Westchester Weeknights 3 2023

A blistering 0.84 single solve from Bangladesh representative Zuhair Raiyan Khan set a brand-new national record on the 2x2x2 Cube, delivering the defining highlight of the meet in Westchester County. The evening action took place at the Radisson Hotel New Rochelle, where 22 competitors gathered for Westchester Weeknights 3 2023 on June 26, 2023. Staged across five rounds and three distinct disciplines, the single-day gathering provided an intense burst of speedcubing excellence. The evening brought together a focused field chasing personal bests and podium spots in New Rochelle, New York, USA.

The 2x2x2 Cube tournament unfolded across two intense rounds, bringing fast-paced action from the opening scrambles. Kymberlyn Calderon paced the bracket to seize the title with a tournament-winning average of 2.29 seconds after logging a best single of 1.75 seconds. Evan Liu pushed close behind to capture second place with a 2.51 average, while Livia Kleiner secured third with a 2.55 mark. The event featured exceptional speed throughout the roster, as Austin Reed laid down a stunning 0.61 single and Liu posted a 0.64 single in earlier attempts.

As the schedule progressed to the 6x6x6 Cube, competitors shifted focus from explosive turning to marathon stamina across two detailed rounds. Livia Kleiner dominated the 16-player field, clinching first place with a standout winning average of 1:41.51 and registering the fastest single of the contest at 1:37.73. Evan Liu earned another spot on the podium by taking second place with an average of 1:51.95, while Alexei Sinyavin rounded out the top three courtesy of a steady 1:52.58 average result.

The final discipline of the program featured the 3x3x3 Blindfolded event, where 11 solvers faced the ultimate test of memory and execution in a single round. Evan Liu finished at the top of the standings by recording a winning single of 1:07.86, concluding an exceptional multi-podium showing across all three events. Austin Reed took second place with a reliable 1:17.15 solve, and Jason Bilgrei claimed third on the podium with a 1:18.44 single, ensuring USA competitors swept all nine podium positions available across the evening.

While the standard 3x3 results typically define a classic cubing competition, the specialized lineup at Westchester Weeknights 3 2023 allowed participants to explore different facets of the Rubik's Cube universe. Beyond the podium finishers, the tournament served as an important platform for competitors making significant career breakthroughs. Noah Solinga took part in their first WCA competition, logging a first ever attempt at 6x6x6 Cube with a time of 6:24.67 and a 3.16 in 2x2x2. Dave Rab also made their official debut, recording a first ever attempt of 6.02 on the 2x2x2 and 6:10.62 on the 6x6x6.

Several experienced hands delivered remarkable leaps in performance throughout the evening. Ryan Hughes shaved massive time off his previous mark in 3x3x3 Blindfolded, logging a personal best of 2:52.09 that was 64.1% faster than his prior best, on his way to a best finish of 5th in 2x2x2. Alex Hauben tackled three events, registering a first ever attempt at 6x6x6 Cube of 3:06.74, a first ever attempt at 3x3x3 Blindfolded of 3:19.34, and a 2x2x2 personal best of 1.14 that was 58.4% faster. Rodolfo Paiz set a 2x2x2 personal best of 2.74, improving by 48.2%, while Yingjie Fan dropped 14.3% with a 14.09 personal best. Bastien Hadass secured a 4.37 personal best on 2x2x2, 9.7% faster than before, and Eli Ozsvath earned a 6x6x6 personal best of 2:07.99 to improve by 12.5% and secure a 6th place finish.

The atmosphere of focused speed cubing inside the Radisson Hotel New Rochelle highlighted the unique appeal of weeknight fixtures on the competitive circuit. Solvers handled the tight five-round program with precision, transitioning smoothly from rapid-fire 2x2 scrambles to the heavy calculation of the 6x6 and the silent concentration demanded by blindfolded attempts. Every heat contributed to a memorable night of regional competition in New York.

When the final timers were stopped, Westchester Weeknights 3 2023 proved that condensed, specialized events offer plenty of drama and record-setting potential. With a Bangladeshi national mark established and dozens of personal benchmarks shattered, the 2023 gathering delivered a premier showcase of speed, memory, and competitive spirit as the community turns its sights toward the next chapter of the competitive season.