Westchester Weeknights 2 2023

Daniel Karnaukh delivered the standout performance of the evening in New Rochelle, New York, USA, claiming first place across two demanding categories and setting the tone for a spirited gathering of nineteen competitors. His winning average of 6.01 seconds in the Square-1 final was backed up by a sharp 5.21 single. Later in the evening, Karnaukh added a second victory in the 5x5x5 Cube, where he recorded a 1:00.44 average to outpace a strong field. It was the sharpest set of marks in an evening designed around high-focus specialty disciplines.

Held on May 31, 2023 at the Radisson Hotel New Rochelle, Westchester Weeknights 2 2023 proved that smaller midweek gatherings carry their own special energy. While major weekend events often revolve around standard 3x3 results, this WCA competition focused exclusively on three challenging events across five rounds. The tight-knit setting gave participants room to converse, exchange technical advice on specialized hardware, and follow every attempt closely. The shared atmosphere between rounds highlighted the community bonds that define modern speedcubing, turning each solve into a shared moment among peers.

The 5x5x5 Cube drew the full roster of nineteen entrants across two rounds of play, testing both stamina and lookahead. Behind Karnaukh, Livia Kleiner took second place with a 1:00.81 average, having posted the fastest individual solve of the event with a 47.49 single. Evan Liu completed the podium in third place with an average of 1:01.44. The narrow margins between the top three finishers brought genuine suspense to the final round, illustrating the high standard of preparation competitors brought to the tables in New Rochelle.

Square-1 action also spanned two rounds, featuring thirteen competitors navigating the shape-shifting puzzle. Karnaukh led the way with his 6.01 winning average, but Samuel Fang kept the pressure high by taking second place with a mark of 7.56 seconds. Chris Chi rounded out the podium in third, finishing with an 8.37 average. The discipline requires deep algorithmic knowledge, and the friendly debriefs between competitors after each heat offered a great glimpse into the collaborative spirit of the speed cubing scene.

The most intricate challenge of the night was the 4x4x4 Blindfolded event, which drew nine entrants for a single demanding round. Evan Liu secured the win with a successful single solve of 4:21.31, navigating the complex memorisation and execution phases without visual feedback. Elvin Xu took second place with a time of 4:58.81, while Chris Chi earned his second podium finish of the meet by taking third in 6:01.84. Brandon Lin 林博浩 placed fourth with a time of 7:11.29, and Samuel Fang registered a successful solve of 12:04.00.

Beyond the podium battles, several competitors achieved remarkable milestones away from the spotlight. Nico Ozsvath delivered one of the largest gains of the night in the 5x5x5 Cube, clocking a personal best of 1:34.78 to finish 30.7 percent faster than a previous mark of 2:16.81. Rex Ozsvath showed similar progress on the big cube, setting a personal best of 1:52.31, which was 29.9 percent faster than an earlier 2:40.12, while also completing a first ever attempt at Square-1 with a 31.15 single. Hongfei Tian 田洪飞 achieved major drops across two events, cutting their Square-1 personal best to 26.68, an improvement of 22.5 percent, and taking their 5x5x5 Cube mark down to 1:39.38, 7 percent faster than before. Dylan Jian also surged in the 5x5x5 Cube, achieving a personal best of 1:15.89 to improve by 21 percent over a previous 1:36.02.

Other entrants made their mark through new event debuts and steady improvements across the schedule. Luke DeMeo entered three events and took on a first ever attempt at the 5x5x5 Cube, registering a time of 3:54.91, alongside a best finish of sixth place in 4x4x4 Blindfolded. Brandon Lin 林博浩 achieved a personal best of 7:11.29 in 4x4x4 Blindfolded, shaving 15.6 percent off an earlier best of 8:30.76. Salil Desai posted a 5x5x5 Cube personal best of 3:07.40, an 8 percent improvement from 3:23.62, while James Kershaw notched a Square-1 personal best of 19.60, improving by 4.9 percent. Eli Ozsvath rounded out the progress reports by dropping their 5x5x5 Cube best to 1:17.48, which was 4.4 percent faster than a prior mark of 1:21.06.

The single-day meet highlighted the enduring appeal of evening gatherings within the cubing competition circuit. Rather than focusing on standard Rubik's Cube formats, the specialized card of big cubes, shape mods, and blindfolded solving gave the nineteen participants plenty of room to test their skills and support each other. Every successful solve and personal breakthrough was met with genuine appreciation from the room.

As the equipment was packed away at the Radisson Hotel New Rochelle, the event concluded as a resounding showcase of community and technical ability. Across five rounds in three distinct events, Westchester Weeknights 2 2023 offered a memorable snapshot of competitive focus and camaraderie in 2023, leaving competitors ready for the challenges of the upcoming season.