Evanston Fall Favorites B 2025

Thirty-seven competitors gathered under one roof as the winter chill settled over Evanston, Illinois, USA on December 6, 2025. Held inside the Technological Institute at Northwestern University, Evanston Fall Favorites B 2025 brought together solvers of all experience levels for an action-packed Saturday of speedcubing. Across eight rounds and seven different events, the gathering showcased not only competitive intensity but the shared camaraderie that defines the community. Whether comparing puzzle hardware or sharing tips on niche events, participants embraced the full spectrum of competitive cubing throughout the day.

The headline 3x3x3 Cube event drew 33 competitors through two rounds of intense solving. In a remarkably tense final round, Zeke Mackay and Brian Johnson finished deadlocked on identical winning averages of 6.11 seconds. Mackay secured the victory behind a tournament-best single solve of 4.36 seconds, leaving Johnson in second place. Braden Richards rounded out the podium in third place with a 7.90 average. The standard 3x3 results demonstrated world-class speed on the classic Rubik's Cube, giving the audience a showcase of precision turning and lookahead technique in the day's marquee showdown.

Beyond the main event, specialized disciplines offered variety and excitement for the assembled crowd. In 3x3x3 One-Handed, Brian Johnson claimed top honors with a 10.42 average, holding off Zeke Mackay at 11.61 and Jacob Turrubiartes at 14.71. Johnson continued his dominance in Square-1, securing his second title of the weekend with a winning average of 6.47 seconds ahead of Braden Richards at 10.52 and Turrubiartes at 11.66. The intricate turning mechanics of Square-1 always demand intense concentration, and Johnson proved exceptionally steady through the decisive round.

Side events continued to energize the room throughout the afternoon. Reed W. Richardson captured first place in Clock with a swift 3.46 average, narrowly besting Zachary Cribb at 3.94 and Benjamin Franklin at 5.67. In Pyraminx, Adam Schwenn paced the 22-person field to win with a 3.23 average, leading Charles Bois at 4.02 and Zachary Cribb at 4.31. Zeke Mackay added another gold medal to his tally in Megaminx, taking victory with a 34.58 average over Johnson at 48.15 and Turrubiartes at 58.48. Meanwhile, Jacob Turrubiartes earned the top spot in 3x3x3 Blindfolded, logging a winning single of 27.33 seconds ahead of Mackay at 1:09.86 and Aaron Soley at 1:10.70.

While the podium races provided plenty of drama, the true heart of this WCA competition was reflected in the personal milestones achieved across the venue. Daniel Gilbert delivered an enormous leap in Clock, posting a personal best of 21.27 seconds to improve by 56.8 percent, alongside a 22.9 percent drop in Pyraminx to 18.92 seconds. Yeonsoo Kim achieved a massive 47.2 percent reduction on the 3x3x3 Cube, recording a personal best of 52.25 seconds. Alexis Delgado posted a sharp Megaminx personal best of 1:39.61, dropping 43.5 percent from previous marks, while also trimming Pyraminx down to 6.77 seconds. Frankie Quizhpi shaved 46.6 percent off previous marks in the 3x3x3 Cube with a personal best of 31.50 seconds and logged a first ever attempt in Pyraminx at 8.93 seconds.

Other dedicated competitors expanded their repertoires and pushed their personal boundaries across multiple disciplines. Abigail Klink achieved a 36.1 percent improvement in Clock with a personal best of 23.70 seconds and logged a first ever attempt at Megaminx with a time of 4:42.82. Isaac Alcantara made first career attempts in both Clock at 17.96 seconds and 3x3x3 One-Handed at 49.31 seconds, while dropping 36.6 percent in Pyraminx to reach a 7.42 personal best. Sofia Kang entered four events, posting a Clock personal best of 11.57 seconds for a 22.7 percent improvement alongside a 15.75 personal best on the 3x3x3 Cube. Moses Chung also took on four events, setting personal bests in Square-1 at 33.57 seconds, 3x3x3 Cube at 10.78 seconds, and 3x3x3 One-Handed at 20.50 seconds.

Several newcomers also experienced their very first cubing competition at the Northwestern University venue. Johnny Stamatis completed first official attempts across four events, recording 22.93 in 3x3x3 Cube, 10.92 in Pyraminx, and 4:29.24 in Megaminx. Joshua Peng logged debuts in three events, including a 24.77 single on the 3x3x3 Cube, 10.25 in Pyraminx, and 2:36.89 in Megaminx. Phoenix Loeffler made official debuts in both 3x3x3 Cube at 21.94 seconds and Pyraminx at 8.09 seconds. These initial outings represent the foundational steps of a competitor's journey within organized speed cubing, where personal growth remains the ultimate standard of success.

As the final rounds wrapped up and equipment was packed away, Evanston Fall Favorites B 2025 stood as a memorable day of racing and mutual support. From tiebreak-thin margins at the top of the standings to first-time solvers stepping up to the timer, every round added to the collective experience of the Midwest cubing scene. With personal bests logged, new puzzles explored, and friendships reinforced, participants left Evanston with shared memories as they look forward to future gatherings on the competition calendar.