Middle Georgia Mega Mania 2025

The hall at Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 658 buzzed with the steady clatter of turning plastic on September 20, 2025, as solvers took their places behind the timers. Across the tables, stopwatches clicked into life and scorecards were stamped in rapid succession. For newcomers stepping into the venue in Macon, Georgia, USA, the rhythmic pacing of a live speedcubing tournament created an instant sense of urgency. The single-day schedule gathered 51 competitors across six events and 13 rounds of action.

A first WCA competition carries a distinct rhythm, where unranked solvers trade nervous anticipation for their opening official marks. Middle Georgia Mega Mania 2025 offered that very proving ground to a wave of fresh participants taking their initial steps in the sport. From learning the regulations of the inspection period to managing clock management under the watchful eyes of judges, the event showcased the essential welcoming energy that defines speed cubing at every level.

The spotlight shone brightly on several determined solvers making notable strides on the day. Joshua Coronel experienced their first WCA competition across five events, securing a best finish of 11th in Skewb while registering a first ever attempt at 3x3x3 Cube of 8.90 seconds, along with debut marks in Megaminx at 1:24.46 and 3x3x3 One-Handed at 23.10. Porter Hamilton also took part in their first WCA competition across four events, logging an initial 32.72 in 3x3x3 Cube and a 16.15 first attempt in Skewb. David Uribe made their debut with a 16.59 first attempt in 2x2x2 Cube, while John Mahlon Delaney tackled their initial tournament with a 30.66 first attempt in the main puzzle.

Veteran participants also produced dramatic personal breakthroughs throughout the afternoon. Jaiden Samtani delivered a stunning 2x2x2 Cube personal best of 2.63 seconds, shaving 68 percent off their previous mark of 8.21, while also trying Square-1 for the first time with a 1:19.17 solve. Thomas N. Orr cut their 3x3x3 Cube personal best to 21.16 seconds, an improvement of 36.6 percent over their old 33.40 mark, alongside a first try at 2x2x2 Cube in 9.77. Anthony Bernazza lowered their 2x2x2 Cube best by 42.7 percent down to 5.01 seconds, and Benjamin Valdivieso trimmed their 3x3x3 One-Handed personal best by 42.2 percent to 21.36 while taking on six separate disciplines at the venue.

When the top brackets took the stage, the 3x3 results brought an intensely competitive duel to the final table. Caleb Chen secured the victory in the classic Rubik's Cube with a winning average of 6.70 seconds, backed by a best single of 5.39. Nicolás Sánchez pressed hard to take second place with an average of 6.82 seconds, while Jared Stinson locked up third on the podium with a 7.81 average in a field of 51 entrants.

Chen continued his dominant form at Middle Georgia Mega Mania 2025 by claiming the top spot in the 2x2x2 Cube as well. Putting together a winning average of 1.92 seconds and a best single of 1.34, Chen led the 48-competitor event. Nicolás Sánchez followed closely once more with a 2.09 average for second place, and Andreas Lambropoulos earned the bronze medal spot with an average of 2.35 seconds.

Lambropoulos stood atop the podium in 3x3x3 One-Handed, orchestrating an exceptional display of single-handed dexterity. His winning average of 9.45 seconds featured a tournament-best single of 8.34, keeping him clear of runner-up Tien Tran at 12.16 and third-place Caleb Chen at 12.92. In the 12-sided Megaminx contest, Jared Stinson paced all 35 entrants across three rounds, taking first place with a 34.83 average and a 31.51 best single, ahead of Matthew A. Kight at 43.25 and Thomas Bryan at 46.70.

The non-standard twists and corner-turning puzzles produced equally thrilling conclusions at Middle Georgia Mega Mania 2025. Alex Bohac captured the Square-1 crown with an average of 10.17 seconds and a best single of 7.78, holding off Katie Hull with 12.76 and Drake Denton Richard with 13.06. Richard rebounded in Skewb to claim the title with a 3.13 average, narrowly edging Declan Mangan-Lamb of Ireland who finished second at 3.21, followed by Eddie Szuster in third at 3.33.

With 17 podium places claimed by United States competitors and one by Ireland, the cubing competition concluded on a high note for both decorated veterans and ambitious first-timers. The day in Macon demonstrated that personal bests and tournament debuts carry as much weight as gold medals, providing every solver with valuable experience to carry forward into the rest of the 2025 campaign.