Berkeley January Weekday 2026

Ethan Jan produced a dominant display at the ASUC Student Union Martin Luther King Jr. Building, Tilden, capturing two titles and finishing top three across every discipline staged on January 22, 2026. Jan set the benchmark in the main 3x3x3 Cube contest with a winning average of 6.83 seconds and a best single solve of 6.16 seconds. The performance headlined an intense single day of action at Berkeley January Weekday 2026, which gathered 43 competitors for 7 rounds across 3 events in Berkeley, California, USA.

The competition in Berkeley, California, USA provided a classic proving ground for veteran speedcubing talent returning to peak form early in 2026. Across 43 competitors, seasoned solvers pushed through multiple eliminations to reassert their standing at the tables. The 3x3 results in the final round highlighted the depth of the field, as Jan edged out Heidi Chan, who secured second place with an average of 7.23 seconds, and Zerui Cheng, who claimed third place with an average of 7.38 seconds.

In 3x3x3 One-Handed, Jan maintained control across three rounds involving 26 competitors. He locked down the victory with a 9.85-second average alongside a single of 8.88 seconds. Anto Kam earned second place with a 10.18 average, while Calix Tang took third on an 11.89 average. The single-handed discipline demands distinct fingertrick ergonomics, and the experienced contenders navigated the extended three-round format with steady execution from the opening heats through the final five solves.

The 3x3x3 Blindfolded event presented a different challenge across two rounds for 22 competitors, requiring memorisation before solving without sight. Anto Kam secured the victory with a single time of 18.11 seconds. Calix Tang took the second spot on the podium with a single of 20.06 seconds, while Ethan Jan earned third place with a 27.91-second solve. Kam recorded a DNF average, yet his winning single remained unchallenged at the top of the standings.

Away from the top of the podium, several experienced solvers achieved standout personal milestones at this WCA competition. Hamza Hafeez delivered a massive breakthrough in 3x3x3 Blindfolded, logging a personal best of 2:02.90 to improve on his previous mark of 3:42.37 by 44.7 percent. Nathan Scovis tackled his first ever attempt at 3x3x3 Blindfolded and successfully recorded a time of 2:17.48. Thomas Liu also took on his first ever attempt at 3x3x3 Blindfolded, finishing in 5:58.27, while posting a 3x3x3 One-Handed personal best of 16.30 seconds. Rashad Kadado improved his 3x3x3 One-Handed mark by 17.4 percent with a new personal best of 17.64 seconds.

The progress continued through the ranks as other dedicated competitors took on multiple events during the busy schedule. Alexander Hao-Jia Du lowered his 3x3x3 One-Handed personal best to 20.57 seconds, an 11.8 percent improvement over his prior 23.32 mark. Jin Wu dropped his 3x3x3 Cube personal best to 11.87 seconds, cutting 11 percent off his earlier 13.34 standard. Goodwin Liu improved his 3x3x3 Blindfolded personal best by 10.2 percent to 3:57.50, and Jacob Vincent Vicente Mangosing advanced his 3x3x3 One-Handed personal best to 12.03 seconds, shaving 3.8 percent off his prior 12.50 best.

First-time participants also stepped up to test their skills in official Rubik's Cube competition. Kayden Hyatt entered his initial tournament and logged his first ever attempt at the standard 3x3x3 Cube with a single of 55.72 seconds, alongside a 1:04.00 average. Skanda Krishnan posted his first ever official attempt in the event with a 43.62-second solve, while Bennett LeChien completed his first official solve with a time of 39.16 seconds. Their performances added fresh energy to the hall during the opening phase of the meet.

The regional talent pool demonstrated sharp consistency throughout the single-day cubing competition. Competitors representing the USA captured 7 podium finishes across the three disciplines, while Hong Kong secured 2 podium places courtesy of Anto Kam's first-place blindfolded solve and second-place one-handed result. Across 7 completed rounds, the tournament proved that dedicated practice yields immediate dividends on the competition floor.

With the conclusion of Berkeley January Weekday 2026, the Bay Area speed cubing scene established a high standard for the competitive calendar. From blindfolded sprints to standard two-handed averages, the balance of seasoned champions and progressing solvers defined the gathering. Competitors now look ahead to upcoming fixtures in the season, carrying new benchmarks and tournament experience into the next wave of official events.