A New Year in Singapore 2025

Nigel Phang set an electric pace to open 2025 at the Cecil Building, storming through two rounds of the 2x2x2 Cube to take the title with a 1.51 winning average and a lightning-fast single solve of 0.92 seconds. The blazing sprint stood as the standout individual mark of the day, setting an energetic tone across a packed 15-round program. Held on January 1, 2025, in Singapore, Singapore, the single-day gathering brought together a field of 69 competitors across seven official World Cube Association disciplines.

A New Year in Singapore 2025 marked the start of the regional calendar, welcoming a noticeable influx of newcomers making their first appearances alongside seasoned veterans of the speedcubing circuit. For many in attendance, the tournament offered their very first opportunity to sit at a competitive solving station, manage the official timer, and experience the energy of a sanctioned cubing competition. This heavy presence of debutants and first-time event entries gave the new year an immediate sense of growth and renewal.

The one-handed event delivered intense drama on the tables, testing single-arm dexterity in the classic puzzle format. Bryan Eng of Australia captured first place in 3x3x3 One-Handed with an average of 10.99 seconds, edging out Akash Sreedharan of Singapore, who logged an 11.46 average for second, and Ryan Peh, who earned third with 12.01. Those checking the overall 3x3 results across the weekend saw high standards across the board, with Eng also claiming a best single solve of 10.18 on his way to the top of the podium.

Beyond the standard formats, the event featured a diverse lineup of specialized puzzles. Lim Jia Ying dominated the Pyraminx field among 39 competitors, taking gold with a 2.40 average and a best single of 1.93 seconds, followed by Tristan Chua Yong with a 3.26 average and Imran Hazrin-Tan at 3.42. In Skewb, Luis Tan Hong Yi finished first with a 2.56 average and a 1.52 single, while Tristan Chua Yong earned silver with 3.53 and Deng Zhengping took bronze with 4.11.

Tristan Chua Yong added a victory in Megaminx, navigating the twelve-sided puzzle to post a winning average of 30.45 seconds and a single of 28.87, outlasting Isaac Lai Yin Chung and Beth Lee. Keagen Khew earned the Clock title with a 3.89 average and a 3.44 best single across three rounds, ahead of Akash Sreedharan and Ethan Wang. In Square-1, Aidan Loh Kai Ye secured the win with a 9.19 average and a single of 7.85, finishing ahead of Malcolm Walter Ang and Ng Jia Quan.

The deeper story of the day lived in the massive personal leaps and competitive milestones achieved across the venue floor. Kyler Kam Li Wei took on six events and achieved a massive 52.2 percent drop in Square-1, cutting their personal best to 20.31 seconds from a prior mark of 42.53. Elliot Lau tackled five events, slicing 43 percent off their 3x3x3 One-Handed personal best down to 25.49 seconds, while Lee Yong Yi Jovan took sixth in Pyraminx with a personal best of 2.47, a 40.8 percent improvement, alongside their first ever Clock attempt of 5.17 seconds.

That spirit of growth continued as Lee Yong Jun Javen took on three events, posting their first ever attempt at Square-1 with a 20.30 while carving 36.1 percent off their Clock personal best down to 8.52 seconds. Gabriel Chai took their first ever attempt at 3x3x3 One-Handed with a 26.88. Ramanujan Srinivasan took on six events and lowered their one-handed mark by 28.3 percent to 20.28 seconds. Meanwhile, debutants stepped onto the circuit for the first time: Aaden Lam took on two events, registering an initial 3x3x3 One-Handed mark of 24.22 and a 2x2x2 Cube solve of 4.66, while Elvis Seah logged a 12.61 solve in their first official 2x2x2 Cube attempt.

In the 2x2x2 Cube final, Nigel Phang led the podium alongside Ng Jia Quan of Malaysia, who took silver with a 1.61 average, and Bryan Eng, who earned bronze with 1.93. Singaporean solvers collected 17 total podium positions over the course of the day, with Malaysian and Australian competitors claiming two podium spots each. The fast pace and technical precision throughout the bracket proved that the Rubik's Cube community in the region is operating at peak form.

As the day wrapped up at the Cecil Building, A New Year in Singapore 2025 delivered an ideal combination of elite podium battles and significant personal progress. From seasoned specialists locking in sharp times to fresh participants embarking on their first official solves, the tournament demonstrated the depth of the local speed cubing scene and established an inspiring benchmark for the competitive season ahead.