DIA EH Cube for Change Dubai A 2026

The tables at Dubai International Academy - Emirates Hills were set early on January 31, 2026, as 82 competitors assembled for a fast-paced day of puzzles. A total of five events and seven rounds filled the single-day schedule, transforming the venue into an active hub of speed cubing. Before the main three-layered puzzles took center stage, much of the tournament's energy centered around the alternative formats that test distinct mechanical proficiencies and mental versatility.

The Pyraminx event served as a major showcase for puzzle specialists. Lev Bruskov secured the victory on the triangular puzzle by delivering a 3.20 winning average, supported by a rapid best single of 2.45. Julian Riggs took the second step on the podium with a 3.57 mark, while Abishua James Thomas earned third place with a 5.11 average out of the 47 competitors who entered the single-round contest.

One-handed solving added another layer of technical challenge to the Dubai, United Arab Emirates gathering. Yi-Fan Wu proved untouchable in 3x3x3 One-Handed, posting a 14.66 winning average alongside an 11.17 single to top the 32-person field. Jeriel James Thomas followed closely in second place with a 14.97 average, and Lev Bruskov collected his second podium of the weekend by finishing third at 15.70.

The big cube action saw Yi-Fan Wu extend his dominance to the 4x4x4 Cube, where 40 competitors took their turns. Wu commanded the single round, registering a 25.96 winning average and a best single solve of 24.16. Jeriel James Thomas secured another runner-up finish with an average of 34.15, while Gabriel Tan claimed the third podium position with a 34.91 average.

Away from the top steps of the podium, several competitors achieved remarkable milestones across the schedule. Bharathi Nachimuthu logged a 10.97 Pyraminx personal best, cutting 64.6% off a previous mark of 30.99. Shanvi Neha Nireshkumar completed a first ever attempt at 4x4x4 Cube with a time of 2:27.57 and dropped a 2x2x2 Cube personal best to 4.26, an improvement of 60.1%. Jevon Joji took on two events and recorded a 7.96 Pyraminx personal best, improving 54.9% from 17.65. Hriday Nagpal registered a first ever attempt at 4x4x4 Cube of 2:02.84 and took 25th in Pyraminx while trimming his 2x2x2 Cube personal best to 4.63, a 51.3% drop.

The breakthroughs continued throughout the field across varied disciplines. Mikhel Azriel DG Del Rosario entered five events, recording a first ever attempt at 4x4x4 Cube in 1:14.46, a first attempt at 3x3x3 One-Handed in 33.66, and a 12.24 mark on 3x3x3 Cube that improved by 44%. Hamza Asif Khan registered a 41.56 personal best in 3x3x3 One-Handed, an improvement of 38% over 1:06.98. Savio Lijin Jolly notched a first ever attempt at 4x4x4 Cube of 1:25.65 on the way to a 26th-place finish, alongside a 36.4% drop to an 18.95 Rubik's Cube best. Meanwhile, Nikita Brylin made a WCA competition debut across five events, recording a 2.09 first attempt on 2x2x2 Cube and placing 10th in 4x4x4 Cube.

Short-format speedcubing reached its peak in the 2x2x2 Cube, which drew 70 entrants across two rounds. Abdallah Belal Omar captured first place with a 2.32 winning average and a single solve of 1.32. The podium was separated by fractions of a second, with Jeriel James Thomas securing second at 2.39 and Lev Bruskov finishing third at 2.41 in a tightly contested final.

The classic 3x3x3 Cube brought the largest field of the day with 81 solvers. In the deciding round of 3x3 results, Yi-Fan Wu sealed a triple-crown victory at DIA EH Cube for Change Dubai A 2026 by winning with a 7.42 average and a 6.33 single. Jeriel James Thomas completed a remarkably consistent meet with a second-place average of 8.59, and Gabriel Tan locked up third with an 8.71 average.

When the final timers reset at this cubing competition, the distribution of podium honors showed Canada claiming five top-three finishes, Taiwan and Russia each earning three, Singapore securing two, and Jordan and the USA taking one each. The single-day contest brought specialists and generalists together in a comprehensive test of puzzle-solving skill across the Emirates.