New York Multimate PBQ III 2025

A staggering 58 out of 64 cubes solved blindfolded in under an hour provided the defining highlight of the weekend at TheCubicle Annex. Rowe Hessler delivered that masterclass in precision and memory to take the 3x3x3 Multi-Blind title, capping a dominant performance across several specialty disciplines. Hosted in Elmsford, New York, USA from December 27 to December 28, the New York Multimate PBQ III 2025 drew 14 dedicated competitors for eight rounds of intense, cerebral speedcubing competition across five non-standard events.

The 2025 gathering focused entirely on niche disciplines that push mental endurance beyond traditional Rubik's Cube speed solving. While classic 3x3 results typically measure fractions of a second, this weekend measured hours of focused calculation, vast spatial memorisation, and careful move optimization. Across two days of high-stakes attempts, participants took on blindfolded events of varying sizes alongside the exacting technical demands of fewest moves solving.

Rowe Hessler captured three separate victories over the weekend, demonstrating unmatched range across the memory categories. Alongside his towering 58/64 multi-blind performance, Hessler secured gold in 3x3x3 Blindfolded with a winning single of 24.75 seconds. He also prevailed in 5x5x5 Blindfolded, posting a decisive single time of 5:07.65 to lead the field where Eli Rogers followed in second place with a time of 21:17.00.

In the 4x4x4 Blindfolded event, Brandon Villadolid stood alone as the sole competitor to secure a full average in the round. Villadolid took the victory with a winning average of 4:41.40 and an event-best single solve of 3:57.47, navigating the added complexity of parity errors and additional layers without visual feedback. His consistent execution proved vital on a scorecard where every other competitor recorded a DNF result.

The 3x3x3 Fewest Moves contest brought an equally tense tactical battle to the tables. Chris Chi claimed the top step of the podium with a winning average of 21.67 moves, supported by an event-best single solve of 20 moves. Levi Gibson took the second podium spot with a 22.33 average, while Krish Shah-Nathwani finished close behind in third place with an average of 22.67 moves.

Away from the top steps of the podium, several competitors delivered massive personal breakthroughs across demanding events. Yili Yi, entering three events, secured a 5th place finish in 3x3x3 Blindfolded while lowering their personal best single to 2:29.81, an improvement of 63 percent from a previous mark of 6:45.04. Yi also tackled 3x3x3 Multi-Blind for the very first time, registering 3/4 cubes in 37:56. Samuel Cano took on three events and notched a first ever official attempt at 3x3x3 Fewest Moves, recording a solid 39 moves.

The personal milestones continued across the compact field at this WCA competition. Joey Mait entered three events and delivered a career-best 3x3x3 Multi-Blind result of 31/32 solved cubes in 55:46, which was 4.2 percent faster than their previous best. Milan Vincent Andric improved their 3x3x3 Fewest Moves personal best by 7.3 percent to 38, finishing 10th. Joseph Guzman claimed an 8th place finish in the same event, while Steven Wintringham secured 6th place in Fewest Moves.

The intense format of New York Multimate PBQ III 2025 showcased the depth of technical mastery found in modern speed cubing. With all 19 podium positions claimed by United States competitors, the event highlighted the specialized skills required for large-scale memory challenges and intricate move analysis. The successful weekend in Elmsford closed out the competitive calendar on a high note of strategic excellence.