Cube Against Cancer DFW 2026

Ninety-two competitors assembled inside The University of Texas at Dallas Student Union on May 2, 2026, setting the stage for a day of high-stakes speedcubing in Richardson, Texas, USA. Over eleven total rounds across five distinct disciplines, seasoned hands proved their enduring sharpness against deep fields. The one-day cubing competition brought together both hardened tournament regulars and eager newcomers, yet the sharpest results across the marquee puzzles belonged to proven contenders who demonstrated that veteran experience remains the ultimate asset under tournament pressure.

The premier event delivered some of the sharpest 3x3 results of the season as Ryan Pilat surged through three contested rounds among ninety entrants to capture the classic Rubik's Cube crown. Pilat locked in the title with a tournament-winning average of 5.98 seconds, backed by a blistering best single of 5.74 seconds in the final. Ray Bai secured the runner-up spot with an average of 7.00 seconds, while Azhar Virani claimed third place with a 7.35-second mark, completing an all-United States podium in the headline category.

Ray Bai was not finished after his runner-up finish on the standard cube, turning right around to command the 5x5x5 Cube tournament. Across two rounds featuring thirty-seven competitors, Bai demonstrated total command of the big cube, capturing first place with an average of 47.80 seconds and a round-best single of 46.08 seconds. Pilat chased closely behind to finish second with an average of 49.76 seconds, while Jose Ortiz Jr. stepped onto the podium in third place with a final average of 57.63 seconds at Cube Against Cancer DFW 2026.

Jose Ortiz Jr. emerged as the weekend's most ubiquitous podium presence, claiming hardware across three different events and taking top honors in Skewb. Navigating two rounds against forty-three rivals, Ortiz Jr. logged a decisive winning average of 4.27 seconds with a rapid single of 3.52 seconds to secure victory. AJ Le earned second place with an average of 5.27 seconds, closely followed by Matthew Bidwell in third at 5.50 seconds. Ortiz Jr. closed the day as the sole competitor to secure top-three finishes in three separate disciplines.

The specialty events generated equally fierce contests, led by Jackson Bodkin in the Clock event. Facing forty entrants across two rounds, Bodkin clinched the title with an exceptional 3.74-second average and a single of 3.19 seconds. Vyom Sharma of India broke into the medals to claim second place with a 5.38-second average, ahead of Ortiz Jr. in third at 7.50 seconds. In the twelve-sided Megaminx event, Maddox Smith took first place among thirty-seven competitors with a commanding 34.88-second average, outpacing Bai at 39.50 seconds and Ortiz Jr. at 41.04 seconds.

Beyond the top steps of the podium, Cube Against Cancer DFW 2026 was defined by remarkable individual milestones throughout the ranks. Braden McDonough took on five separate events and delivered massive progress, notching a Skewb personal best of 6.01 seconds, which improved upon his previous best by 63.5 percent, alongside first ever attempts at Megaminx in 1:20.33 and the 5x5x5 Cube in 1:54.92. Cornelius Gill also tackled five events, recording his first ever official attempts in Skewb with a 10.14-second mark, the 5x5x5 Cube in 1:58.81, and Megaminx in 3:11.62, while taking 24th place in the 3x3x3 Cube. Ignatius Gill entered five events, cutting his Clock personal best by 47.5 percent down to 10.34 seconds, improving his Skewb mark to 6.35 seconds, and posting a Megaminx time of 1:56.43 on his first attempt. Boniface Gill slashed his Clock best by 56.5 percent to 11.19 seconds and dropped his Skewb mark to 4.95 seconds to finish 13th.

The personal breakthroughs continued across international and regional competitors making significant strides on the official tables. Vietnam representative Nguyen Phuong Pham achieved a monumental 56.6 percent improvement in the 3x3x3 Cube, bringing a previous mark of 1:22.25 down to a personal best of 35.71 seconds. Divit Vats of India entered five events, registering a first ever 5x5x5 Cube attempt of 3:11.57 while trimming his Megaminx personal best by 20.3 percent to 2:09.86 and his Clock time by 19.5 percent to 16.38 seconds. Caleb Williams cut his 3x3x3 Cube personal best by 49.1 percent down to 26.39 seconds, while David H. Tsai registered a first ever Skewb attempt of 15.99 seconds and lowered his 3x3x3 Cube mark by 20.9 percent to 28.52 seconds.

Every WCA competition draws its vitality from both seasoned talent and first-time attendees, and the action in Richardson offered proof of a healthy competitive ecosystem. Newcomers Cooper Cummings, Bella Zitzelberger, Aayansh Singh, and Ethan Sansar each completed their debut tournament appearances, taking their first official solves across a variety of hardware. With fourteen of the fifteen total podium spots claimed by United States competitors alongside India's single medal, the gathering proved both deep and fiercely contested across every round.

As the final timers stopped inside the Student Union, the success of Cube Against Cancer DFW 2026 reflected a vibrant speed cubing community in northern Texas. From Pilat's sub-six average in the premier Rubik's Cube category to Bai and Ortiz Jr. showcasing multi-event versatility, the competition rewarded steady precision under pressure. With dozens of competitors departing with personal bests and new events added to their official profiles, the focus naturally shifts toward training cycles and the next competitive tests of the season.