Virginia Re-Open Spring 2023

A blistering 7.00-second average in the 3x3x3 Cube final by Michael Nielsen capped a memorable weekend of competition, setting the standard across 18 rounds of high-level play. Competitors journeyed from all across the region, and in some cases from overseas delegations like Vietnam, making the trip into Charlottesville, Virginia, USA. The Student Activities Building served as the gathering point for 111 puzzle solvers across two intense days of action on March 25 and March 26, 2023. Speedcubing enthusiasts arrived eager to test their skills against a demanding schedule featuring 11 distinct events.

The journey proved particularly rewarding for Michael Nielsen, whose performance in the classic Rubik's Cube division topped a massive field of 105 entrants. Nielsen secured victory with a round-best single of 6.09 seconds alongside his 7.00 winning average through three rounds of 3x3 results. Ari Randers-Pehrson claimed second place with a 7.87 average, while Zayn Khanani rounded out the podium at 7.96 seconds. Nielsen also carried that momentum into the Pyraminx event, taking first place with an average of 1.84 seconds and a best single of 1.63.

Ray Bai assembled one of the most versatile campaigns of the entire weekend, capturing three separate event titles. In 3x3x3 One-Handed, Bai posted a winning average of 12.30 seconds and a single of 9.59 to lead a 60-person field ahead of Ryland Wilson and Charles Jerome. Moving to the larger hardware, Bai captured the 5x5x5 Cube with a mark of 53.42 seconds, edging out Ari Randers-Pehrson and Benjamin Wei. Bai completed the hat trick by securing victory in Megaminx with an average of 39.33 seconds, finishing ahead of Owen Chester and Zayn Khanani.

The big cubes belonged entirely to Benjamin Wei, who delivered a masterclass on the upper layers. Wei claimed the 6x6x6 Cube title with a winning average of 1:30.83 and a fast single of 1:26.20, leaving Randers-Pehrson and Bai in second and third. Wei followed that up with another gold in the 7x7x7 Cube, posting an average of 2:08.64 and a single of 2:08.28. In 2x2x2 Cube, Will Callan delivered lightning-fast execution, taking first with a 1.54 average over Zayn Khanani and Michael Nielsen.

Zayn Khanani found the top step in Skewb with a 2.15 average, while Hassan Khanani clinched the Square-1 title with a 6.48 average. In 3x3x3 Blindfolded, Liam Chen proved quickest without sight, posting a single solve of 17.06 seconds to lead Hassan Khanani and Patrick Zhang. All 33 podium places over the weekend were claimed by competitors representing the USA, reflecting the depth of talent present at this WCA competition.

Beyond the championship podiums, individual journeys of growth defined the floor across both days of speed cubing. Declan Gladwin delivered a massive breakthrough, logging a Skewb personal best of 6.51 seconds that shaved 57.6 percent off a previous best of 15.34, alongside first ever tournament attempts in Pyraminx at 11.57 and 2x2x2 Cube at 4.84. Zachary Hersch improved his 6x6x6 Cube personal best by 37.8 percent down to 2:51.55 and dropped his 3x3x3 One-Handed mark by 29.1 percent to 14.16 seconds, while also completing a first ever attempt in the 7x7x7 Cube in 4:36.66. Magnius Cikotas took on 11 events, taking a best finish of 16th in 3x3x3 Blindfolded, trimming his One-Handed mark by 35.5 percent to 23.95 seconds, and logging first attempts at 6x6x6 Cube in 5:47.20 and 7x7x7 Cube in 8:51.71.

Several other competitors broadened their horizons across multiple puzzle formats throughout the cubing competition. Douglas Miller cut 31.5 percent off his 2x2x2 Cube time to hit 2.76 seconds while recording debut attempts in Pyraminx at 5.69 and Skewb at 11.81. Alex Pham entered eight events, securing 20th in Megaminx with a debut mark of 1:48.23, adding a first 7x7x7 Cube solve of 5:48.79, and lowering his One-Handed best by 28.1 percent to 17.74. Alexander Abraham knocked 25.8 percent off his 3x3x3 Cube time to reach 14.63 seconds, Matthew Waidelich tackled nine events including a 4.20 debut in 2x2x2 Cube, and Vihaan Bharal-Zich achieved a 36th place finish in Megaminx while logging first attempts across three separate disciplines.

The Virginia Re-Open Spring 2023 demonstrated the continuing strength of the mid-Atlantic speedcubing circuit. Solvers departed Charlottesville with newly minted personal milestones, fresh event registrations, and memorable battles across every round. As the community packs up from the Student Activities Building, competitors turn their focus toward the upcoming travels and challenges of the next competition season.