Eyes Open Open - Ōtautahi 2025

Jasper Murray delivered the standout performance of the weekend by capturing the premier 3x3x3 Cube title with a 6.74 winning average and a single of 5.35 seconds. Across two packed days of competition at the WEA Christchurch venue in Christchurch, New Zealand, 26 competitors assembled on September 20 to September 21 for Eyes Open Open - Ōtautahi 2025. The schedule spanned 13 separate events and 23 total rounds, showcasing elite talent alongside rapid progression across every style of mechanical puzzle.

The 3x3 results formed the centerpiece of the program, with Murray fending off fierce domestic challenges to climb the top step. Connor Johnson secured the runner-up spot with an average of 7.34 seconds, while Henry Eyles finished third with an average of 7.95 seconds. In total, 24 competitors battled across three rounds of Rubik's Cube solving, setting a high standard of precision under timer pressure.

Beyond the flagship puzzle, Connor Johnson enjoyed a dominant run across several short-format events. Johnson secured victory in the 2x2x2 Cube with a blistering 1.36 winning average, finishing ahead of Zee Capangpangan at 1.78 and Seth Nasol at 1.79. Johnson followed that success with first-place finishes in both Skewb, recording an average of 3.62 seconds, and Clock, claiming gold with a mark of 4.24 seconds. The speedcubing meeting demonstrated rapid turns and tactical mastery throughout both days.

Henry Eyles demonstrated extraordinary endurance across mid-size and specialized categories. Eyles swept four distinct titles, winning the 4x4x4 Cube with a 27.85 average, the 5x5x5 Cube in 53.66, the Megaminx in 42.13, and Square-1 in 8.43 seconds. Eyles also claimed victory in 3x3x3 Fewest Moves with a single of 30, where Johnson took second on 33 and Daniel Fraser earned third on 35. These displays underlined the technical range required at a high-level WCA competition.

Large cubes and one-handed solving belonged to Dwyane Ramos, who completed a triple-crown performance. Ramos took the 3x3x3 One-Handed title with an 8.72 average, holding off Murray on 9.67 and Johnson on 14.90. Stepping up to the big puzzles, Ramos dominated the 6x6x6 Cube with a winning mark of 1:27.82 and the 7x7x7 Cube with an average of 2:19.82, besting Eyles in both contests. Murray also added another trophy to his tally by prevailing in Pyraminx with a swift 1.59 average.

While the champions took the silverware, huge strides on the personal charts told an equally important story at Eyes Open Open - Ōtautahi 2025. Sebastian James logged a Clock personal best of 9.76, an improvement of 39 percent over his previous best of 15.99, while also notching a 35.46 personal best in 3x3x3 One-Handed and tackling his first ever 4x4x4 Cube attempt at 1:48.70. Seth Llewelyn Petty took on his first ever attempt at Pyraminx, logging a 12.01, and slashed his 2x2x2 Cube mark by 38.4 percent down to 7.41. Jayden Smith chopped 35.5 percent off his Clock mark to reach 10.61, and Numair Malik took his Square-1 best down to 10.29, an improvement of 33.7 percent.

The progress continued throughout the roster across diverse disciplines at Eyes Open Open - Ōtautahi 2025. Ollie Kimber improved his Clock personal best by 26.5 percent to 7.92 and registered his first ever 5x5x5 Cube result at 2:39.72. Jacob O'Callaghan advanced his Megaminx best to 1:37.48, shaving 21 percent from his prior mark, alongside a new Square-1 best of 19.95. AJ Rutherford took on eight events, making first career attempts in 5x5x5 Cube at 3:04.60, Megaminx at 2:19.20, and 3x3x3 Fewest Moves at 61. Debutant Todd Holland entered five events, logging first attempts of 18.86 in 3x3x3 Cube and 2:39.35 in 4x4x4 Cube.

International representation added further depth to the gathering. Competitors from New Zealand captured 37 podium positions, while representatives from the Philippines claimed two podiums. The weekend showcased intense speed cubing alongside substantial individual growth across all thirteen disciplines.

With 23 rounds concluded in Christchurch for the 2025 season, Eyes Open Open - Ōtautahi 2025 served as a definitive test of speed, problem-solving, and personal milestone chasing. The cubing competition highlighted both seasoned winners and rapidly rising competitors as everyone sets their sights on the next phase of the calendar.