Glasgow Side Events Spring 2025

Max Kwok U Sam of Macau pulled off a commanding big-cube sweep across three separate categories to highlight an action-packed weekend in Scotland. Staged at the Learning and Teaching Building at Strathclyde University, Glasgow Side Events Spring 2025 gathered 42 dedicated competitors between April 5 and April 6, 2025. Over 20 rounds of intense speedcubing across seven non-standard disciplines, host nation competitors from the United Kingdom established overwhelming authority on the podiums, capturing 13 out of the 21 top-three finishes up for grabs.

The gathering in Glasgow, City of Glasgow, United Kingdom, placed alternate formats at center stage rather than standard Rubik's Cube headliners. While fans tracking regular speed cubing meets often hunt for standard 3x3 results, this WCA competition deliberately pushed specialty disciplines into the limelight. Kwok U Sam delivered unmatched precision on the complex multi-layered puzzles, claiming the 5x5x5 Cube title with a 51.76 winning average and an event-best single of 49.47, while holding off Hong Kong competitor Branson Lau in second place at 56.32.

Kwok U Sam repeated his mastery on the larger frames throughout Glasgow Side Events Spring 2025. In the 6x6x6 Cube, he notched a winning average of 1:38.67 alongside a single of 1:37.89, again finishing clear of Lau, who took runner-up honours with 1:47.41. The 7x7x7 Cube final produced an identical hierarchy, as Kwok U Sam locked down the gold with an average of 2:35.43 and a 2:33.27 single, while Lau secured another silver at 2:49.33. United Kingdom standout Adam Black completed the trifecta of bronze finishes across all three big-cube events with times of 1:00.92, 1:54.39, and 3:00.52.

British athletes swept the remaining hardware across the weekend, taking four championship titles. Sophie Gilbert led the charge with a versatile double victory, taking first place in Clock by registering a 5.52 winning average and a 4.96 single, leading compatriot Hayden Wallace at 5.90. Gilbert followed that triumph with gold in Megaminx, logging an average of 43.79 and a best single of 40.08, ahead of Christopher Kilgallon who averaged 48.88 for silver.

In the Skewb bracket, Billie Hammill captured the top prize for the United Kingdom with a sharp 5.33 winning average and a 4.22 single, outlasting Germany competitor Ricardo Olea Catalán who posted a 6.45 mark. The Square-1 final went to Ryan Eckersley, whose dominant 8.62 average and 8.48 single placed him well clear of second-placed Kilgallon at 13.35 and third-placed Hammill at 13.94, capping off an extraordinary display of domestic depth throughout the cubing competition.

Away from the top steps of the podium, Glasgow Side Events Spring 2025 showcased remarkable progression from competitors taking on demanding personal programs. Luke Rigg recorded a dramatic 53.6 percent drop in Clock, lowering his personal mark to 21.78, while Tom Nicholls cut 41 percent off his Megaminx best to reach 2:45.04 across his four events. Kai McLean tackled all seven events on the schedule, securing a seventh-place finish in Skewb and carving 34.7 percent off his 6x6x6 Cube best down to 3:50.38, alongside a 31.2 percent improvement on the 7x7x7 Cube at 6:41.30. Thea Lancaster took on six events, securing a 26 percent cut on 6x6x6 Cube to 4:15.74 and making her first ever attempt at 7x7x7 Cube with a time of 6:55.71.

First-time event appearances added depth to the roster throughout the venue. Melanie Johnson entered all seven disciplines, registering her first ever attempts in the 6x6x6 Cube at 4:26.20, Square-1 at 24.84, and Megaminx at 2:27.93. Charlotte Marsland balanced seven events, recording a tenth-place run in Skewb, her first ever attempt on 7x7x7 Cube at 5:11.84, and a 20.9 percent jump on Square-1 at 19.64. Arran Berry Simpson tackled four events, making a first attempt on Megaminx with 3:25.61 and taking 29.9 percent off his Clock mark to hit 22.61. Levi James Brown expanded his competitive range across three events, logging official firsts in Clock at 12.01, Skewb at 15.20, and Megaminx at 3:47.82.

The weekend concluded with Germany earning two podium placements through Olea Catalán and Amélie Dieterich, who took third on Megaminx at 52.56. With Macau, Hong Kong, and Germany securing strong finishes against a formidable British contingent, Glasgow Side Events Spring 2025 proved to be an exceptional celebration of speedcubing breadth and technical mastery at Strathclyde University.