Efficient in Elmsford Winter 2025

Inside the Cubicle Auxiliary Building, Andrew Tao delivered the most staggering achievement of the weekend by solving 47 out of 48 cubes in 59 minutes and 11 seconds during 3x3x3 Multi-Blind. The concentrated environment of the Elmsford, New York, USA venue proved ideal for a schedule focused on the most mentally demanding disciplines in speedcubing. Held across February 22 to February 23, 2025, the gathering brought together an elite group of 13 competitors to tackle 5 specialized events spanning 8 total rounds.

The venue atmosphere throughout Efficient in Elmsford Winter 2025 was defined by deep concentration and quiet determination. Speed cubing in blindfolded and efficiency categories demands an intense level of focus, where competitors spend substantial time studying scrambled puzzles before masking their vision or calculating moves on paper. With tables arranged to give solvers clear space for their attempts, the venue provided the perfect setting for high-level tactical execution across the two days of competition.

Rowe Hessler captured two major titles across the blindfolded disciplines during the weekend. In 3x3x3 Blindfolded, Hessler claimed first place with a winning average of 22.10 seconds and a best single time of 21.20 seconds, narrowly edging Andrew Tao whose best single was 21.35 seconds. Carter Kucala took third place with a 21.82 single. The podium for this event, like all 16 podium places distributed throughout the event schedule, went to representatives of the USA.

Carter Kucala demonstrated exceptional versatility across multiple disciplines at Efficient in Elmsford Winter 2025. Kucala won 3x3x3 Fewest Moves with an impressive average of 22.33 moves, backed by a tournament-best single of 19 moves. Chris Chi secured second place with an average of 22.67 moves, while Daniel Karnaukh completed the top three with 23.00 moves. These 3x3 results highlighted the extraordinary precision required when every single turn of the classic Rubik's Cube is counted toward the final tally.

The larger blindfolded categories tested the limits of memory and execution in the quiet hall. In 4x4x4 Blindfolded, Carter Kucala took the top spot on the podium with a single time of 3:15.02, while Eli Rogers finished in second place with a time of 13:26.00. Later in the schedule, Rowe Hessler secured victory in 5x5x5 Blindfolded with a winning single time of 4:52.91. Andrew Tao followed in second place with a successful attempt of 7:15.93.

Behind the headline wins, the heart of the cubing competition lived in the personal milestones achieved across the board. Edward Habeck IV tackled 4 events and made a major breakthrough, logging a first ever attempt at 3x3x3 Multi-Blind with a 2/3 result in 30:00. Habeck also recorded a 3x3x3 Fewest Moves personal best of 47 moves, which was 25.4 percent faster than his prior best of 63, alongside a 3x3x3 Blindfolded personal best of 4:21.01 that was 14.1 percent faster than his previous mark of 5:03.76. Angelo Terpening entered 4 events, earning a 5th place finish in 3x3x3 Fewest Moves and recording a 3x3x3 Multi-Blind personal best of 2/3 in 24:01.

Other competitors made their marks in specialized fields throughout the tournament. Mark Tan stepped into the competitive arena for the very first time, completing his first WCA competition in the single event he entered. Jackson Warley focused on 3x3x3 Fewest Moves, taking 7th place in the final standings. Steven Wintringham achieved a 4th place finish in 3x3x3 Fewest Moves, while Levi Gibson competed across 2 events, securing 6th place in 3x3x3 Fewest Moves and establishing a 3x3x3 Blindfolded personal best single of 2:36.80.

The 3x3x3 Multi-Blind round proved to be one of the most remarkable contests hosted at Efficient in Elmsford Winter 2025. Andrew Tao's winning score of 47/48 stood alongside a massive attempt by Rowe Hessler, who placed second by solving 55 out of 70 cubes in 1:00:04. Carter Kucala earned third place on the podium after successfully navigating 29 of 36 cubes in a time of 56:51, demonstrating the remarkable depth of blindfolded solving talent assembled in the room.

As the final scores were submitted and the timers packed away at the Cubicle Auxiliary Building, the event concluded as a premier showcase of efficiency and blindfolded mastery in the 2025 season. Across all 8 rounds, the small field of dedicated solvers proved that specialized formats produce some of the most compelling narratives in speedcubing, setting a strong standard as competitors look ahead to the next season of competition.