Cube Against Cancer Arizona 2026

Dan Tran delivered the defining performance of the weekend in Phoenix, Arizona, USA, mastering the grueling demands of the 5x5x5 Cube final with a winning average of 52.23 seconds and a best single of 49.97 seconds. Outlasting a field of 17 competitors over two rounds, Tran demonstrated the stamina and precision required to solve the complex layers of the larger puzzles. His decisive victory in the five-layer event set a relentless tone for the single-day competition held at Wilson Elementary School on February 15, 2026.

The heavy hardware continued to favor Tran in the 4x4x4 Cube, where he completed a sweep of the big cube categories. Navigating through 28 competitors across two rounds, Tran locked in first place with a winning average of 31.04 seconds and a top single of 28.90 seconds. Matthew Tan claimed second place with a 32.72 average, while Jeremy Bulambot rounded out the podium in third with a mark of 34.55. The rapid turns and deep mental focus needed for big cubes proved central to the day.

Across six events and 13 rounds of action, Cube Against Cancer Arizona 2026 brought together 39 competitors for high-level speedcubing. While Tran dominated the larger puzzles, Jeremy Bulambot established his own authority in the classic Rubik's Cube. In the 3x3x3 Cube event, which drew all 39 entrants through three tense rounds, Bulambot captured the top spot on the podium with a winning average of 6.31 seconds, highlighted by an event-best single of 5.85 seconds, finishing ahead of Tran at 7.28 and Tan at 8.28.

Bulambot carried that momentum straight into 3x3x3 One-Handed, another test of pure endurance and dexterity. Facing 23 competitors across two rounds, Bulambot took gold with a 10.29 average and a single of 8.46 seconds. Tran earned the silver medal with a 12.68 average, while India's Aayush Shah secured the bronze step with a 16.41 average. Out of 18 total podium spots awarded across the tournament, competitors representing the USA claimed 16, alongside two podium finishes for India.

Beyond the championship battles, the cubing competition served as a stage for massive individual leaps. Jace Hodge cut his 3x3x3 One-Handed mark down to 27.94 seconds, an improvement of 54.3 percent over his previous best, while also logging his first ever attempt at 5x5x5 Cube with a time of 2:01.96. Gareth Hunter dropped his Skewb best to 10.05 seconds, going 46.3 percent faster than before, while also shaving time on 4x4x4 Cube down to 1:50.62. Lorenzo Burton Allen also surged on Skewb, posting a personal best of 6.46 seconds that was 44.5 percent faster than his prior record.

The progress continued across every corner of the floor as competitors tackled ambitious schedules. Austin Lee Gagnon registered a Skewb personal best of 4.41 seconds, an improvement of 44.2 percent, on his way to a 7th place finish. Emily Greenwood took on six events, achieving a Skewb personal best of 4.79 seconds to go 43 percent faster than her previous mark, alongside a 5th place Megaminx result. Takumi Meltvedt reduced his 3x3x3 Cube mark to 19.74 seconds, a 36.1 percent drop. Benjamin Henning entered six events and set a 5x5x5 Cube personal best of 1:14.46 to finish 6th, while Eddie Waters made his first ever attempt at 5x5x5 Cube with a time of 2:44.88 among his six events.

The non-cubic events brought exceptional drama as well, led by Mia Sponseller in a thrilling Megaminx competition. Over two rounds and 20 entrants, Sponseller claimed victory with an average of 51.69 seconds and a single of 49.97 seconds, edging Tran who finished second at 52.31. Bulambot captured third place with an average of 57.71. In Skewb, Brian Yi secured the title with an average of 3.74 seconds and a single of 3.31 seconds, holding off Shah who placed second with a 3.81 average and Bulambot in third at 5.74.

The day closed with an array of official personal milestones across the board in this WCA competition. Official 3x3 results featured new marks throughout the brackets, including Shah posting a 7.57 single and 10.51 average, Yi logging a 9.11 single and 10.72 average, Gagnon hitting a 12.09 single, and Bulambot registering a 6.68 single alongside a 7.33 average during early rounds. First-time speed cubing appearances by Amelia Rose Greenwell, Anthony Zhao, and Sai Aarnav Nalla added to the depth of the field.

From the sheer stamina demanded by the 5x5x5 and 4x4x4 finals to the rapid dexterity shown in the sprint events, the tournament stood as a complete celebration of puzzle solving. Cube Against Cancer Arizona 2026 highlighted the endurance of seasoned veterans and the rapid growth of rising solvers alike under the banner of the World Cube Association.