New York Multimate PBQ V 2026

Rowe Hessler completed a staggering 57 out of 68 cubes blindfolded in 57 minutes and 31 seconds, setting the tone for an unforgiving weekend of memory and precision. Held at TheCubicle Annex in Elmsford, New York, USA, New York Multimate PBQ V 2026 brought together 13 dedicated competitors from May 29 to May 31, 2026. Across eight rounds and five specialized events, the gathering showcased the high-wire act of blindfolded solving and efficiency challenges, where a single misstep instantly dissolves an entire mean-of-3 average into a Did Not Finish result.

In mean-of-3 events, speedcubing demands complete reliability across every attempt. A solver cannot rely on the safety net of a discarded worst solve found in standard average-of-five formats. One misplaced turn or forgotten memorization cue leaves an entire round without a recorded average. Across both large blindfolded categories and classic memory disciplines, competitors walked that narrow line, facing the tension inherent to every blind solve where one unsolved piece renders the entire effort invalid.

Hessler took full advantage of the specialized schedule at New York Multimate PBQ V 2026, capturing victories across four separate blindfolded disciplines. In 3x3x3 Blindfolded, Hessler claimed the top step of the podium with a single of 21.67 seconds, finishing ahead of Quinn Maloney who logged a 36.29, and Chris Chi who took third with a 37.30. While mean-of-3 averages proved elusive due to the unforgiving nature of the event, the single times demonstrated elite execution under blindfold conditions.

The big cube blindfolded events proved just as demanding for the field. Hessler secured first place in 4x4x4 Blindfolded with a winning single time of 3:10.55, leading Chi in second at 3:56.34 and Maloney in third at 4:09.03. In the 5x5x5 Blindfolded competition, Hessler again led the pack with a mark of 7:37.48, while Maloney took second in 12:28.00 and Eli Rogers earned third in 17:19.00. Across these long-form memory events, finishing a single solve successfully required immense discipline.

Beyond the blindfolded challenges, the weekend provided an intense contest in 3x3x3 Fewest Moves, a discipline where solvers analyze the Rubik's Cube to find the shortest possible solution sequence within a strict time limit. Joseph Guzman captured the title with a mean of 21.67 moves, bolstered by a best single of 21 moves. Giulio Beniamino Ciampa followed closely behind to claim second place with a 22.33 mean, while Chi added another podium finish by taking third place with a 23.00 mean.

Away from the top of the podium, several participants marked significant personal milestones across demanding events. Derek Tan entered their first WCA competition and immediately tackled 3x3x3 Blindfolded, registering a successful solve of 2:05.62. Benton Tolley took on five events throughout the weekend and produced a massive breakthrough in 3x3x3 Blindfolded, clocking a personal best of 50.85 seconds that improved on a previous best of 1:14.53 by 31.8 percent, alongside a 3x3x3 Multi-Blind personal best of 5/7 in 26:19 and a fourth-place finish in 5x5x5 Blindfolded.

Other competitors embraced first-time trials in complex disciplines that demand extensive preparation. Noah Rutkovsky tackled four events at New York Multimate PBQ V 2026, delivering a fifth-place finish in 4x4x4 Blindfolded while making a first career attempt in 3x3x3 Multi-Blind with 2/2 in 15:33 and a first attempt in 3x3x3 Fewest Moves with 34 moves. David Krasne stepped up for a debut in 3x3x3 Multi-Blind, securing 2/3 in 19:06 and placing eighth in 3x3x3 Blindfolded. Meanwhile, Steven Wintringham finished fourth in 3x3x3 Fewest Moves, and Elliot Wiecek placed fifth in the same event across two entered disciplines.

The 3x3x3 Multi-Blind event delivered one of the deepest contests of the weekend, testing endurance and memory across dozens of puzzles simultaneously. Hessler earned the win with 57 points out of 68 cubes in 57:31, while Andrew Tao took second place with a remarkable 54 out of 64 cubes solved in exactly 1:00:00. Maloney rounded out the podium in third place by successfully solving 19 out of 22 cubes in 55:43.

Every podium position across all five events was claimed by competitors representing the United States, totaling 15 podium places over three days of intense speed cubing. For solvers specializing in efficiency and memory, New York Multimate PBQ V 2026 highlighted both the fragility of the mean-of-3 format and the high level of execution required to secure definitive 3x3 results in premier competition settings. As another chapter at TheCubicle Annex concludes, participants carry forward hard-earned progress toward the next season of blindfolded and fewest moves challenges.