Naperville Mini III 2026

The tables were set and the timers glowed ready inside Northern Illinois University as thirty-two competitors assembled for a full day of puzzle solving in Naperville, Illinois, USA on July 18, 2026. Rather than focusing on standard short-format brackets, this cubing competition leaned heavily into big cubes and quick-turning specialty puzzles, offering three grueling rounds across four distinct categories. With twelve total rounds scheduled on the single-day slate, the focus remained locked on turning speed, mechanical stamina, and absolute precision from the morning warmups straight through to the evening finals.

When the dust settled at Naperville Mini III 2026, competitors representing the United States had achieved a total sweep across the board, securing all twelve available podium spots across the four contested events. In a sport where global challengers regularly trade hardware, domestic speedcubing talent maintained absolute control of the stage. Henry Lichner and Elliott Perkins led the charge, claiming the tournament titles amid dense brackets that tested endurance as much as raw speed over the course of the day.

Henry Lichner delivered a commanding masterclass across the big cube disciplines, capturing three separate titles in a single afternoon. In the 5x5x5 Cube, where thirty-two competitors opened the action, Lichner set the standard with a winning average of 40.71 seconds after throwing down a best single of 36.91 seconds. Carter Thomas secured second place with an average of 45.72 seconds, while Nathan Phillips rounded out the all-American podium in third place with a 45.80 average, establishing a dominant standard for the heavy hardware.

Lichner carried that exact momentum directly into the 6x6x6 Cube final. Navigating the complicated layers across three rounds of play against thirty competitors, he locked down first place with a winning average of 1:17.74 and a blistering single of 1:11.17. Carter Thomas again proved to be his closest challenger, taking second place with an average of 1:20.14, while Aryan Kejriwal claimed the third step on the podium with an average of 1:27.54 to finalize another domestic sweep.

The 7x7x7 Cube presented the ultimate endurance test of the meeting, drawing twenty-nine entrants across three extensive rounds. Lichner completed his golden triple crown by winning the event with an average of 1:52.26 and an event-best single of 1:50.68. Ethan Cho challenged closely to claim the runner-up spot with an average of 1:54.73, while Nathan Phillips earned his second podium finish of the day by placing third with an average of 2:04.80.

Beyond the championship hardware, the true depth of the tournament appeared in the remarkable breakthroughs logged across the lower rounds of this WCA competition. Leon Ortiz led the way with massive progress, trimming 22.6 percent off his Skewb personal best with a 2.67 single, cutting 4.1 percent on his 5x5x5 Cube best to reach 1:28.63, and making his first ever official attempt at the 6x6x6 Cube in 3:04.66. Colin Sharpe shattered his 7x7x7 Cube personal mark by 17 percent down to 4:18.22 while improving his 5x5x5 Cube to 1:23.49. Charles Bois improved his 7x7x7 Cube personal best by 13.4 percent to 3:50.16 and secured a fourth-place finish in Skewb. Jayden Kvernmo had a huge day across three big cubes, lowering his 5x5x5 Cube mark by 13 percent to 59.73, his 7x7x7 Cube by 11.2 percent to 3:33.44, and his 6x6x6 Cube by 6.2 percent to 2:16.02.

The progression continued with Leah Hamende, who knocked 12.8 percent off her 6x6x6 Cube personal best with a time of 2:24.89 and took ninth place in Skewb. Oliver Phillips unlocked an 11.4 percent personal best drop in the 6x6x6 Cube at 1:38.57, while finishing eleventh in the 7x7x7 Cube. Alex Chen improved his 7x7x7 Cube personal best by 10.3 percent down to 5:29.26, and Filip Gostkowski took on four separate events while completing his first ever attempt at the 7x7x7 Cube in 6:59.90. For Teddy Carrick, Naperville Mini III 2026 marked a first official tournament appearance, highlighted by a first ever attempt at Skewb in 16.39 seconds.

The tournament shifted gears from long solve times to lightning-fast rotations for the Skewb event, where twenty-eight competitors fought through three rounds. Elliott Perkins took the tournament victory with a sharp winning average of 2.74 seconds, supported by a 2.54 single. Lucas Lippman-Bruno claimed the silver medal spot with an average of 2.88 seconds, edging past Brian Johnson, who secured third place on the podium with a 2.94 average in an exceptionally tight final.

While fans often monitor classic 3x3 results and traditional Rubik's Cube milestones, this speed cubing gathering proved the immense appeal of specialized programming. From the grueling mechanical turns of the largest layers to the rapid snap of edge-turning puzzles, Naperville Mini III 2026 delivered an intense showcase of domestic talent in Illinois. As competitors pack away their gear and prepare for the next season of competition, the clean sweep in Naperville stands as a testament to the sharp execution and depth of American speedcubing.