Malta End of Summer 2025

While traditional speed events celebrate raw turning velocity against the running stopwatch, competitive puzzles always reward deep analytical clarity beneath the pressure of the clock. On September 20, 2025, Michael Schembri delivered a masterclass in efficiency and poise, capturing the classic 3x3x3 Cube title with a winning average of 11.34 seconds. The action unfolded at The University of Malta in Msida, Malta, where 27 competitors gathered for an intense single-day showcase spanning seven different events and eight total rounds of action.

The 2025 gathering brought high energy to Msida, Malta, as solvers tackled everything from compact twisty puzzles to high-order challenges. In the premier 3x3x3 Cube, Schembri topped the podium ahead of Benjamin Chetcuti Cauchi, who recorded an 11.57 average, while Samuel Gauci secured third place with an average of 13.25. The overall 3x3 results underlined the sharpness of the local field, with Schembri also logging the best single solve of the event at 10.49 seconds during the competition.

Schembri expanded his tally by winning the 3x3x3 One-Handed event, where solving requires one hand and immense finger dexterity. He posted a winning average of 24.34 seconds alongside a best single of 19.52 seconds. Italy's Samuele Cancemi secured second place with a 27.17 average, narrowly edging Chetcuti Cauchi, who captured third with a mark of 27.38. The battle across 19 competitors highlighted how technical precision remains vital at every official WCA competition.

Short-format speedcubing also brought tight contests in the 2x2x2 Cube, where Benjamin Chetcuti Cauchi captured the gold with an impressive 3.15 winning average and a single of 2.05 seconds. Schembri followed closely in second place with an average of 3.96, while Cancemi rounded out the top three at 4.14 seconds. The rapid turning in this event drew 21 participants, making it one of the most contested brackets of the entire weekend.

Beyond the familiar Rubik's Cube variants, Bianca Spiteri produced an exceptional double victory in side events at Malta End of Summer 2025. In the Pyraminx, Spiteri finished first with a 4.25 average and a 3.25 single, beating Liam J. Bonello who took second at 6.68, and Chetcuti Cauchi in third at 7.87. Spiteri followed that performance with a victory in Square-1, recording an average of 24.51 and a 13.13 single, finishing ahead of Michael Zammit and Italy's Chiara Marcucci.

The bigger puzzles delivered further drama courtesy of Italy's Vincenzo Maria Gammino. Gammino conquered the 7x7x7 Cube with a winning average of 3:00.22, finishing ahead of Slovakia's Riccardo Raciti and Malta's Chetcuti Cauchi. Gammino added a second gold medal on the day by claiming the Megaminx title with an average of 1:26.39. In total across all podium places, host nation Malta claimed 14 podium finishes, Italy took 6, and Slovakia earned 1.

Beneath the top podiums, the cubing competition provided plenty of remarkable personal milestones. John Paul Zammit took on five different events, setting a 2x2x2 Cube personal best of 5.03 seconds that was 51.7 percent faster than his previous mark of 10.41, while also logging his first ever attempt at 3x3x3 One-Handed with a time of 1:46.56. Giorgio Grigolo entered four events, posting a personal best of 12.49 seconds in the 3x3x3 Cube to improve by 22.1 percent, alongside debut attempts in both One-Handed and Pyraminx. Canada's James Lee lowered his 3x3x3 personal best by 22.7 percent down to 18.76 seconds and completed his first official One-Handed solve in 47.89 seconds. Gerard Tabone also entered three events, logging a personal best of 7.81 seconds in 2x2x2 Cube and finishing 16th in One-Handed with an initial attempt of 1:14.86.

Several newcomers and dedicated participants also made significant headway at Malta End of Summer 2025. Tokyo Attard tackled three events, improving their 2x2x2 personal best by 26 percent to 3.98 seconds, dropping their 3x3x3 mark by 20.5 percent to 13.55, and shaving time off their Pyraminx best at 8.72. Debutant Lara Caruana Montaldo completed four events in her very first official appearance, reaching 12th place in One-Handed and setting initial marks in three separate disciplines. Boris Petkovic also made his debut by taking on four events, securing 7th place in One-Handed with an opening effort of 28.29 seconds. Luke Balzan entered three disciplines on his first appearance, placing 10th in One-Handed with a run of 45.44 seconds.

The single-day event concluded with strong camaraderie among the 27 participants representing diverse nations. Across multiple puzzle formats, the speed cubing community demonstrated tremendous depth and technical growth on the university stage. Malta End of Summer 2025 stood as a memorable showcase of focused calculation and quick hands, sending competitors home with fresh personal milestones as they look forward to the upcoming season.