CubingUSA Great Lakes Championship 2025

Dylan Miller delivered a breathtaking performance in Normal, Illinois, USA, posting a 6.19 winning average and a 4.73 single to seize the classic 3x3x3 Cube title over Luke Garrett (6.36) and Ben Zhao (7.15). The victory came against a massive field of 253 competitors across four rounds, underscoring the fierce quality at the top of the table. Held at the Bloomington-Normal Marriott Hotel & Conference Center from August 1 to August 3, the CubingUSA Great Lakes Championship 2025 showcased just how steep the climb was to reach any final round across the three-day program.

The 2025 edition gathered 257 speedcubing competitors tackling 17 official events across 37 separate rounds. With such vast numbers battling for limited spots in finals, advancing through the brackets demanded flawless consistency. Every phase tested precision and nerves, making this premier WCA competition one of the most demanding regional tests on the calendar as contenders from around the country pushed their limits across the weekend.

Henry Lichner completed a stunning sweep across the larger puzzles, demonstrating remarkable mastery in four separate events. Lichner captured the 4x4x4 Cube with a 23.82 average ahead of Garrett (24.85) and Max Walaszek (28.50). He followed up by winning the 5x5x5 Cube in 41.97, the 6x6x6 Cube in 1:14.17, and the 7x7x7 Cube with an average of 1:58.28. Navigating fields of up to 177 competitors in the big cubes, Lichner proved unmatched in stamina and tactical execution.

Stanley Chapel produced an absolute masterclass across the blindfolded disciplines, completing a sweep of all four memory-based formats. Chapel won the 3x3x3 Blindfolded with a 16.00 single ahead of Brayden Thompson (17.92) and Jacob Turrubiartes (33.34), then conquered 4x4x4 Blindfolded in 59.01 and 5x5x5 Blindfolded in 2:02.28. To cap off the memory tests, Chapel solved 35 out of 41 puzzles in 52:37 to dominate 3x3x3 Multi-Blind.

Beyond the championship podiums, the event floor was animated by dozens of personal milestones that official summary tables rarely emphasize. Dallyon Lindsey took on 13 events, recording a 3x3x3 One-Handed personal best of 16.21 seconds that was 70.7 percent faster than a previous mark of 55.32, while also posting a best finish of 37th in 3x3x3 Fewest Moves and making a first ever attempt at 6x6x6 Cube in 4:38.91. Trenton Wulf secured a Skewb personal best of 7.34 seconds, improving by 56.2 percent over a prior best of 16.76, while logging a first attempt at Square-1 in 1:26.36. Max North took on 13 events, recording a first ever attempt at 4x4x4 Cube in 54.10, 5x5x5 Cube in 1:51.27, and 6x6x6 Cube in 4:05.90. Luca Block tackled 10 events, logging a first attempt at 7x7x7 Cube in 6:54.46.

Other dedicated solvers embraced the massive schedule to explore unfamiliar disciplines. Edward Guthrie took on 10 events, logging a first attempt at Megaminx in 1:27.20 and Square-1 in 35.76. Kenneth Norton navigated 12 events, completing a first attempt at Square-1 in 14.20 and 3x3x3 One-Handed in 17.50. Noah James Hoff tackled 8 events, registering a first attempt at 4x4x4 Cube in 51.90 and Megaminx in 1:10.34. Alexander R. Hadley contested 8 events, capturing a 62nd place finish in 3x3x3 Fewest Moves alongside a first attempt at 3x3x3 One-Handed in 20.80, exemplifying the broad engagement that powered the CubingUSA Great Lakes Championship 2025.

Short-format puzzles brought intense drama, featuring rapid turnarounds and narrow podium margins. Carter Kucala won Skewb with a 2.30 average, holding off Simon Kellum (3.11) and Ireland competitor Declan Mangan-Lamb (3.12). Kucala added another gold in 3x3x3 Fewest Moves with a 21.00 average, narrowly besting Chapel (21.67) and Zeke Mackay (23.33). Sujan Feist claimed the 2x2x2 Cube title with a 1.02 winning average from a field of 228 competitors, while Elliott Perkins took Pyraminx in 2.02 seconds ahead of Carson Clark (2.21) and Kellum (2.38).

Luke Garrett secured his own championship victory in 3x3x3 One-Handed, averaging 10.07 to triumph over Kucala (10.93) and Andreas Lambropoulos (11.00). In other side events, Carter Thomas topped a 174-person Clock field with a 3.27 average, finishing ahead of Alex Bohac (3.65) and Reed W. Richardson (4.11). Brian Johnson captured Square-1 in 7.32 seconds, and Zeke Mackay took Megaminx with a 34.86 average.

With 50 podium spots earned by United States solvers and one by Ireland, the CubingUSA Great Lakes Championship 2025 highlighted the remarkable depth across North American speed cubing. From elite Rubik's Cube specialists fighting through four rounds to establish decisive 3x3 results to enthusiastic solvers expanding their repertoires, the tournament set a benchmark for competitive excellence that will resonate into the next season.