Cubestuff Challenge Centurion Q2 2025

Shivaan Harichander laid down an emphatic standard on the final day in Centurion, South Africa, capturing the classic 3x3x3 Cube title with a clinical 7.63 second average. The performance capped a weekend of seasoned poise, giving Harichander the premier crown across a field of 44 competitors. That victory completed a multi-event showcase where established frontrunners demonstrated complete command across 16 rounds of intense head-to-head play.

Held across June 7 and June 8 at the Legacy Centurion Hotel, Cubestuff Challenge Centurion Q2 2025 brought 50 speedcubing competitors together for eight official disciplines. The 2025 competition calendar in the region has demanded sharp form, and the veteran core responded by locking out the podium steps across every category. Harichander added to his haul by topping 4x4x4 Cube with a winning average of 35.21 seconds, while securing third place in both 5x5x5 Cube and 3x3x3 One-Handed.

Osman Badroodin delivered an equally dominant run across the technical and larger puzzles, capturing three distinct titles. In 5x5x5 Cube, Badroodin dipped under the minute barrier with a gold-medal average of 59.99 seconds, edging Ruben Grobler who finished second in 1:04.02. Badroodin then showcased his versatility on Megaminx with a 1:00.87 winning average and conquered Square-1 in 11.03 seconds, turning in the single fastest solve of that event at 9.00 seconds flat.

Grobler ensured the podium battle remained razor close throughout the weekend, claiming two event wins of his own. In 2x2x2 Cube, Grobler posted a blistering 2.05 second average to take gold ahead of Juandré Jacobs. Grobler followed that up in 3x3x3 One-Handed by recording a 14.68 second average, narrowly edging Badroodin by two hundredths of a second in one of the tightest duels of the entire WCA competition.

The Pyraminx final brought an explosive display from Rhynard Steyn, who secured first place with an average of 5.33 seconds and a best single of 3.17 seconds. Harichander took the silver medal behind Steyn with a 6.63 average, while Nathan Swanepoel rounded out the top three at 7.93 seconds. Across the board, every single podium spot across all eight events was secured by competitors representing South Africa.

Beyond the top steps, substantial leaps in execution defined the competition program. Joshua Bennett produced one of the weekend's most drastic drops, lowering his Square-1 personal best to 27.31 seconds, an improvement of 55.7 percent, while making his first ever attempt in both 5x5x5 Cube at 2:51.18 and 3x3x3 One-Handed at 34.13. Adelio Harilall took on four events and sliced 40.5 percent off his 2x2x2 Cube mark with a 4.40 solve, while also shaving 28.4 percent from his 4x4x4 Cube best to record 1:32.83.

Tobias Lochner stepped up across seven disciplines, claiming a career-best 4th place finish in Pyraminx while logging his first official attempts in Megaminx at 5:10.58 and 5x5x5 Cube at 3:31.35 alongside a 33.2 percent improvement in 3x3x3 One-Handed at 57.82. Jared Jurisich tackled eight events, recording first attempts in 5x5x5 Cube at 2:19.86, Square-1 at 57.27, and Megaminx at 2:44.51. Pieter Cornelius Horne logged new territory with a 4:17.53 in 5x5x5 Cube and a 1:11.40 one-handed mark. Mateo Zarko Cvetkovic recorded a 15.67 Pyraminx debut, while Retief van Aswegen and Christopher Bleyenheuft each completed their first career speed cubing appearances, entering multiple puzzle formats.

For all the puzzle variety across the schedule, the core 3x3 results remained the signature benchmark of the gathering. Harichander met the pressure in the decisive third round with a single solve of 7.13 seconds, anchoring an unmatched 7.63 average over Grobler and Jacobs. It confirmed the value of veteran control when navigating multiple rounds on the big stage.

The successful conclusion of Cubestuff Challenge Centurion Q2 2025 highlights the depth of South African talent across every level of the classic Rubik's Cube community. As competitors transition toward upcoming fixtures later in the 2025 calendar, the high standard set in Centurion provides a clear target for the entire regional circuit.