Evanston Qualifier 2025
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Winners
All results- 4x4x4 CubeKate Grahame27.85
- 5x5x5 CubeKate Grahame51.40
- 6x6x6 CubeKate Grahame1:28.59
- 7x7x7 CubeKate Grahame2:05.13
- 3x3x3 BlindfoldedBrayden Thompson20.31
- 3x3x3 Fewest MovesBrian Johnson24.67
- 3x3x3 One-HandedBrian Johnson11.07
- ClockCarter Thomas4.03
- Square-1Brian Johnson6.05
- 4x4x4 BlindfoldedCarter Kucala3:09.97
- 5x5x5 BlindfoldedCarter Kucala8:10.87
- 3x3x3 Multi-BlindBrayden Thompson18/21 in 53:31
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Competition recap
A written summary of Evanston Qualifier 2025, generated from the official results on this page.
Kate Grahame Sweeps the Big Cubes on Familiar Ground at Evanston Qualifier 2025English
Kate Grahame delivered an exceptional display at the Technological Institute at Northwestern University, sweeping all four major big cube disciplines during a packed weekend of speedcubing. Taking on 27 competitors in the 4x4x4 Cube final, Grahame logged a decisive winning average of 27.85 seconds with a single solve of 24.23 to secure top honors. That performance set the tone for three full days of competition from May 16 to May 18, 2025, where twenty-nine competitors gathered in Evanston, Illinois, USA to contest nineteen rounds across twelve different events.
The hometown momentum carried directly into the larger puzzles as Grahame produced gold across the board. In the 5x5x5 Cube, Grahame won with a 51.40 average, highlighted by a single of 47.84. Moving up to the 6x6x6 Cube, another victory followed with an average of 1:28.59, finishing ahead of Carter Thomas at 1:36.02 and Carter Kucala at 1:45.44. The sweep became complete in the 7x7x7 Cube, where Grahame registered an average of 2:05.13 alongside a best single of 2:01.78 to outpace Thomas at 2:19.58 and Lucas Lippman-Bruno at 2:39.77.
While Grahame dictated the pace on the larger puzzles, Brian Johnson controlled the specialized twisty puzzles. In 3x3x3 One-Handed, Johnson captured first place with an 11.07 average and a 10.31 single solve, leading Kucala at 13.48 and Grahame at 15.87. Johnson doubled his gold tally in Square-1, recording a 6.05 winning average with a 4.10 single to finish ahead of Kucala at 8.81 and Lippman-Bruno at 9.97. Johnson also claimed the 3x3x3 Fewest Moves title with a 24.67 average and a best single count of 22 moves.
The blindfolded categories offered technical tests across several variations, requiring extensive memorization before execution. Carter Kucala led the complex multidimensional events, taking the 4x4x4 Blindfolded title with a single solve of 3:09.97 to best Brayden Thompson at 3:14.86 and Thomas Reinke at 4:13.59. Kucala added the 5x5x5 Blindfolded victory with a winning single time of 8:10.87. Thompson responded in kind across shorter blindfolded formats, winning 3x3x3 Blindfolded with a 20.31 average and an 18.84 single, as well as 3x3x3 Multi-Blind by successfully solving 18 of 21 cubes in 53:31.
The fastest turning of the weekend arrived in the Clock event, where Carter Thomas secured first place with an average of 4.03 seconds and a sharp 2.40 single solve. The contest came down to fractions of a second, as Zachary Cribb finished right behind in second place with a 4.06 average, while Thompson rounded out the podium at 4.58. The event drew 26 entrants across two rounds, producing intense activity on the competition floor and highlighting the diverse range of disciplines contested alongside traditional Rubik's Cube variants.
Beyond the championship podiums, several competitors logged significant personal breakthroughs during the weekend. Sofia Kang recorded an impressive 39.6 percent improvement on her 3x3x3 Blindfolded personal best with a time of 5:05.50, lowered her 4x4x4 Cube mark by 19.5 percent down to 1:27.74, and completed her first ever attempt at the 5x5x5 Cube in 3:04.75. Arthur Hu also found major speed, cutting his 3x3x3 One-Handed best by 32.3 percent to 17.40 seconds, trimming his 5x5x5 Cube time by 12.6 percent to 1:25.48, and attempting the 6x6x6 Cube for the first time with a 3:10.98. Evan Mathew improved his Clock mark by 20.3 percent to 15.75 while making his first ever attempt at 4x4x4 Cube with a 3:00.00.
The ambition extended across the field as competitors expanded into demanding new categories. Toby Cuna took on 11 events, achieving a best finish of 5th in 3x3x3 Fewest Moves while recording a first ever attempt at 4x4x4 Blindfolded in 28:20.00, a first attempt at Square-1 in 31.26, and a first 7x7x7 Cube solve in 5:33.52. Sylvia Crouch entered 10 disciplines, posting a 5th place finish in Square-1, an initial 3x3x3 Blindfolded mark of 1:27.24, a 41-move count in Fewest Moves, and a first 3x3x3 Multi-Blind attempt of 2/3 in 27:33. Luke Selle entered all 12 events, finishing 4th in 3x3x3 Fewest Moves with a personal best of 33, while improving his 3x3x3 Blindfolded best by 13 percent to 1:18.70 and his Clock time to 6.25.
Veteran speed cubing participants also delivered noteworthy efficiency gains across long event slates. Charles F. Roller competed in 7 disciplines, securing 7th place in Clock while setting personal records in 4x4x4 Cube at 37.66, 6x6x6 Cube at 2:16.56, and 7x7x7 Cube at 3:43.37. Zhouyao Zhu reached 6th place in Clock with a personal best of 4.33 seconds, an 11.3 percent drop, alongside a first ever attempt at the 6x6x6 Cube in 5:00.14. These individual milestones reflected the broader depth of talent present at this WCA competition.
By the close of Sunday afternoon, the Evanston Qualifier 2025 concluded with 36 total podium places awarded entirely to United States competitors across twelve events. From the broad slate of blindfolded solves and specialized side events to traditional 3x3 results across various formats, the cubing competition delivered exceptional performances across all three days. The weekend wrapped up another memorable chapter in Evanston, sending competitors into the rest of the 2025 calendar with new personal bests and memorable stage victories.