Davis Winter 2026

Ninety-three competitors assembled at California Hall at UC Davis on February 7, 2026, setting the stage for a day of high-stakes regional and international contention. The one-day cubing competition brought together speedcubers from across California and overseas representations, testing their resolve across five disciplines and nine rounds. With podium points hanging on fractions of a second, the clash between domestic contenders representing the USA and international standouts representing China defined the competitive atmosphere of Davis Winter 2026 in Davis, California, USA.

The premier 3x3x3 Cube event drew 92 competitors through three demanding elimination stages. Micah Yeo established authority early and carried that form straight into the final, posting a winning average of 6.92 seconds alongside the tournament best single of 6.53 seconds to secure top honours. Paul Mahvi captured second place with an 8.12 average, while Matthias Tam secured the third spot on the podium averaging 8.67 seconds, completing a podium sweep for the host nation amid tense final rounds of standard Rubik's Cube solving.

Yeo doubled his title count in 3x3x3 One-Handed, where 51 entrants navigated two rounds of asymmetrical control. After locking in a best single of 9.81 seconds, Yeo recorded a decisive winning average of 12.13 seconds for the United States. China's Matt Mao disrupted the host contingent's monopoly by claiming the silver medal with an average of 13.82 seconds, holding off Hamza Hafeez of the USA, who earned bronze on a 15.16 average. The matchup highlighted an ongoing intercontinental duel across the speedcubing timetable.

The 2x2x2 Cube tournament featured an intense sprint through two rounds among 73 contenders. Benjamin Schaham emerged victorious for the USA, claiming the gold medal with a winning average of 1.65 seconds after putting up a field-leading single of 0.83 seconds. Isaac Modrow took second place on an average of 1.82 seconds, while Mao secured another podium placement for China, claiming bronze with a mark of 1.84 seconds. The razor-thin margins proved how unforgiving the short format can be at Davis Winter 2026.

Longer forms and complex geometries rounded out the program at California Hall. In the 5x5x5 Cube, where 40 competitors tackled the big cube across a single direct final round, Paul Mahvi claimed gold with a winning average of 55.03 seconds and a best single of 45.63 seconds. Brandon Lugtu followed in second place at 57.05 seconds, and Hana Nakano placed third at 1:02.75. In Megaminx, Varenya Jyotiraditya conquered the twelve-sided puzzle among 38 entrants, capturing the title with an average of 38.23 seconds ahead of Mao in second at 44.87 and Eli Valera in third at 45.72.

Beyond the championship trophies, the open floor provided a stage for remarkable breakthroughs from rising competitors. Max Alexander Lassalle logged one of the most drastic gains of the day, cutting his 2x2x2 Cube personal best by 53.1 percent down to 5.44 seconds while also trimming his 3x3x3 mark down to 26.14 seconds. Jack Li Xi Chen (陈立曦) improved his 2x2x2 personal best by 42.8 percent to 2.93 seconds across his two events. Edgar Tomas secured a standout fifth-place overall finish in the 3x3x3 Cube while cutting his 3x3x3 One-Handed mark by 34 percent to 18.02 seconds. Meanwhile, Jared Adrian took on five distinct events, delivering a 30 percent improvement in 5x5x5 Cube to finish with a personal best of 1:32.03 and an official first Megaminx result of 1:19.96.

The momentum continued as Eenzer Huang contested five events, achieving a 24.5 percent drop on his 3x3x3 One-Handed personal best down to 14.89 seconds alongside an initial Megaminx attempt of 1:41.47. Salvador Pipino Tardivo of Argentina completed four events, lowering his 2x2x2 personal best by 36.9 percent to 5.27 seconds and recording a first Megaminx mark of 4:20.22. First-time WCA competition debuts also added fresh energy to the field, with Travis Kulhanek taking on all five disciplines to register a 21.84 initial mark in 3x3x3 Cube, while Marijn Kruisselbrink of the Netherlands stepped onto the competition stage for four events, opening an official ledger with marks including a 16.50 in 2x2x2 Cube.

With twelve podium finishes captured by American cubers and three secured by China's Matt Mao, Davis Winter 2026 closed a lively single-day chapter of speed cubing in Northern California. From the crisp execution of the double-gold performance by Micah Yeo to the expanding participation of new and advancing athletes, the official 3x3 results and multisided challenges at the venue underscored a thriving tournament scene ready for the challenges of the 2026 season.