Glasgow Autumn Open 2025

A winning average of 10.81 seconds set the tone for an extraordinary display of manual precision as 67 competitors gathered for the Glasgow Autumn Open 2025. Held on November 22, 2025, at the Learning and Teaching Building on the Strathclyde University campus, the cubing competition brought together speedcubing talent from across the region and abroad. Across six distinct events and seven intense rounds, competitors tackled standard puzzles alongside specialised formats, but the sheer technical mastery required for 3x3x3 One-Handed provided the standout storyline of the day. Solving the puzzle with a single hand demands exceptional fingertrick control, ergonomic efficiency, and rapid foresight, disciplines that were fully rewarded in Scotland.

The single-handed discipline saw Johnny Morello Kerlaff of the United Kingdom deliver a commanding performance to secure the top step of the podium. Kerlaff posted the round best single of 8.57 seconds alongside his gold-medal average of 10.81, outpacing a deep field of 55 entrants. Max Kwok U Sam of Macau claimed the silver medal with a steady 15.27 average, while Daniel Evans earned the bronze for the host nation on an 18.56 result. The event showcased how one-handed execution hinges on turning fluidity and table manipulation, turning an already demanding Rubik's Cube into a high-stakes test of fingertip dexterity.

Kerlaff carried that same rhythm directly into the traditional speed cubing headliners. In the classic 3x3x3 Cube, which drew 66 competitors across two competitive rounds, Kerlaff captured victory with a decisive 6.72 average and a round-best 5.62 single. Max Kwok U Sam took another podium spot, finishing second with a 7.89 average, while Ethan Guatelli rounded out the top three on a 9.10 average. The 3x3 results demonstrated world-class speed across both rounds, sealing a dominant showing in the standard puzzle categories at the Strathclyde venue.

The momentum continued into the 4x4x4 Cube, where Kerlaff completed a remarkable triple-crown of titles. In a tight contest featuring 55 starters, Kerlaff managed a 30.04 average and a 26.05 single, edging out Max Kwok U Sam, who secured second place with a 30.18 average. Adam Black took third place with a 34.89 average. Across all three events, Kerlaff displayed relentless consistency, keeping his turning accurate under the pressure of narrow margins on the bigger layers as well as the standard pieces.

Beyond the multi-event victories, individual discipline specialists found their own moments at the Glasgow Autumn Open 2025. Poland represented at the top of the Megaminx standings as Marcel Borkowski produced a winning 41.86 average and a fast 38.73 single to take gold ahead of Elijah Layne from the USA on 44.04 and Kerlaff on 50.49. In Skewb, Sam Jones prevailed with a 2.90 winning average, leading a British podium sweep alongside Oliver Aonghas Robinson on 4.01 and Jamie Haazen on 5.17. The Clock event produced a photo-finish finish, where Rylan Cheng-Brown took the title with a 5.40 average, narrowly besting Ryan Eckersley on 5.44 and Sam Jones on 5.76.

Away from the top of the podium tables, the weekend was defined by significant personal milestones across the field. Rory Gilmour unlocked a dramatic Skewb personal best of 3.54 seconds, an improvement of 60.8 percent compared to their previous mark, alongside making a first ever attempt at Clock with an 18.24 single. Benjamin Sauerteig delivered a 35.1 percent leap in 3x3x3 One-Handed to hit a personal best of 42.82, while also trimming their Skewb best to 5.35 and logging a first ever attempt at 4x4x4 Cube in 2:36.38. James Dale took on six events, dropping their 3x3x3 Cube personal best by 27.9 percent to 11.59 seconds while recording first attempts in Megaminx at 2:03.58 and 4x4x4 Cube at 1:48.16. Nicholas Bury Munro recorded a 25.4 percent improvement in 4x4x4 Cube to register 1:23.60, trimmed their Megaminx mark to 2:10.03, and registered their first Clock attempt with an 11.03 solve.

The progress continued across various disciplines as competitors broadened their event repertoires. Alan Lacki lowered their 3x3x3 One-Handed personal best by 24.1 percent down to 45.60 seconds, while also recording initial attempts in both 4x4x4 Cube at 1:32.03 and Clock at 16.66. Hugo Yannoulis entered six events, achieving a best finish of 7th in Skewb while dropping their One-Handed personal best by 20.5 percent to 35.80 and setting an initial Clock attempt of 28.39. Weiyi Liu secured a best finish of 10th in 3x3x3 Cube, improved their One-Handed mark to 22.36, and posted first official attempts in Skewb at 8.33 and Clock at 9.64. Casey Spencer also took on a heavy six-event slate, recording first ever attempts in Clock at 25.21 and One-Handed at 1:05.25 alongside a new 3x3x3 Cube personal best of 18.85.

The gathering in Glasgow, City of Glasgow, United Kingdom, showcased the rich breadth of the regional scene in 2025. From the technical control demanded by one-handed solving to the fast turns of the standard events, the WCA competition highlighted both established mastery and steady individual progress across every tier of the scoreboard as the season moves toward its next chapter.