Big Brain Minnesota 2025

Seventeen competitors gathered on August 17, 2025, for a focused day of big-cube and methodical puzzle solving in Burnsville, Minnesota, USA. The single-day WCA competition transformed the Burnhaven Library into a hub of precision and speedcubing excellence across four distinct events. With six rounds of competition on the schedule, local enthusiasts and seasoned solvers stepped up to test their capabilities on larger hardware and deliberate planning disciplines.

The 4x4x4 Cube round brought high-level action to the tables as Kaius Young demonstrated complete mastery of the puzzle. Young claimed the championship title with a winning average of 27.74 seconds, highlighted by the best single time of the event at 26.40 seconds. Tyler Johnson pushed the leader hard, securing second place on the podium with a 32.56 average and logging a single solve of 28.78. Carter Kucala rounded out the top three by finishing third with an average of 35.48 across the fourteen-player field.

Kaius Young continued his winning form in the 5x5x5 Cube, which served as one of the weekend marquee challenges across two competitive rounds. Young secured his second victory at Big Brain Minnesota 2025 by recording a winning average of 52.36 seconds and the fastest single solve of the event at 48.49 seconds. Tyler Johnson collected another silver-medal finish with a solid average of 55.80 seconds, while Carter Kucala captured third place on the podium with an average of 58.98 among fifteen competitors.

The 6x6x6 Cube tested endurance and concentration across two rigorous rounds of play. Tyler Johnson rose to the top of the standings, taking the gold medal with a winning average of 1:36.84 and posting the fastest single solve of the day at 1:28.41. Kaius Young took second place with an average of 1:38.73, while Walker Welch claimed third place with a time of 1:50.35 in a competitive thirteen-solver bracket that rewarded stability and clean execution.

Strategy took center stage during the single round of 3x3x3 Fewest Moves, a cerebral event far removed from the rapid-fire turning of the classic Rubik's Cube. Walker Welch delivered a masterclass in efficiency, winning the event with an average of 23.00 moves and a best single attempt of 22 moves. Andrew Tyberg captured second place with a 36.67 average and a 33 single, while Tyler Johnson secured third place with a 39.33 average and a 36 single.

Beyond the championship podiums, Big Brain Minnesota 2025 showcased remarkable progress across the roster. Gabe Erickson delivered massive personal bests, cutting his 4x4x4 Cube time by 49.3 percent down to 45.30 seconds and improving his 5x5x5 Cube mark by 31.2 percent to 1:45.10, while also logging a first ever attempt at the 6x6x6 Cube in 3:36.82. Elijah Buscho achieved a 42 percent improvement on the 5x5x5 Cube with a personal best of 1:22.28, a 39 percent drop on the 4x4x4 Cube to 41.22, and a 29.6 percent improvement on the 6x6x6 Cube to 3:18.48. Robert Francis Gariepy posted a first ever attempt of 1:45.43 on the 6x6x6 Cube to earn fifth place, while slicing his 4x4x4 Cube mark by 9.1 percent to 42.96.

The breakthrough performances continued throughout the venue as other participants expanded their event resumes. Oliver Faust shaved 15.2 percent off his 4x4x4 Cube personal best down to 1:03.83 and took 8.7 percent off his 5x5x5 Cube time to finish at 2:46.78. Andrew Surine dropped his 4x4x4 Cube personal best by 10.7 percent to 38.24 and improved his 6x6x6 Cube best by 4 percent to 3:19.79. Jonah Boisclair recorded a 10.2 percent improvement on the 5x5x5 Cube to reach 1:03.26 and set a 4x4x4 Cube personal best of 39.40. Lisa Kucala achieved a 6.1 percent personal best of 46 in 3x3x3 Fewest Moves, taking fourth place, while Arjun Biala completed a debut WCA tournament with a first ever attempt of 2:24.82 on the 4x4x4 Cube.

Competitors also reviewed standard 3x3 results from previous meets while exploring new puzzle types in Burnsville. Ryan Micke registered first ever attempts in three separate events, tallying 1:05.16 on the 4x4x4 Cube, 3:31.74 on the 5x5x5 Cube, and 44 in 3x3x3 Fewest Moves. Arie Lommen stepped up for four events at the meet, charting first ever marks of 49.37 on the 4x4x4 Cube, 1:39.87 on the 5x5x5 Cube, and 55 in 3x3x3 Fewest Moves. These milestones reflected the broad spirit of learning that defines a local cubing competition.

The successful conclusion of Big Brain Minnesota 2025 highlighted the strength and versatility of the Upper Midwest speed cubing community in 2025. Across all four disciplines, competitors demonstrated technical precision, whether navigating big-cube hardware or calculating step-by-step solutions. With twelve podium positions claimed across the board, the event at Burnhaven Library offered a memorable showcase of dedication and problem solving as competitors look ahead to the next season on the regional calendar.