Minnesota Cube Melt 2026

A total of 108 competitors lined up for the main event as Minnesota Cube Melt 2026 got underway at the Brooklyn Park Activity Center on May 9, 2026. The one-day tournament brought together 110 speedcubing entrants across five distinct disciplines in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, USA. Over 11 rounds of intense action, the classic 3x3x3 Cube contest stood out as the defining contest of the entire gathering, pushing the region's elite competitors down to the final turns of the decisive round.

The 3x3 results came down to a razor-thin margin between Tyler Robinson and Ivan ThanhDanh Duong. Through three demanding rounds on the traditional Rubik's Cube, every turn carried heavy weight. Robinson produced a best single of 7.37 seconds and managed to lock in a winning average of 8.29 seconds on his concluding solve. That effort narrowly edged Duong, who claimed second place with an 8.44 average, while Nathan Rahn took third with an 8.61 average in a tight finish.

Robinson was not done with just one title at Minnesota Cube Melt 2026. Taking to the 12-sided Megaminx puzzle, he outpaced a field of 46 competitors across two full rounds. Posting a winning average of 39.07 seconds and a best single of 36.78 seconds, Robinson secured his second championship of the day. Duong followed in second position with a mark of 48.25 seconds, while James Ekins captured third place on the podium with a 50.16 average.

Big cubes also produced commanding performances, with Kaius Young emerging as the dominant force in both 4x4x4 Cube and 6x6x6 Cube. In the 4x4x4 Cube event, Young topped 62 competitors over two rounds, sealing victory with a 26.85-second winning average and a single of 21.86 seconds. Duong was runner-up once more with a 29.73 average, ahead of Robinson in third at 31.99. In the 6x6x6 Cube, Young completed his sweep by averaging 1:36.84 to defeat Tyler Johnson and Chaeli Baker.

The 2x2x2 Cube event presented another high-speed contest featuring 95 competitors across three elimination rounds. Nathan Rahn proved unbeatable in the lightning-fast event, logging a best single of 1.17 seconds and finishing with a 1.96-second winning average. Walker Welch followed in second place with a 2.69 average, while Duong earned yet another top-three placing with a 2.82 average to cap off an exceptionally busy day across the tables.

Away from the top of the podium, Minnesota Cube Melt 2026 showcased tremendous milestones for developing competitors. Parker Baltes registered a major breakthrough in the 2x2x2 Cube, delivering a personal best of 2.07 seconds that was 59.9 percent faster than their previous mark. Nico Sawyer also had a standout day across three events, lowering their 2x2x2 Cube mark by 54.8 percent down to 3.57 seconds. Graham Rivard improved their 2x2x2 Cube best by 53 percent to 3.55 seconds while taking on their first ever attempt at 4x4x4 Cube in 1:05.77. Kellen Mitzo cut their 2x2x2 Cube mark by 51 percent to 5.14 seconds and made debut attempts in both Megaminx and 4x4x4 Cube.

The depth of progress across the cubing competition was on full display with several ambitious firsts. Albert Wolkowitz improved their 4x4x4 Cube time by 44.9 percent to 1:09.64 and tackled their first ever attempt at 6x6x6 Cube, finishing 22nd with a 5:22.61. Nolan Alger reached sixth place in 2x2x2 Cube with a 2.45 debut and posted a 1:23.22 in their Megaminx debut. Aidas Satkevicius dropped their 3x3x3 Cube best by 37.2 percent to 12.64 seconds, while Aravone Inthirath reduced their Megaminx best by 34 percent to 2:03.69.

For new entrants, stepping into a WCA competition brings both nerves and valuable stage experience. First-time competitors Ben Gray, Lennon Kahle, Wyatt Zimmerley, and Jackson Fjeld all logged official results across multiple events, anchoring a vibrant day of speed cubing in the Midwest. All 15 podium positions at the tournament went to United States competitors, closing out another successful chapter for the local community as solvers look ahead to the next phase of the racing season.