Astana NxNxN 2026

New Zealand speedcuber Jim Zhu claimed a stunning victory in 3x3x3 Blindfolded with a winning mark of 53.52 seconds, leading a truly international contingent at Astana NxNxN 2026. The single-day WCA competition, held at the Astana Hub in Astana, Kazakhstan on September 13, 2026, brought together puzzle enthusiasts from across the globe. Competitors traveled from nations including New Zealand, Spain, Singapore, and Russia to battle across eight varied Rubik's Cube disciplines, turning the capital city into a vibrant stage for high-stakes speedcubing.

The journey proved fruitful for many visiting athletes who crossed continents to test their skills against Central Asia's elite. Alongside Zhu's blindfolded triumph, Spain's Jaime Calzado Gomez made his presence felt on the podium, while Russian standout Danil Zuev mounted serious challenges in the larger puzzles. Despite the long voyages undertaken by international entrants, the local delegation defended their home ground vigorously, securing 17 total podium finishes over the course of the event.

In the marquee 3x3x3 Cube event, Kazakhstan's Damir Zhanataev delivered an exceptional performance to top the 3x3 results with an 8.17 winning time. Zhanataev narrowly edged out compatriot Damir Issakov, who finished in second place with an 8.25 mark, while Alisher Kurmash took third at 9.10. Zhanataev also showed extraordinary versatility in the short-format puzzles by winning the 2x2x2 Cube with a time of 2.80, finishing just three hundredths of a second ahead of Spain's Jaime Calzado Gomez at 2.83, as Kurmash claimed third in 3.09.

Alisher Kurmash was a dominant force throughout the cubing competition, capturing multiple titles across mid-sized and specialized events. Kurmash struck gold in 3x3x3 One-Handed with a winning mark of 13.28, narrowly besting Jim Zhu who took second in 13.34, followed by Zhanataev in third with 13.99. Kurmash extended his winning form to two-handed solving by capturing the 4x4x4 Cube in 30.15 against Issakov at 30.38 and Zhu at 33.33, and then secured the 5x5x5 Cube crown with a 58.66 solve ahead of Russia's Danil Zuev at 1:03.02 and Beksultan Tleukanov at 1:05.84.

The massive big cube categories featured intense head-to-head battles between Danil Zuev and the host nation's top speed cubing stars. Zuev captured the 6x6x6 Cube title with a swift 1:50.89 result, leaving Zhanataev in second place at 1:58.23 and Kurmash in third at 2:09.77. Zhanataev responded in the 7x7x7 Cube, taking first place with a 3:09.24 time to hold off Zuev at 3:10.71 and Kurmash at 3:11.58 in an exceptionally tight podium contest.

Away from the top steps of the podium, several determined competitors delivered notable breakthrough performances across the schedule. Ilgizar Zhanatayev made a successful first ever attempt at 3x3x3 Blindfolded, clocking 5:56.09 to finish 7th, while also chopping 47.1 percent off his 4x4x4 Cube personal best with a time of 1:14.91. Alidar Tazabekov registered his first ever attempt at 3x3x3 One-Handed in 37.85 and improved his 2x2x2 Cube personal best by 40.4 percent down to 2.54. Dias Toregeldin tackled eight separate events, recording his first ever attempt at 6x6x6 Cube in 3:25.45 and cutting his 2x2x2 Cube mark by 24.1 percent to 3.09. Daniyar Zhaxylyk took on his first ever attempt at 2x2x2 Cube with a 7.65 finish while lowering his 3x3x3 Cube personal best to 34.36, an 11.9 percent improvement.

The progress continued across all experience levels as Nayl Maksut set three distinct personal bests, including a 1:08.70 in the 4x4x4 Cube that was 13 percent faster than his prior standard. Ang An-Sel took on a full slate of eight events, lowering his 4x4x4 Cube personal best by 8.4 percent to 42.24 and shaving time off his 6x6x6 Cube and 7x7x7 Cube marks. Maksat Amantaev improved his 3x3x3 One-Handed personal best by 17.1 percent with a 26.52 solve, while Erasyl Beisenov posted a personal best of 24.64 in the same event. Debutants also left their mark, as Valerya Podminogina completed her first WCA competition with initial marks of 33.07 in the 3x3x3 Cube and 22.48 in the 2x2x2 Cube.

The intense competition across all eight events highlighted the exceptional standard of solving at the Astana Hub. From lightning-fast turns on smaller layers to the deep endurance demanded by the larger puzzles, Astana NxNxN 2026 proved to be an unforgettable gathering of international and local talent that sets a high benchmark for the upcoming season.