DFW Weeknights 3 2026

The tables inside the Oak Point Recreation Center stood ready for high-stakes competition as timers blinked to life under the bright lights of Plano, Texas, USA. A focused roster of 16 competitors gathered on May 13, 2026, preparing to test their skills across five rounds of intense solving. With championship-level precision demanded on every solve, each competitor approached the mat knowing that split-second decisions would dictate the standings in this dedicated cubing competition.

The gathering marked another thrilling edition of DFW Weeknights 3 2026, delivering an electric atmosphere where contenders pushed for continental and personal milestones across three distinct disciplines. From the vast complexity of the big cubes to the blindfolded challenges, every heat brought genuine championship tension. For participants chasing personal records and podium placements, the evening demanded flawless execution across all five contested rounds.

In the 5x5x5 Cube, Ray Bai delivered a masterclass in efficiency, securing victory against a field of 16 competitors through two hard-fought rounds. Bai posted a winning average of 47.72 seconds, anchored by an outstanding best single of 42.17 seconds. Ryan Pilat kept the pressure high throughout the finals, capturing the second-place spot on the podium with a 48.24 average, while AJ Le finished third with a steady mark of 1:01.27.

Ryan Pilat took center stage across the remaining disciplines, demonstrating extraordinary versatility across specialized formats. In Square-1, Pilat swept through two rounds to claim the title with a dazzling winning average of 5.91 seconds, supported by a best single of 5.00 seconds. Alejandro Kolster Passos of Argentina secured second place with an average of 10.02, while Thai Bui finished third with a 13.22 average.

Pilat continued his dominant form in 3x3x3 Blindfolded, an event requiring complete mental memorization before executing algorithms in total darkness. Overcoming a DNF average, Pilat clinched the victory with a top single time of 16.65 seconds among 10 competitors. Fletcher Berry followed on the podium with a second-place single of 29.53 seconds, while Thai Bui claimed another podium spot with a 40.27 single. Enthusiasts tracking broader speedcubing developments and standard 3x3 results frequently watch these specialty disciplines for pure technical prowess.

Beyond the top steps of the podium, DFW Weeknights 3 2026 provided an important proving ground where several competitors achieved notable milestones. Ishaank Bansal registered a massive personal best in 5x5x5 Cube of 1:45.61, dropping his previous time by 20.3 percent from 2:12.58, alongside an 8th-place finish in 3x3x3 Blindfolded across three events. Tristan Patrick recorded a Square-1 personal best of 16.29, improving 6.6 percent from 17.45 while also taking 5th in 5x5x5 Cube. Matthew Ocasio shaved 5.1 percent off his previous mark to log a 5x5x5 Cube personal best of 1:46.98 and placed 8th in blindfolded solving. Ishan Parikh dropped his 5x5x5 Cube personal best by 3.1 percent to 1:08.34, taking 6th place.

Other athletes embraced fresh challenges across the competition roster. Minh Tran tackled two events, producing a first ever attempt at 5x5x5 Cube in 1:52.99 and a first ever attempt at Square-1 with a time of 40.27. Braden McDonough took on three events, posting a first ever attempt at Square-1 in 45.99 while finishing 4th in 3x3x3 Blindfolded. Nathan Benson set a 5x5x5 Cube personal best of 1:45.44 and finished 5th in blindfolded solving across two events. Luke Cowan entered three events and earned a 7th-place finish in 3x3x3 Blindfolded, while Denniel Santos also contested three events and finished 8th in blindfolded solving.

The podium distribution highlighted strong regional depth, with competitors representing the United States earning eight podium positions alongside one podium finish for Argentina. This official WCA competition proved that a mid-week gathering can produce top-tier execution across both traditional Rubik's Cube variants and niche formats. As another chapter of speed cubing in Texas concluded, the competitors at DFW Weeknights 3 2026 demonstrated that relentless preparation consistently yields decisive results on the competition floor.