FMC Challenge Kiribathgoda 2025

A commanding 24.67 mean by Takumi Tamura sealed victory in 3x3x3 Fewest Moves, defining an intense day of problem solving as the competitive calendar moved through the final stretch of the 2025 campaign. Staged on October 4, 2025, at Kulathunga Hall in Kiribathgoda, Sri Lanka, the FMC Challenge Kiribathgoda 2025 served as a dedicated proving ground for efficiency. At this point in the year, cubers are looking to convert months of technical study into decisive results, and the single-discipline setup provided an unfiltered showcase of pure analysis on the classic Rubik's Cube.

The single-day competition brought together nine dedicated competitors who contested two full rounds of Fewest Moves solving. In a calendar often dominated by frantic speed cubing across multiple disciplines, this focused cubing competition stripped away the physical turning pace to spotlight methodical planning and algorithmic depth. Solvers sat for sixty minutes per attempt with pen, paper, and regulation scramble sheets, working to engineer the shortest sequence of turns possible across three separate scrambles per round.

Tamura, representing Japan, established control early and sustained his standard through the decisive final round. Delivering a winning average of 24.67 and a best single attempt of 23 moves in the final, Tamura captured the title by a comfortable margin. His showing also included an opening-round single of 21 moves and an average of 25.00, demonstrating rare consistency across the full slate of attempts at Kulathunga Hall.

Behind the champion, the race for podium honors produced strong battles among the host nation contingent. Nabhan Niyaz secured second place for Sri Lanka, logging an average of 38.67 moves in the final round to complement an earlier round best single of 35 and an opening average of 39.00. Santhiviraj Harikesh earned the third step on the podium with a 39.00 average, after having delivered a 37.33 average and a 35-move single during the first round of play.

National records also tumbled during the weekend action, highlighting the surging standard in Sri Lanka. Lithum Damviru Perera authored a historic breakthrough by establishing national record figures in both metrics, registering a 27-move single alongside a 34.00 average in the first round. The performance raised the benchmark for domestic solving and underscored the rapid evolution of specialized techniques within the regional community.

The official results sheet captures only the top placements, but some of the most notable milestones unfolded throughout the rest of the field. Lithum Damviru Perera translated 13 career competitions into his best finish of 5th place in 3x3x3 Fewest Moves, recording a personal best of 27 moves that was 35.7 percent faster than his prior best of 42. Sirima Witharanage Sathmika Navoda, taking part in his 14th career competition, secured 6th place while locking in a personal best single of 47 moves, trimming 13 percent off his previous standard of 54.

Fresh faces and event debuts added further depth to the afternoon session. Esandu Anuhas Dharmawardhana took on his first WCA competition, entering the sole event available and taking his first ever attempt at 3x3x3 Fewest Moves with a mark of 37 on his way to an impressive 4th place finish. Suneru Dewsara entered his 3rd career competition and completed his first ever attempt at 3x3x3 Fewest Moves with a 28-move solution. Dewni Prasadi Lakshika Fernando, competing in her 9th career tournament, also took on the event for the first time, logging an opening attempt of 69 moves.

As the season heads into its concluding months, FMC Challenge Kiribathgoda 2025 highlighted how specialized formats offer unique drama away from standard speedcubing races. Across nine solvers and two tense rounds, the 3x3 results from Kiribathgoda, Sri Lanka proved that precision and deep preparation remain as vital as raw turning speed, setting up an intriguing narrative as competitors prepare for the approaching competitive year.