New to Edmonton B 2025

Benjamin Ragan delivered the standout performance of the day by claiming victory in the 3x3x3 Cube with a sharp 8.09 winning average and a best single of 7.13. Hosted at the Queen Mary Park Community League Hall, the one-day gathering drew 57 competitors for an energetic slate of puzzles across 8 rounds. The atmosphere throughout Edmonton, Alberta, Canada on March 30, 2025, reflected a major wave of newcomers entering the scene. New to Edmonton B 2025 served as a proving ground for newcomers and seasoned solvers alike.

A major focus throughout the day was the heavy presence of newcomers experiencing an official WCA competition for the very first time. Beginners took to the tables alongside seasoned hands across five separate events, embracing the fast-paced nature of speedcubing. The widespread influx of new solvers showed that local interest in the classic Rubik's Cube is expanding rapidly across the province. With dozens making their official debuts, the event offered a welcoming entry point into organized speed cubing.

In the premier 3x3x3 Cube event, Ragan paced the 55-person field across three rounds to lock up the title. Griffin Clem secured the second-place spot on the podium with a 10.27 final average, while Sam Edwards took third place by finishing at 10.64. The final 3x3 results capped a long day of intense solving where consistency across every turn made the critical difference.

Ragan added a second gold medal to his tally in the 3x3x3 One-Handed event, leading the 25 competitors with a 16.57 average and a 13.58 best single. Clem earned another silver medal with a solid 16.86 average, while Dylan Vaskevicius captured the third spot on the podium with a mark of 19.74. Navigating complex algorithms with a single hand proved to be one of the most technically demanding tests of New to Edmonton B 2025.

Away from the main podiums, the official scorecards hide dozens of major personal breakthroughs that defined the spirit of the day. Edward Hoskins showed massive progress by shaving 58.9 percent off his previous benchmark to record a 24.28 in the 3x3x3 Cube, while also logging his first ever attempt at 2x2x2 Cube with a 5.94 and Pyraminx with a 9.54. Saul Abraham took on 5 events and posted an impressive 23.63 in 3x3x3 One-Handed to drop his previous standard by 40.9 percent, alongside taking 8th place in the 2x2x2 Cube. Morris Leung took his first ever attempt at Skewb with a 19.64 and improved his 2x2x2 Cube mark by 40.7 percent down to 5.25. Ben McDormand sliced his 3x3x3 One-Handed standard down by 52 percent to 36.76 while entering 5 events.

The fresh faces made an immediate impact across the scoreboards as well. Harshaan Singh entered his first WCA competition across 4 events, recording a 17.68 in the 3x3x3 Cube and a 5.10 in his first attempt at 2x2x2 Cube. Mateo Domini Lubuguin also made his official debut across 4 events, locking in a 6.57 on his first ever attempt at Pyraminx and a 29.19 on the 3x3x3 Cube. Jayden Lu attended his first competition and reached 4th place in the 3x3x3 Cube while notching an 8.61 single and a 2.12 in the 2x2x2 Cube. Nicholas Shumilov lowered his 2x2x2 Cube record by 50.2 percent to 4.09 and improved his 3x3x3 Cube best by 42 percent to 19.24.

Short-format puzzles delivered rapid drama on the competition stage. Sam Edwards captured the 2x2x2 Cube title among 52 entrants, recording a 2.40 winning average and a best single of 1.74. Ragan followed closely behind in second place with a 2.50 average, while Diego Trujeque and Hugo Levancic Seiler tied for third place with identical 2.60 averages. The quick rotations and minimal margins made the two rounds of 2x2x2 one of the most exciting segments of the cubing competition.

Side events offered varied tests of geometry and dexterity for the field. Hugo Levancic Seiler captured top honors in the Pyraminx with a 3.55 average and a 3.14 best single, outpacing Edwards at 3.95 and James Matthews at 5.28. In the Skewb event, Matthews secured first place with an average of 6.73 and a single of 5.19, edging Levancic Seiler at 6.94 and Ragan at 7.57. Across every category, New to Edmonton B 2025 demonstrated the depth of talent rising through the Canadian regional scene.

Altogether, solvers representing Canada captured 15 podium positions, alongside one podium finish for Mexico. With multiple first-timers stepping onto the competition floor and establishing their marks, the event set an encouraging tone for the year ahead. As these emerging competitors look toward their next challenges in 2025, the community in Edmonton continues to cultivate a robust pipeline of solving talent.