Dublin Winter Solving 2025

Seventy-four competitors gathered at Perrystown Community Centre on January 25 and 26 for Dublin Winter Solving 2025, setting up an intense regional showdown across 24 rounds of action. Host nation Ireland faced stiff international competition as solvers from India, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and Mongolia contested 14 official disciplines. Irish competitors defended their home tables by capturing 28 podium positions, while visiting talents secured podium places of their own in an action-packed weekend of speedcubing in Dublin, Ireland.

The premier 3x3x3 Cube event highlighted the clash of territories, drawing 67 competitors across three demanding rounds. Ireland's Cillian Hainbach secured victory with a decisive winning average of 7.08 seconds, backed by a best single solve of 6.33. Prabhav Rajaram Nayak of India pressured the top spot, taking second place with an 8.36 average, while Daniel Hamilton from the United Kingdom finished third averaging 8.52. These top-tier 3x3 results demonstrated world-class quality at the Dublin tables, setting the standard for the entire 2025 gathering.

Hainbach maintained his sharp form throughout the weekend, securing multiple titles across the larger puzzles. In the 5x5x5 Cube, Hainbach topped the podium with a 55.63 average, narrowly holding off Ireland's Stephanie Rose Martin at 57.21 and Elliott Laurent at 58.57. Hainbach struck gold again in the 6x6x6 Cube with a winning mark of 1:46.22, where Martin and Laurent placed second and third with 1:53.66 and 1:55.32 respectively. Laurent claimed his own victory in the 7x7x7 Cube, posting a winning average of 2:40.76 to lead Hainbach and Martin in an all-Irish podium sweep.

Martin delivered exceptional performances across multiple formats, taking the 4x4x4 Cube crown with an average of 29.06 seconds, edging Hainbach who finished second at 29.35. Martin also secured first place in Megaminx with a mark of 35.60, narrowly defeating Nayak who recorded a 35.87 average for India, while Ireland's Rory Menary took third in 38.45. In the speed-focused Clock event, Jack Corr of Ireland earned the title with a 3.44 average, fending off Nayak's second-place 4.62 and Seán O'Toole's 5.88.

Visiting contenders found major success across several fast-paced formats at Dublin Winter Solving 2025. Nikita Grytsenko of Ukraine delivered two separate victories, capturing the Skewb title with a 2.59 average and winning 3x3x3 One-Handed with an average of 15.43 seconds. Fellow Ukrainian competitor Vladyslav Hordiienko took first place in Pyraminx with an average of 3.01. In the 2x2x2 Cube, Lucas Patrick Dowling claimed victory for Ireland with a 1.73 final average after logging a regional record single of 1.26 and a regional record average of 1.44 during earlier rounds.

Beyond the championship podiums, several solvers achieved major breakthroughs across the schedule. Luca Hennessy completed seven events and shaved 74 percent off a 2x2x2 Cube personal best with a time of 2.50 seconds, while cutting 48 percent off a 4x4x4 Cube mark to reach 59.53, alongside a first ever attempt at 5x5x5 Cube of 2:51.63. Oisin West entered eight events, recording a 3x3x3 Cube personal best of 16.03 seconds that was 48.6 percent faster than previously logged, plus first attempts at Clock in 15.62 and 5x5x5 Cube in 2:59.11. Evan McDermott improved personal bests in 2x2x2 Cube to 3.34 and 3x3x3 Cube to 20.12 while recording a first attempt at one-handed solving in 37.62. Harry Reid lowered their 2x2x2 Cube personal best by 55.7 percent to 5.75 and took 15.3 percent off their 4x4x4 Cube mark at 1:23.00.

Fresh milestones continued throughout the Perrystown Community Centre hall as solvers tackled new formats. Oli Sweeney took on ten events, lowering a Square-1 personal best by 36.5 percent to 25.99 seconds, while improving one-handed solving by 23.6 percent to 17.59. Daniel Strzelecki also took on ten events, recording initial official attempts at Megaminx in 3:51.11, Clock in 11.00, and Skewb in 8.97. Igor Chojnacki placed fifth in 3x3x3 Cube while registering first attempts in Clock at 11.19, one-handed at 20.63, and Megaminx at 1:28.91. Curtis Nolan achieved personal bests in Clock at 1:02.42 and 4x4x4 Cube at 1:14.76, while first-time WCA competition debutants Robin Eyre and Eddie Dunne completed five events apiece, recording initial 3x3x3 Cube marks of 13.29 and 2x2x2 Cube marks of 2.89 respectively.

Memory and specialty disciplines rounded out the weekend with strong individual triumphs. Simon Kelly won 3x3x3 Blindfolded with a single of 35.10 seconds, leading fellow Irish solvers Colm McCarthy at 37.66 and Ben Timmons at 50.49. McCarthy went on to win the 3x3x3 Multi-Blind event by successfully solving 15 out of 18 cubes within 57:19. In Square-1, Adam Bermingham claimed first place with an average of 10.43 seconds, featuring a best single solve of 7.85.

The close finishes across all 24 rounds highlighted the competitive depth of the speed cubing circuit in Ireland. Solvers navigating the classic Rubik's Cube alongside multi-layered puzzles produced an unforgettable weekend of head-to-head racing. As Dublin Winter Solving 2025 concluded, the international rivalry and personal milestones established a high benchmark for every cubing competition ahead.