Gem State Side Events Idaho 2026

Evan Beck delivered a masterclass in single-handed control at the Courtyard by Marriott Boise West, sealing victory in 3x3x3 One-Handed with an outstanding winning average of 17.16 seconds and a best single of 13.07 seconds. Controlling the classic Rubik's Cube with only one hand demands exceptional finger ergonomics, precise table use, and fluid lookahead. Across two rounds featuring 26 competitors, Beck maintained flawless consistency, finishing well ahead of Damian Wilding, who posted a 22.03 average, and Lowen Shattuck, who earned third with a 22.22 average.

The one-handed triumph set the tone for the entire gathering in Meridian, Idaho, USA. Held on July 25, 2026, Gem State Side Events Idaho 2026 brought together 35 competitors for a concentrated, single-day programme spanning 6 distinct events and 11 rounds of competition. Speedcubing enthusiasts from across the region converged to tackle technical challenges that ranged from large-cube turning to single-turn efficiency and memory-based solving.

Beck extended his commanding form across multiple disciplines throughout the cubing competition. In the standard 3x3x3 Cube event, he swept through all three rounds to claim first place with a blistering 7.71 winning average and a best single of 7.39 seconds. Ian Lawson secured second place with a 10.42 average, while Wilson Littman claimed third on a 10.68 mark. Beck then captured a third gold medal in the 4x4x4 Cube, clocking a 29.48 winning average and an event-best single of 25.36 seconds across two rounds, finishing ahead of Lawson's 37.56 and Conlin Alzheimer's 42.44.

Beyond the speed events, technical precision and memorisation defined the schedule. Conlin Alzheimer secured victory in 3x3x3 Blindfolded, clocking a winning single of 54.73 seconds in an event that demands complete mental mapping without visual assistance. Santiago Ramirez claimed second with a time of 1:38.01, followed by Damian Wilding in 2:41.40. In 3x3x3 Fewest Moves, Lowen Shattuck took the top podium spot by finding a solution requiring just 42 moves, edging Wilding by a single turn at 43 moves, while Matthias Moore finished third with 45.

The Square-1 contest produced another tight battle across its two rounds of play. Damian Wilding earned the title with a 21.01 winning average, backed by a best single of 17.82 seconds. Conlin Alzheimer completed a multi-podium weekend by taking second place with a 23.78 average, while Grant Magnolo rounded out the podium in third with an average of 26.32 seconds. Across all six events, United States competitors secured all 18 available podium positions, reflecting great depth across the regional speed cubing scene.

Behind the podium battles, several competitors achieved remarkable milestones across their individual schedules. Andrew Terpening dropped his Square-1 personal best by 70.3 percent down to 26.38 seconds, while also trimming his 3x3x3 One-Handed time to 21.30 and setting a 10.43 personal best in 3x3x3. Eli Jameson logged a 52.9 percent improvement in Square-1 to reach 27.65 seconds, alongside personal bests of 36.14 in One-Handed and 14.74 in standard 3x3. Jacob Bertrand cut his Square-1 mark by 35.2 percent to 24.71 and set a 16.34 One-Handed personal best, while Beau Blumenfeld improved his 3x3x3 best by 25.4 percent to 21.45 seconds.

New milestones continued throughout the scoresheets as competitors took on new challenges for the very first time. Colt Gertsch sliced 25 percent off his 3x3x3 One-Handed personal best to finish at 28.77 seconds while taking 14th in 3x3. Joshua Daniel Avila earned 4th place in 3x3x3 Fewest Moves on a debut attempt of 50 moves. First-time entrants also made their mark on the WCA competition stage, with Judson Roberts clocking 21.69 in 3x3x3 and 1:04.10 in One-Handed, while William Ledbetter logged 51.15 in standard 3x3 alongside a 3:15.46 debut in 4x4x4.

With 11 rounds packed into a single summer day, Gem State Side Events Idaho 2026 showcased both top-tier consistency and personal advancement. From Evan Beck's decisive three-event victory run to the wide array of personal records set across the venue, the tournament highlighted the technical skill and focus required across specialized disciplines. As the 2026 season moves forward, the solid 3x3 results and specialized marks established in Meridian provide a high benchmark for the next wave of regional competition.