Mini-sota Heartland Warm-Up I 2026

Andy Wong completed a remarkable sweep across all three contested events in Rosemount, Minnesota, USA, posting a dominant 7:10.15 single in the 5x5x5 blindfolded final to seal an undefeated run. The single-day WCA competition, held on May 1, 2026, brought together a tight-knit field of 12 competitors at the Robert Trail Library. Operating on familiar home soil, Wong captured top honors in every discipline on the schedule, asserting control from the opening rounds through the final blindfolded attempts.

The Mini-sota Heartland Warm-Up I 2026 provided a focused test of both memory and dexterity across four rounds of play. Across the entire program, American cubers claimed all nine podium positions awarded throughout the day. With a selective slate featuring big cube blindfolded events and single-handed solving, every entrant faced demanding formats that tested preparation over extended solving durations.

Wong set the tone early in the 3x3x3 One-Handed event, which drew 11 competitors across two full rounds of action. In the opening session, solvers navigated the classic Rubik's Cube using only one hand, aiming for consistency to advance to the decisive round. Wong led the charge with a best single of 10.92 before closing out the final with a tournament-best 13.20 winning average. Carson Claud secured second place with a 22.39 average, while Isaac Robison rounded out the top three with a mark of 29.23.

Beyond the traditional 3x3 results, the schedule turned toward blindfolded solving, where memorization and spatial recall dictate success. In the 4x4x4 blindfolded contest, five competitors took to the tables for a single high-pressure round. Wong once again set the benchmark, capturing first place with a single time of 2:57.93. Claud put together a complete solve of 8:45.98 to claim his second runner-up finish of the day, followed by Shain Papalotl Longbehn in third place at 24:14.00.

The 5x5x5 blindfolded event proved just as grueling, gathering four competitors for a single round of solving. Wong delivered his third victory of the day with his 7:10.15 winning single, outdistancing the rest of the field. Preston Hoing delivered a successful solve of 19:28.00 to take second place on the podium, while Claud earned third place with a time of 22:20.00, completing a medal triple across the competition.

Away from the top of the podium, several competitors turned in standout individual milestones across the day. Theodore Burson delivered the sharpest drop of the meet in 3x3x3 One-Handed, recording a personal best single of 43.88 seconds, which was 3.9 percent faster than his previous standard of 45.67. Taking on multiple disciplines, Stephen Burson entered two separate events and earned a personal meet-high fourth-place finish in the 4x4x4 blindfolded event.

Other entrants made steady progress through the specialized brackets during the afternoon. Veteran Andrew Tyberg took on the one-handed event and secured a fourth-place finish in the final round. Amanda Schmid also demonstrated strong one-handed form to earn a sixth-place finish, while Zeke King worked through the same bracket to capture eighth place, rounding out a productive day of speed cubing at the library tables.

With four rounds completed across three specialized events, the Mini-sota Heartland Warm-Up I 2026 concluded as a successful showcase of focus and regional talent. The gathering highlighted the depth of local speedcubing skill, where experienced hands and dedicated solvers shared the tables in Rosemount. As the 2026 season continues, the performances across blindfolded and one-handed disciplines stand as a solid benchmark for the Midwest circuit.