Mini-Sota Summer 2026

Twenty-three competitors stepped up to the tables in Lakeville, Minnesota, USA on July 17, 2026, marking a pivotal midseason stop on the competitive calendar. Across five rounds of play, the single-day gathering tested solvers in events that diverged from typical standard rotations, offering a crucial checkpoint for participants sharpening their skills during the busy summer stretch. Hosted at Heritage Library, the event showed how focused specialty tournaments can shape the broader competitive landscape.

The 2026 season has brought fierce rivalries across the region, and Mini-Sota Summer 2026 proved to be an ideal stage for top contenders looking to make their mark. With three distinct puzzles on the schedule, the tournament provided an intense, compact format that required instant focus. While many fans following the circuit look purely for standard 3x3 results, the specialty disciplines here demanded a different level of technical mastery.

Kaius Young emerged as a central figure of the weekend, securing victory in the 4x4x4 Cube while putting together high-level performances throughout the day. In a field of 21 solvers, Young posted a winning average of 28.45 and registered the round best single of 24.61. James Ekins took the second spot with a 32.28 average, while Trygve Willis claimed third with a mark of 34.55. The result reinforced Young standing near the top of the regional leaderboards as the summer moves toward its peak.

The Clock event delivered the tightest duel of the entire WCA competition, stretching across two full rounds. Shain Papalotl Longbehn captured the title with a winning average of 5.17, edging out Young who finished mere hundredths behind at 5.22. Longbehn also produced the best single solve of the event at 4.35, while George Stephen Howard took third place on the podium with a 5.87 average among the 19 entrants.

In Megaminx, Tyler Robinson dominated the field of 18 competitors across two rounds to secure a decisive first-place finish. Robinson turned in a winning average of 36.43, bolstered by the fastest single of the contest at 33.96. James Ekins picked up another silver placement with a 48.84 average, and Trygve Willis rounded out the top three by finishing with a 54.99 mark. The dodecahedral puzzle added deep technical intrigue to the afternoon schedule.

Away from the top of the podium, the tournament served as a breakthrough proving ground for numerous participants setting personal milestones. Willow Courtnay achieved a massive drop in Clock, recording a personal best of 25.07 that was 61.2 percent faster than their previous mark. Tobias Carroll tackled three separate events, finishing 11th in Clock with a personal best of 15.49 that improved by 52.6 percent, while also logging a first ever attempt at 4x4x4 Cube in 1:35.89 and a first Megaminx attempt in 2:23.04. Kate Stuart dropped their Clock best by 33.3 percent down to 20.32 and posted a first Megaminx mark of 4:42.88.

Progress continued throughout the roster as Ezekiel Dao Schwendemann earned 11th place in 4x4x4 Cube with a personal best of 1:18.50, an improvement of 30.2 percent. Kellen Mitzo took on three events, taking 10th in Clock with a first ever attempt of 16.05 and cutting 15.6 percent off their Megaminx record to hit 2:20.76. Blake Byl finished 6th in Megaminx with a 1:31.11 personal best, Ryan Micke placed 5th in Clock with a 5.71 best, and Zeke King took 5th in 4x4x4 Cube with a 36.70 personal best.

The broader speedcubing community thrives on the variety present at events like this, where every discipline tests different aspects of dexterity and algorithmic recognition. Whether handling classic Rubik's Cube variations or specialized turning mechanisms, participants in Minnesota showed how dynamic a regional speed cubing lineup can be. The single-day structure kept energy levels high from the opening scrambles through the final solves.

As the season heads into its later months, the results from Mini-Sota Summer 2026 highlight a vibrant local scene filled with rising contenders and seasoned competitors alike. With nine podium places claimed across the three events, the Lakeville stop established fresh benchmarks and set the tone for the tournaments still to come this year.