Berkeley March Weekday 2026

Twenty-three competitors stepped up to the tables at SOCS 20 in Berkeley, California, USA on March 13, 2026, setting the stage for a sharp battle across three distinct disciplines. The single-day WCA competition brought regional solvers together for a focused slate of speedcubing action, packing seven total rounds into an intense schedule. With podium spots fiercely contested, the event immediately turned into a battleground for local contenders aiming to defend home turf against sharp international and cross-regional challengers.

The premier 3x3x3 Cube event drew all twenty-three participants through a grueling three-round format that tested endurance and raw turning speed. In the concluding round, the 3x3 results delivered a dramatic finish decided by a mere five hundredths of a second. Alessandro Diomampo from the USA clinched first place with a winning average of 8.04 seconds, fending off Micah Yeo of the USA, who posted an 8.09 average. Zane Qureshi secured third place on the podium with an 8.77 mark, while Diomampo added the best single solve of the finals with a 6.74.

Tensions remained high in 3x3x3 One-Handed, where eighteen competitors tackled the specialized event across two rounds. The single-handed variation demands immense finger strength and precise algorithmic execution. Micah Yeo bounced back to take the top spot on the podium with a winning average of 10.25 seconds and the round's best single of 9.64. The victory was earned under pressure from Hong Kong's Anto Kam (甘浩東), who pushed the contest to the wire by taking second place with a 10.30 average, while Zane Qureshi took third with a 14.08 mark.

Square-1 action provided a fascinating change of pace as ten specialists navigated the shape-shifting puzzle across two rounds. Joseph Ong from the USA commanded the bracket from start to finish, recording a winning average of 8.13 seconds alongside a stellar best single solve of 5.54. Calvin Nielson followed in second place with an average of 9.03 seconds, while James Chea earned third place with an 11.22 average to complete an all-American podium in the discipline.

Beyond the title fights, several competitors achieved remarkable milestones across the schedule. Leading the personal progress, Diego Jiashu Jiang (蒋佳澍) from China cut down his 3x3x3 Cube personal best to 8.50 seconds, an impressive 13.4% drop from his previous mark of 9.82, while entering two events. Alexander Hao-Jia Du from the USA delivered a sharp 11.2% reduction in the same category, lowering his personal best from 13.25 to 11.76 seconds across his two events. Japan's Sota Kurosaki (黒﨑創太) tackled three events and shaved 3% off his mark in 3x3x3 One-Handed with a 23.26 personal best.

The progress continued across the tournament boards as experienced solvers delivered steady performances in deep brackets. Timothy Elnitiarta from the USA competed in two events, earning a 3x3x3 Cube personal best of 8.36 seconds and reaching an 8th-place finish in 3x3x3 One-Handed. Eric Hsu (徐玉云) of the USA focused on a single discipline and secured 5th place in the 3x3x3 Cube. Nolan Yiu from the USA entered three events and placed 5th in Square-1, Ryan Jew from the USA took 7th in 3x3x3 One-Handed across three events, and Mitchell Lane from the USA reached 4th place in the 3x3x3 Cube while participating in three events.

Throughout the schedule, the standard classic Rubik's Cube proved to be a hotbed of rapid times during the earlier stages of the tournament. Numerous competitors logged sub-ten-second marks, demonstrating the depth of solving talent present in Northern California. The combination of regional stars and visiting standouts elevated the pace of every scramble, pushing participants to execute high-speed solutions with minimal pauses across all three rounds of the main event.

The energetic contest at Berkeley March Weekday 2026 concluded with the United States collecting eight podium places and Hong Kong claiming one. From the tight margin at the top of the main 3x3 discipline to the dynamic single-handed showdown, the gathering highlighted the dedication within the local speed cubing community. As the 2026 season moves forward, the achievements logged at this cubing competition provide solid momentum for every competitor heading into their upcoming tournaments.