Falkirk Beginners 2026

A single turning second stood between glory and silver at Grangemouth Town Hall as the 3x3x3 Cube final went down to the narrowest margins of the weekend. Brunei competitor Izzan Sahari delivered a clinical winning average of 14.06 seconds to hold off United Kingdom rival Nate Thomason, whose 15.58 mark kept the pressure alive until the final solve. With South Africa competitor Kiran Prigge taking third on a 16.94 average, the showcase podium was decided by mere fractions over five intense solves. Sahari also secured the fastest single solve of the event at 12.96 seconds.

The one-day WCA competition, held on February 22, 2026, brought together 40 competitors for Falkirk Beginners 2026. Staged in Grangemouth, Falkirk, United Kingdom, the gathering featured 7 rounds across three core events, providing a vibrant speedcubing atmosphere for newcomers and experienced solvers alike. The compact schedule kept the venue lively as athletes cycled rapidly through the rounds of the classic Rubik's Cube alongside the 2x2x2 Cube and the triangular Pyraminx.

The 2x2x2 Cube competition produced the quickest pacing of the day, drawing 32 competitors across two fiercely contested rounds. Ryan McIlree of the United Kingdom proved unbeatable, logging a winning average of 2.81 seconds alongside the event single of 2.34 seconds. Prigge earned a second podium finish of the meeting by securing runner-up honours with an average of 4.41 seconds, while Ibrahim Nazim rounded out the top three for the host nation with a 6.11 average.

In Pyraminx action, Giorgos Sofroniou of Cyprus topped the field of 25 competitors across two rounds. Sofroniou assembled a consistent 7.57 winning average and matched it with the round-best single of 6.74 seconds. The remaining podium spots belonged to British solvers, with Charlotte O'Donnell taking second place on an 11.01 average and Noah Ross finishing third with an 11.95 average to complete the podium placements for the event.

Away from the top steps of the podium, the event delivered massive personal breakthroughs across the board. Sam Gosden shaved a massive 55.9 percent off their previous benchmark to register a 3x3x3 Cube personal best of 24.96 seconds while also recording a first ever attempt at 2x2x2 Cube of 6.53 seconds. Xavier Hursty chopped 55.4 percent off their classic puzzle time to hit 22.65 seconds, posted a 2x2x2 Cube personal best of 8.16 seconds, and logged a first ever attempt at Pyraminx of 10.97 seconds. Mustafa Sohail Khan dropped their 3x3x3 Cube best by 38 percent to 19.04 seconds after a first ever attempt at 2x2x2 Cube of 8.11 seconds.

Fresh faces made an immediate mark across multiple disciplines during the day. Charlie Milner logged an 8.18 in a first ever attempt at Pyraminx and lowered their 2x2x2 Cube personal best by 32.4 percent to 6.44 seconds. Isaac Johnston tackled three events in a first WCA competition, securing a best finish of 4th in 3x3x3 Cube and a first ever attempt at 2x2x2 Cube of 5.20 seconds. Eli Brown also made their first official appearance across three events, posting an 8th-place finish in 2x2x2 Cube alongside a first attempt of 6.77 seconds. Cara Munro achieved a best finish of 4th in Pyraminx with a 9.96 first attempt, while Declan Charles Brace recorded a 5.56 first attempt in 2x2x2 Cube and an 8th-place finish in the 3x3x3 Cube.

Across the entire day, competitors from the United Kingdom earned five podium spots, while South Africa took two, alongside single podium appearances from Cyprus and Brunei. The 3x3 results demonstrated steady improvement throughout each stage, moving from wide opening fields down to the sharpest eight finalists. Solvers who took on the full slate navigated a demanding schedule of three disciplines without pause.

The final rounds at Falkirk Beginners 2026 capped a memorable day of speed cubing in Grangemouth. From razor-thin margins at the top of the standings to dozens of breakthrough solves in the undercard, the cubing competition served as an ideal platform for solvers establishing their place in official tournament play.