More Cubes Kelburn 2026

A blistering 17.83 single from James Macdiarmid in 3x3x3 Blindfolded set the tone for a fierce day of high-stakes memory solving in Wellington, New Zealand. Held at the Victoria University of Wellington Kelburn Campus on June 21, 2026, the dedicated blindfolded gathering brought together nine of the country's most dedicated specialists. The single-day contest developed into an intense rivalry across all three disciplines on the schedule, with competitors pushing each other to the absolute limit across four intense rounds of competition.

The one-day WCA competition delivered a concentrated showcase of pure memorisation and precision execution. While traditional speedcubing events often focus on standard sighted solving, this specialised cubing competition gathered elite memory solvers targeting complex blindfolded events. A compact field of nine competitors made every heat feel like a direct regional clash, with the country's top talents battling head-to-head for domestic dominance on the campus stage.

In the 3x3x3 Blindfolded event, which drew all nine competitors across two rounds, the standard 3x3 results reached peak intensity in the final round. James Macdiarmid claimed victory on the strength of his 17.83 single, edging out Xavier Courteau-Laing, who took second place with a swift 19.76 single. Jack McDougall completed the podium in third place with a 20.98 effort, rounding out a lightning-fast top three where every podium finisher dipped under the twenty-one-second threshold despite Macdiarmid logging a DNF average.

The classic Rubik's Cube proved to be only the opening chapter of the rivalry between Macdiarmid, Courteau-Laing, and McDougall. In 3x3x3 Multi-Blind, seven competitors lined up long rows of puzzles, demanding sustained concentration for up to an hour. Macdiarmid once again secured the top spot on the podium, successfully solving 43 out of 59 cubes in a time of 1:00:02. His massive attempt showcased an extraordinary level of endurance and mental mapping under strict time constraints.

Courteau-Laing mounted a formidable challenge in the Multi-Blind room, finishing in the runner-up position by successfully solving 24 out of 28 cubes in 57:43. McDougall remained hot on their heels, claiming third place by registering 19 out of 21 solved cubes in 51:17. The disciplined approaches of all three podium finishers highlighted the deep technical standard present within New Zealand speed cubing, as each competitor balanced aggressive volume against critical time limits.

The competitive momentum shifted decisively when the field expanded to the larger puzzle in 4x4x4 Blindfolded. Six competitors stepped forward to tackle the complexities of solving a four-layered cube without sight, an event notorious for punishing even minor memory lapses with a DNF. Jack McDougall rose to the challenge, capturing the championship with a winning average of 2:32.73 and a best single time of 1:38.70 to assert his mastery on the larger cube.

McDougall's victory in the 4x4x4 Blindfolded event came against a determined chasing pack. Tom Nelson secured second place on the podium with a solid average of 3:13.28. The remaining four competitors in the field—Jack Maddigan, Xavier Courteau-Laing, Aneurin Hunt, and Dylan Himmelfarb—all finished tied for third place after recording DNF results, illustrating the unforgiving nature and razor-thin margins inherent to big-cube blindfolded solving.

By the conclusion of More Cubes Kelburn 2026, all twelve podium awards had been claimed by domestic competitors, cementing the gathering as a high-water mark for the nation's memory specialists. The tight battles between Macdiarmid, McDougall, and Courteau-Laing highlighted an evolving regional rivalry that elevated standards across every blindfolded discipline on the schedule.

The action at More Cubes Kelburn 2026 closed out a memorable single-day showcase on the Kelburn campus, leaving the nine contenders with fresh benchmarks and valuable experience. With Macdiarmid taking two titles and McDougall securing the 4x4x4 Blindfolded crown, this mid-year meeting in the capital demonstrated that competitive memory solving in New Zealand continues to progress toward faster, more daring frontiers.