A New Year in Auckland 2025

The tables at Every Nation Auckland City were filled with an array of geometric shapes and mechanical puzzles as the speed cubing season opened in Auckland, New Zealand. From the distinct shape-shifting layers of Square-1 to the dials of Clock, the venue accommodated an ambitious schedule running across January 17 to January 18, 2025. A field of 89 competitors gathered to test their skills over 21 rounds, each event presenting distinct physical and mental demands under the timing equipment.

A New Year in Auckland 2025 embraced the sheer range of modern speedcubing, running eight different events over the two-day gathering. While classic twisty puzzles commanded deep lineups, specialty formats tested unique skill sets. The blindfolded solving station required competitors to memorise the state of the puzzle entirely before donning a blindfold, while other stations demanded fast dial manipulation or the coordination required for the tetrahedron Pyraminx.

The main 3x3x3 Cube contest, featuring 87 competitors across three elimination rounds, delivered exceptional 3x3 results at the top of the table. Chris Mills captured the victory with a winning average of 6.38 seconds, complemented by a best single solve of 5.84 seconds. Alexander Vujcich earned the runner-up position with a 6.85 average, while Jasper Murray completed the podium in 7.18 seconds after three competitive rounds on the standard Rubik's Cube.

Bigger cubes brought distinct strategic pacing, with Angela Braganza securing first place in the 4x4x4 Cube on a 26.39 average and a best single of 24.33 seconds, narrowly edging Alexander Vujcich who finished on 26.62 and Chris Mills who placed third with 27.05. Vujcich stepped up to the top step in the 5x5x5 Cube, recording a winning average of 47.73 seconds alongside a 46.29 single, ahead of Jasper Murray with 52.63 and Braganza who registered a 53.04 average.

Specialty disciplines provided some of the most dynamic action of the WCA competition. In the Clock event, Lachlan Gibson prevailed over 41 competitors with a rapid 2.58 winning average and an event-best single of 1.86 seconds, besting Edwin Shen on 4.27 and Brandon Harris on 5.47. In Square-1, Camerone Chin of Malaysia took the title with a 7.96 average and a 6.40 single solve, leading Ashley Foster on 9.52 and Elyas Eyou on 10.93 across three rounds.

Away from the podiums, several competitors logged major personal breakthroughs across the varied schedule. Arush Iyer entered three events, posting a 68.4 percent drop to achieve a 2x2x2 Cube personal best of 5.19 seconds and cutting 30.1 percent off their previous mark to log a 29.41 in the 3x3x3 Cube. Joel Potter took on six events and dropped their 2x2x2 personal best by 59.4 percent down to 1.32 seconds, alongside a 17.3 percent improvement in Clock to 6.94 and a 15.4 percent drop in 4x4x4 to 38.93 seconds. Nick Ng entered three events, taking 55.4 percent off their 2x2x2 best to hit 3.21 seconds, recording a 19.70 in 3x3x3, and securing a 5th-place finish in 3x3x3 Blindfolded with a 2:41.91 personal best. Ryan Dyer entered seven events, logging a 53.6 percent improvement in 2x2x2 to 1.50 seconds and trimming 30.5 percent off their 5x5x5 mark down to 2:15.57.

Other participants expanded their repertoires by stepping up for brand-new event challenges during the weekend. Faith Clements entered six events, logging a first ever attempt at Clock with 35.88 seconds, a debut in 4x4x4 at 1:44.98, and a first 5x5x5 solve of 3:37.46. Donald Mai contested seven events, marking a first ever Square-1 attempt at 23.02 seconds, a first 5x5x5 single of 2:01.27, and a first Clock result of 18.81. Tiffany Li took on five events, completing a debut 4x4x4 solve in 1:07.39, a first 5x5x5 at 2:22.46, and a first Pyraminx result of 6.86 seconds. Zoen Gibbons entered four events, posting a first Pyraminx solve of 5.60, a first 4x4x4 effort of 1:26.23, and a 38.3 percent improvement on their 3x3x3 personal best down to 17.78 seconds.

The remaining podiums rounded out a thorough exhibition of puzzle variety. In the 2x2x2 Cube, Yuki Gao of China claimed first with an average of 1.46 seconds and a 1.16 single, followed by Jasper Murray on 1.71 and Carol Chai on 1.91. The Pyraminx final saw Elyas Eyou secure top honours on a 2.27 average, ahead of Levi Eyou with 2.48 and Jasper Murray with 2.60. In 3x3x3 Blindfolded, Kalvin Lum took the victory with a single solve of 1:08.52, leading Jerry Jiang on 1:16.57 and Xavier Courteau-Laing on 2:21.76.

Across the two days of competition, New Zealand competitors earned 22 podium places, while entrants from China and Malaysia claimed one apiece. The diversity of the events pushed competitors through multiple rounds of varied mechanics and formats. A New Year in Auckland 2025 concluded having tested the field across every facet of mechanical puzzle solving as a fresh year of competition began.