FMC Europe 2025

134 competitors gathered simultaneously across various venues on September 20, 2025, to test their strategic solving abilities under identical conditions. The continental gathering known as FMC Europe 2025 brought together solvers from across Europe and beyond, each working quietly against the clock. The multi-location format allowed participants in Multiple Cities, XE to compete in real time against an expansive international field. With only pencil, paper, and regulation puzzles permitted, the focus remained purely on efficiency rather than pure turning velocity throughout the single scheduled round.

The 3x3x3 Fewest Moves discipline presents a unique challenge within speedcubing, stripping away rapid hand movements in favour of deep spatial analysis and algorithmic optimisation. Instead of racing to finish in seconds, solvers spend an allocated hour studying a scrambled Rubik's Cube to craft the shortest possible solution sequence. FMC Europe 2025 highlighted this demanding art form across an entire continent, drawing dedicated practitioners together in a unified test of logic and precision on the 2025 calendar.

Poland's Radomił Baran emerged at the very top of the international standings, delivering a masterclass in efficiency in front of home supporters. Baran claimed victory with a remarkable mean of 21.67 moves, supported by an exceptional single attempt of 21 moves. That performance secured him the gold medal in a fiercely competitive environment. His triumph anchored the podium results for Poland, delivering an elite standard that set the benchmark across every participating location during the tournament.

Hot on the heels of Baran was Louis-Marie Ratto of France, who claimed the second step on the podium after an outstanding three-attempt performance. Ratto matched Baran with a top single solution of 21 moves and completed the round with an impressive average of 22.33 moves. The French solver showed exceptional consistency across all three scrambles, applying sophisticated blockbuilding techniques to stay within a single move of the overall lead throughout the entire competition.

Israel's Ben Baron rounded out the top three finishers with an outstanding performance that rewrote the record books. Baron secured third place with an average of 22.67 moves, along with a best single effort of 22 moves. His average set a new National record average for Israel, providing a standout moment for his country at this major WCA competition. The achievement capped off a tight podium battle where less than one full move separated first from third place.

Beyond the podium positions, the leaderboard at FMC Europe 2025 featured numerous high-level solutions from a deep and skilled field. Fabio Schwandt of the United Kingdom turned in a strong performance, achieving a single of 21 moves and an average of 23.33. Denmark was well represented in the upper ranks, with Daniel Vædele Egdal and Adam Marcellus Kelly both logging identical averages of 23.33 moves, each backed by best single solutions of 22 moves during their respective attempts.

Further down the top ten standings, the quality of 3x3 results remained exceptionally high. Kai Cui of the United Kingdom and Enrico Tenuti of Italy each finished with an identical average of 24.00 moves, both recording single solves of 23 moves. Ukraine's Yurii Riabov recorded a single of 23 moves on the way to an average of 24.33 moves, matching the 24.33 average posted by Finland's Janne Lehtimäki, who achieved a best single solve of 24 moves.

Organising a simultaneous cubing competition across Multiple Cities, XE requires extensive logistical coordination to ensure fair conditions for all 134 entrants. With identical scrambles distributed across Europe, the event functioned as a true continental championship for speed cubing strategists. The single-round structure left no room for error, placing immense pressure on every attempt and demanding unwavering concentration from every participant from the opening scramble to the final submission.

As the final scoresheets were verified and submitted into the international rankings, FMC Europe 2025 stood out as a testament to the thriving community of analytical solvers. The podium representation, distributed evenly between Poland, France, and Israel, reflected the broad geographic strength of European solving. With a winning mark of 21.67 moves and a new national record established, the event reinforced the enduring appeal of the 3x3x3 Fewest Moves discipline heading into the next competitive cycle.