Uzbekistan New Year 2023

The competition hall at Sodiq School was filled with energy as competitors adjusted timers, lubricated puzzles, and inspected scramble patterns across three days of intense solving. From January 6 to January 8, the venue in Tashkent, Uzbekistan played host to a bustling gathering of 90 competitors taking on 13 different events across 24 rounds. The opening days of the 2023 calendar provided an ideal stage for both established contenders and an influx of newcomers trying their hand at official solving for the very first time.

The presence of so many first-time participants shaped the entire tone of Uzbekistan New Year 2023. Speedcubing continues to expand rapidly throughout Central Asia, bringing fresh faces onto the official circuit. For dozens of solvers, stepping into the venue meant their very first WCA competition experience, translating long hours of home practice into real tournament solves under official timing conditions. Across the tables, seasoned competitors shared space with debutants working through their maiden attempts at everything from simple relays to intricate multidimensional puzzles.

When it came to the marquee 3x3x3 Cube, 87 competitors lined up across three full rounds of head-to-head action. Alexander Bashutkin emerged at the top of the standings, delivering consistent turns to log a winning average of 7.56 seconds alongside a best single of 7.11. The classic Rubik's Cube remains the measuring stick at any major cubing competition, and the final 3x3 results demonstrated high-level execution under pressure, setting an elevated benchmark for the rest of the year.

Andrey Che orchestrated an extraordinary campaign across the weekend, claiming victories in seven separate events. Che captured first place in the 2x2x2 Cube with an average of 1.90 seconds and an eye-popping best single of 0.77. In 3x3x3 One-Handed, Che averaged 10.27 to secure gold ahead of Bashutkin, who finished second in 14.49, and Kazakhstan's Damir Zhanataev in 15.19. Che also earned top honors in Pyraminx with a 3.49 average, Megaminx with 43.74, 5x5x5 Cube with 57.35, Skewb with 4.65, and 3x3x3 Fewest Moves with an average of 32.00 moves.

Bashutkin countered Che's dominance by claiming several key titles of his own. In addition to his victory in the 3x3x3 Cube, Bashutkin secured the 4x4x4 Cube crown with an average of 29.94 seconds, edging Che's 31.58 and Umidjon Zafarov's 36.22. Bashutkin also conquered the 6x6x6 Cube in 2:12.57, just ahead of Diasbek Zhuraev at 2:13.96. In the 7x7x7 Cube, Zhuraev took the top step with a 3:00.66 average. Meanwhile, Nikita Kim won Clock with an 8.01 average, and Muhammed Ameen claimed the 3x3x3 Blindfolded title with a best single of 58.16 seconds.

Away from the top of the podium, Uzbekistan New Year 2023 was defined by significant personal breakthroughs and memorable milestone attempts. Fayozbek Erkinov tackled eight events and shattered three previous personal bests, cutting his Skewb time by 73 percent to 9.04 seconds, his Megaminx mark by 49.1 percent down to 2:35.58, and his 4x4x4 Cube result down to 1:09.69. Azizbek Tursunov also completed eight events, recording a 2x2x2 Cube personal best of 5.52 that was 73.3 percent faster than his prior mark, while taking on his first ever official attempt at 3x3x3 One-Handed in 1:20.45. Olamgir Xusanov dropped his Skewb personal best by 67.6 percent to 5.37 seconds to finish eighth, while also attempting 3x3x3 Fewest Moves and 5x5x5 Cube for the first time.

Several competitors marked their debut appearance with impressive range across the schedule. Nodirjon Sodiqov took on nine events in his first competition, logging initial marks of 14.60 in the 3x3x3 Cube, 7.72 in the 2x2x2 Cube, and 11.43 in Skewb, on his way to an 11th place finish in 7x7x7 Cube. Muhammadyusuf Marufjanov debuted across six events, earning eighth place in 2x2x2 Cube with a 3.62 single and completing his first one-handed solve in 53.39. Muhammad Suvonov lowered his 2x2x2 Cube personal best by 49.9 percent to 4.00 seconds while attempting Skewb and 4x4x4 Cube for the first time. Ulugbek Gofurjonov trimmed 31.9 percent off his 3x3x3 Cube personal best down to 12.81, and Muhammadamin Mukhtarov improved his Clock mark by 41.2 percent to 13.30.

The overall medal count reflected a strong international field, with Russian competitors collecting 18 podium positions, host nation Uzbekistan securing 14, Kazakhstan earning six, and India taking one. The breadth of events tested memory, dexterity, and patience, ranging from rapid short-format puzzles to long-form big cubes and blindfolded solving.

As the final timers stopped at Sodiq School, Uzbekistan New Year 2023 wrapped up an action-packed three days that highlighted the vitality of Central Asian speed cubing. With new solvers making their official debuts and experienced champions setting quick standards, the tournament delivered an exciting launch for the community heading into the new season.