Westchester Weeknights 1 2023

Alexei Sinyavin delivered the standout performance of the evening in New Rochelle, New York, USA, capturing the Megaminx title with a sharp 28.67 winning average and a best single of 26.90. The 2023 tournament broke away from the conventional focus on the classic Rubik's Cube, dedicating its entire schedule to big cubes and non-twisty mechanisms. Across four rounds of high-intensity play, 24 competitors gathered at the Radisson Hotel New Rochelle on May 22, 2023, turning an ordinary weekday into a showcase of pure puzzle specialization.

The 7x7x7 Cube battle produced the tightest finish of Westchester Weeknights 1 2023, where Livia Kleiner secured the championship with a winning average of 2:34.91 and a single of 2:27.75. Kleiner held off a relentless push from Evan Liu, who took second place with a 2:35.95 average and a 2:29.55 single. Alexei Sinyavin joined them on the podium in third place, averaging 2:51.37 after registering a single of 2:40.64. A total of 19 competitors contested the demanding big-cube event.

Evan Liu claimed his own title earlier in the evening by dominating the Clock event. Liu delivered a winning average of 6.49 along with the single of the tournament at 5.13 among a field of 21 competitors. Sula Mareska earned second place with an average of 7.13, finishing just three hundredths of a second ahead of Livia Kleiner, whose 7.16 average secured third. The event proved that mechanical dexterity on the geared puzzle can generate just as much drama as the standard speedcubing formats.

In the Megaminx final, Alexei Sinyavin faced stiff opposition before sealing the top spot. Nicolas Naing applied significant pressure throughout the two-round format, securing second place with a 29.64 average. AJ Kamal claimed the third podium position with an average of 40.49. With all nine podium spots across the three events claimed by competitors representing the USA, the event underlined the depth of domestic talent in puzzles outside the traditional rotation.

Beyond the podium battles, several competitors achieved remarkable breakthroughs in New Rochelle. Benjamin Martin made his first ever attempt at 7x7x7 Cube, posting a 9:04.15 mark, and achieved a Clock personal best of 9.39, which was 28.1% faster than his previous mark of 13.06. David Krasne completed his first ever attempt at Clock with an 18.58 single, while cutting his Megaminx personal best by 8.3% to 4:05.03. Elias Guglielmo took on three events, posting an 8:09.38 on his first ever attempt at 7x7x7 Cube and improving his Megaminx personal best by 6% to 3:34.41. Frank Powers recorded a 22.66 on his first ever attempt at Clock and achieved a 3.7% personal best drop in Megaminx down to 2:21.77.

The progress continued across the roster as competitors explored unfamiliar formats. Eli Ozsvath entered three events, taking 5th in Clock and carving 14.5% off his Megaminx personal best with a 1:20.47. Hongfei Tian took on three disciplines and lowered their Megaminx personal best by 14.4% to 2:54.21. Alex Hauben tackled three events, finishing 7th in Megaminx while recording a first ever attempt of 59.80 in the dodecahedron puzzle and a first Clock single of 24.84. Daniel Rimner made his first WCA competition appearance, taking 12th in Clock with a first attempt of 10.05 and posting a 1:43.54 in his first Megaminx attempt.

A full schedule of specialist disciplines gave the entire gathering a distinct identity. While many speed cubing enthusiasts naturally look for standard 3x3 results, this cubing competition deliberately rewarded those with stamina for big cubes and mechanical precision for Clock and Megaminx. The single-day structure allowed every solver to concentrate deeply on these technically demanding puzzles without the distraction of mainstream events.

The community atmosphere inside the venue highlighted how rewarding an evening WCA competition can be on the regional circuit. As Westchester Weeknights 1 2023 wrapped up its four rounds of competition, the competitors departed with fresh personal milestones and strong marks in non-standard disciplines. With dedicated puzzle specialists proving their capabilities across the board, the tournament established a fantastic standard for future mid-week gatherings.