Great North Woods 2026

Inside White Mountains Community College, the steady rhythm of timer displays, scrambling stations, and puzzle surfaces set the tempo for the day. Tables filled early as competitors unbagged their gear and inspected their layers before the first official attempts. The atmosphere carried the distinct focus of a busy cubing competition, where seasoned solvers and newcomers shared adjacent stations under the hall lighting in Berlin, New Hampshire, USA. On September 5, 2026, the venue served as the battleground for seven official events, drawing participants from across the region to test their preparation.

For those taking part in their very first WCA competition, the single-day tournament provided an unforgettable debut experience. Stepping up to the judge table for an official solve carries a unique pressure distinct from practice at home. Oliver Fincher made their career debut at Great North Woods 2026, registering an official mark of 23.17 in the 3x3x3 Cube and a 6.44 in the 2x2x2 Cube across two entered events. Chloe Dupuis also experienced their first official tournament stage here, recording an initial attempt of 48.79 in the 3x3x3 Cube.

The broader field delivered breakthrough performances across a packed schedule that rewarded versatility. Derek Perry took on all seven events on the program, achieving a 74.1 percent improvement in 3x3x3 One-Handed with a personal best of 28.39, alongside a 20.10 personal best in Clock that shaved 17.3 percent off their previous mark, and recorded a first official 4x4x4 Cube attempt of 1:23.67. Max Dupuis entered five events, setting a 3x3x3 Cube personal best of 21.05 for a 16.5 percent drop, while also logging initial career attempts of 40.16 in Clock and 19.74 in Pyraminx. Charlie Laverty tackled four events, securing a 1:43.00 personal best in 4x4x4 Cube to cut 18 percent, posting a 19.23 personal best in 3x3x3 Cube, and completing a first 2x2x2 Cube solve in 6.05.

The progress continued throughout the roster of under-the-radar performers. Patrick Holt entered all seven events, capturing a 4th-place finish in Pyraminx, while logging a Skewb personal best of 3.27 to improve by 35.8 percent, an official 21.81 in 3x3x3 One-Handed, and a 10.18 in 3x3x3 Cube. James Bergeron took on four events, dropping their 2x2x2 Cube personal best by 31.9 percent down to 41.77 and advancing their Pyraminx best to 53.34. Harry Holt contested six events, earning a 5th-place finish in Clock with a personal best of 15.30, an improvement of 26.8 percent, alongside a 1:51.99 in 4x4x4 Cube. Simon Page took on all seven events, securing 8th in 3x3x3 One-Handed, while Marie Holt competed in four events, finishing 11th in Skewb.

At the top of the standings, the battle for the main Rubik's Cube title came down to razor-thin margins. In the 3x3 results, Aedan Bryant of the United States clinched victory with an average of 8.62 seconds. William Lavoie of Canada pressed hard throughout the final attempts, finishing just four hundredths of a second behind with an average of 8.66 to secure second place. Derek White earned third place for the United States with an average of 9.81, completing a competitive 3x3 podium.

Lavoie delivered an exceptional all-around speedcubing showing across the remaining six disciplines. In Skewb, the Canadian standout established a national record average of 1.89 seconds to take first place, ahead of Bryant who finished second with 3.64 and Eric Preisig in third with 7.03. Lavoie swept the top step in several other categories, winning the 2x2x2 Cube with a rapid 1.32 average over Bryant at 1.92 and Owen Young at 3.98, and capturing Pyraminx with a 3.09 average ahead of Bryant at 4.02 and White at 5.70.

The Canadian solver continued his dominant run in the mechanical and larger puzzle categories. In Clock, Lavoie recorded a winning average of 5.30 seconds, leading Bryant who posted 5.91 and Luke Chestnutt who earned third with 10.30. Moving to the 4x4x4 Cube, Lavoie posted a winning mark of 30.64 seconds, while White secured second place with 33.44 and Bryant took third with 34.47, demonstrating the physical precision required for speed cubing on complex mechanisms.

Bryant answered back in the one-handed discipline, capturing another title for the United States. In 3x3x3 One-Handed, Bryant took first place with an average of 15.18 seconds, edging out Lavoie who finished second with 15.66, while Chestnutt earned third place with an average of 21.73. Across the entire competition, the United States collected 14 podium positions, while Canada took home 7 podium spots, highlighted by Lavoie's five victories and national record mark.

From the early nervous attempts of first-time entrants to the polished, record-breaking routines of the finalists, Great North Woods 2026 offered a comprehensive showcase of modern puzzle solving. Solvers departed White Mountains Community College with verified official marks, personal milestones, and valuable stage time in Berlin. As the competitive circuit moves ahead, the marks set during this New Hampshire fixture provide a solid baseline for every participant aiming at their next season of competition.