Naperville Mini II 2025

Henry Lichner delivered a commanding performance on the big cubes in Illinois, putting together a blistering 40.61 winning average and a single of 37.25 in the 5x5x5 Cube final. The standout performance anchored an action-packed schedule at Naperville Mini II 2025, which brought together 34 competitors on June 14, 2025. Held at Northern Illinois University - Naperville in Naperville, Illinois, USA, the gathering focused purely on larger puzzles, giving enthusiasts of heavy-layered hardware a rare concentrated platform to display their progress on the official stage across 9 full rounds.

The one-day cubing competition served as a showcase for speedcubing discipline across three distinct categories: 5x5x5 Cube, 6x6x6 Cube, and 7x7x7 Cube. While classic Rubik's Cube events and standard 3x3 results typically dominate headlines, this dedicated format highlighted the endurance and pattern recognition required for high-order mechanisms. Lichner doubled up on his golden haul by taking first place in the 6x6x6 Cube with a winning average of 1:14.14 and a single of 1:10.38, holding off a strong challenge from Kevin Hays who secured second in 1:26.91, followed by Kate Grahame in third with 1:27.64.

In the 7x7x7 Cube, Jack Pfeifer captured top honors by recording a winning average of 1:54.45 and a top single mark of 1:53.95. Lichner followed closely behind to claim the second-place spot on the podium with a 1:56.62 mark, while Ethan Cho rounded out the top three by averaging 2:08.47. Pfeifer also excelled in the 5x5x5 Cube, finishing third overall with an average of 48.71, right behind runner-up Kate Grahame who posted an average of 47.13 to complete a stellar multi-podium day.

Across the brackets, competitors found unprecedented speed and shaved major time from their personal records. The depth of improvement showed clearly on the 5x5x5 Cube tables, where athletes throughout the field set personal milestones. Sebastian Carrillo registered a 1:03.94 single and 1:06.93 average, Carter Thomas logged a single of 45.33 and an average of 50.61, and Ethan Cho improved his marks with a 48.10 single alongside a 52.02 average. Jack Pfeifer also lowered his marks with an impressive 41.88 single and 45.82 average during the rounds.

The true heart of Naperville Mini II 2025 emerged away from the top steps of the podium, where veteran solvers and rising entrants achieved massive leaps in performance. Alex Chen registered one of the most substantial drops of the entire weekend, securing a 7x7x7 Cube personal best of 7:26.26 that proved 24.8 percent faster than their previous benchmark of 9:53.04, alongside a 6x6x6 Cube best of 4:18.06 that was 15.4 percent faster. Conor Alanis took on all 3 events entered here, chopping 11.3 percent off their 6x6x6 Cube best to reach 2:57.89, cutting 6.4 percent in 5x5x5 Cube down to 1:35.63, and improving by 3.3 percent in 7x7x7 Cube with a 4:09.47 result.

First-time event entries also provided major highlights as several solvers tested themselves on new stages for the first time. Josiah Winslow entered all 3 events on the schedule, logging a first ever attempt at 5x5x5 Cube of 2:20.57, a first ever attempt at 6x6x6 Cube of 4:39.79, and a first ever attempt at 7x7x7 Cube of 6:17.18. Kavindu Wimalaratne similarly completed an ambitious triple debut, delivering a first ever attempt at 5x5x5 Cube of 1:42.61, a 6x6x6 Cube debut of 2:58.82, and a 7x7x7 Cube debut of 6:04.15. Philip Runyan joined the triple-debut list with a first ever attempt at 5x5x5 Cube of 1:32.18, 6x6x6 Cube of 3:23.70, and 7x7x7 Cube of 5:13.43.

Further down the scoresheets, established competitors continued to unlock faster times. Andrew Moy earned a best finish of 9th in 5x5x5 Cube while slashing their 6x6x6 Cube personal best by 10.2 percent to 1:38.10 down from 1:49.27. Zennan Zuiker contested 3 events entered here and reached a best finish of 17th in 7x7x7 Cube, posting a 5x5x5 Cube personal best of 55.83 and a 6x6x6 Cube mark of 2:03.80. Luke Selle also maximized their 3 events, securing a best finish of 15th in 7x7x7 Cube with a personal best of 3:11.65, which was 4.5 percent faster than their prior mark of 3:20.73.

Every podium spot at the event was claimed by competitors representing the USA, underscoring the strong regional speed cubing talent present throughout the Midwest. From big milestone drops to solid executions under tournament conditions, the gathered solvers validated their practice regimens across every tier of the field. With 9 rounds of intense competition wrapped up, this WCA competition concluded as a testament to personal dedication and progressive speed on high-order puzzles.

As the 2025 circuit continues, the achievements logged at Naperville Mini II 2025 serve as a sturdy baseline for everyone who stepped up to the tables. Whether conquering an unfamiliar event for the very first time or shaving precious fractions from an existing record, the competitors proved that persistent training yields undeniable progress on the competition stage.