Elmira Winter 2026

A winning average of 2.37 seconds set the standard at Elmira Winter 2026, where an intimate lineup of 11 competitors gathered for two packed days of solving. Staged at the Clarion Inn Elmira-Horseheads in Elmira, New York, USA, from February 7 to February 8, 2026, the weekend featured 17 rounds across nine official disciplines. The concentrated field kept the pace brisk and the margins fine, particularly in the shortest events where rapid fingers and precise inspection yielded some of the sharpest marks of the entire meet.

The 2x2x2 Cube proved to be a lightning-fast showcase from start to finish. Evan Liu earned the top spot on the podium with a decisive final average of 2.37 seconds, bolstered by a best single of 1.91 seconds. Alexei Sinyavin claimed second place with an average of 2.67 seconds, while Blue Glynn secured third on a mark of 3.06 seconds. Chris Chi provided additional speed cubing firepower during the event, delivering a blistering single of 1.44 seconds and a 2.09 average across the rounds.

Evan Liu maintained his winning momentum when turning to the traditional Rubik's Cube, capturing the 3x3x3 Cube title with a fine 8.70-second average. His run was anchored by a best single of 7.89 seconds, outlasting Alexei Sinyavin, who took second place with an average of 9.22 seconds. Chris Chi finished third at 9.31 seconds, rounding out a highly competitive podium. The official 3x3 results demonstrated steady execution in every round, as Liu controlled the final to cement his position as the weekend speed champion.

Evan Liu extended his run in the one-handed event, winning 3x3x3 One-Handed with an average of 14.90 seconds and a sharp 10.36 single across eight entrants. Chris Chi finished runner-up with an average of 17.56 seconds, while Alexei Sinyavin collected third place on 18.71 seconds. Through all three of the fastest puzzle disciplines at Elmira Winter 2026, Liu managed a clean sweep at the top of the standings, highlighting exceptional turning accuracy across both two-handed and single-handed formats.

Away from the top of the podium, the weekend offered significant milestones for emerging solvers. Taran Brown tackled four events, earning a 6th-place finish in Skewb while logging a first official attempt of 9.04 seconds in that event and a 1:47.01 in his first attempt at 4x4x4 Cube. Brown also shaved significant time off his 2x2x2 Cube personal best with a single of 5.25 seconds, an improvement of 49.1 percent. Meanwhile, veteran competitor Kerry Go took on eight events, securing 4th in Clock and notching personal bests of 1:01.74 in 4x4x4 Cube (6.7 percent faster), 4:10.82 in 6x6x6 Cube (4 percent faster), and an 11.80 single in Clock.

The weekend also served as an introduction to official speedcubing for newcomers making their tournament debuts. Aidan Anderson entered his first WCA competition, taking on four events and securing 6th place in Square-1 alongside maiden marks of 25.36 seconds in the 3x3x3 Cube, 4.61 seconds in 2x2x2 Cube, and 44.48 seconds in Square-1. Fellow debutant Henry Hermans entered two events, putting down opening singles of 45.81 seconds in 3x3x3 Cube and 12.93 seconds in 2x2x2 Cube. Alex Hancock completed six disciplines, posting a 4th-place result in the 3x3x3 Cube and recording a first career Megaminx result of 1:36.15.

The larger puzzles and specialized disciplines saw Alexei Sinyavin take over the spotlight. Sinyavin won the 4x4x4 Cube with a 27.14-second average and a single of 26.93 seconds, finishing ahead of Evan Liu at 32.24 and Chris Chi at 35.63. In the 6x6x6 Cube, Sinyavin claimed first place with an average of 1:37.85 and a single of 1:36.44, while Liu finished second at 1:40.41 and Ryan Apple took third with a 4:11.95 average, showcasing impressive endurance on the big cubes.

Alexei Sinyavin also triumphed in side events, taking the Megaminx victory with a 30.53 average and a 27.27 single, followed by Patrick Ho in second at 46.80 and Chris Chi in third at 58.62. In Clock, Sinyavin led the field with an 8.21 average over Patrick Ho (9.16) and Blue Glynn (9.84). Chris Chi answered with titles in the remaining events at Elmira Winter 2026, capturing Skewb with an average of 3.03 seconds and winning Square-1 in an 8.08-second average over Sinyavin (11.66) and Liu (15.50).

Across two days of play, all 27 podium places went to United States competitors, underlining the close battles within the regional circuit. Elmira Winter 2026 concluded as a well-balanced cubing competition that rewarded both quick-burst sprinters on the 2x2x2 and 3x3x3 cubes as well as technical masters across Clock, Megaminx, and big cubes. As the 2026 calendar unfolds, these competitors established reliable early-year marks to carry forward into the next wave of tournament action.