the single-day meet.

The underlying heartbeat of the tournament lived in the massive personal strides logged across the score sheets. Clyde Hanks made a standout leap in the 3x3x3 Cube, posting a personal best of 16.44 that cut 42.6 percent off a previous best of 28.65. Caelan Pike Meter entered three events and delivered a 1:50.88 personal best in the 5x5x5 Cube, improving by 38.3 percent over 2:59.73, while also recording a 3:45.88 best in the 6x6x6 Cube and a 17.13 single in the 3x3x3 Cube. Miley Harger dropped 36.5 percent in the 3x3x3 Cube to finish with a new best of 34.84, and Hamilton Lavin took on four events, achieving a best finish of fifth in 5x5x5 Cube with a personal best of 1:12.38, shaving 28 percent off his prior mark, along with a 35.2 percent improvement to 1:20.43 in Megaminx and a first official 6x6x6 Cube attempt of 2:27.86.

First-time event entries also provided huge momentum for competitors expanding their speed cubing repertoire. Tyce Holmgren competed in a first WCA competition across four events, logging an opening 3x3x3 Cube attempt of 13.52, a Megaminx mark of 2:28.22, and a 5x5x5 Cube solve of 2:40.89. Aiden Child marked their first official tournament with a 20.28 single in the 3x3x3 Cube. Laird Paskett tackled four events and recorded three debut marks: a 1:51.24 in Megaminx, 3:58.39 in the 6x6x6 Cube, and 1:35.14 in the 5x5x5 Cube. Harrison Rex Wride logged a first Megaminx attempt of 2:41.44 while lowering personal bests to 10.45 in the 3x3x3 Cube and 2:17.72 in the 5x5x5 Cube.

The 2023 edition of the tournament concluded with all 12 podium spots across the four disciplines going to competitors representing the USA. From the sharp execution at the final tables to the personal milestones recorded across every round, the Utah Valley Open 2023 showcased the full depth and competitive energy of the regional speedcubing community.