North Idaho Newcomers 2026

Seven rounds across four official events shaped the competitive flow on March 14, 2026, as 42 competitors assembled at Christ the King Lutheran Church. Hosting North Idaho Newcomers 2026 in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, USA, the venue provided a disciplined arena for both experienced solvers and ambitious new entrants. With varying round structures designed to test endurance and immediate execution, every event carried distinct pressures. The multi-round setup in the smaller puzzles demanded consistency across multiple phases, whereas the direct single-round challenges left no room for early errors.

The traditional 3x3x3 Rubik's Cube stood as the ultimate test of progressive rounds, featuring three stages that whittled the 42-person roster down to the fastest finalists. Surviving the narrowing field, Samuel Williams from the USA delivered the winning average of 8.34 seconds, complemented by a sharp best single of 7.14 seconds. Ethan George Hayes secured second place with an average of 9.54 seconds, while Luke Rasor claimed third place with a mark of 10.73 seconds. These definitive 3x3 results demonstrated how navigating multiple phases rewards steady composure under tournament conditions.

In the 2x2x2 Cube, a two-round system tested the speed and efficiency of 40 participants, rewarding explosive solving from the outset. Ethan George Hayes captured the championship title with a winning average of 2.37 seconds alongside a best single of 1.78 seconds. Luke Rasor followed in second place with an average of 3.08 seconds, edging out Samuel Williams who earned third on a 3.09 average. The dual-round progression pushed solvers to refine their execution between heats, generating intense battles for podium slots in this high-tempo speed cubing contest.

Single-round events introduced a contrasting dynamic, where 33 competitors in the 4x4x4 Cube faced immediate final placements without preliminary safety nets. Ethan George Hayes took top honors once again, logging a dominant winning average of 31.84 seconds and a best single of 29.46 seconds. Samuel Williams followed closely in second place with a 33.05 average, while Rostyslav Sviashchenko from Ukraine earned third with 42.38 seconds. The direct format placed maximum emphasis on clean solving, penalizing minor hesitations in the larger cube discipline.

A single round also governed the Skewb tournament, giving 28 competitors one shot to assemble an optimal average on the clock. Aaryn Cole secured first place with a 5.34 winning average and a standout single of 3.20 seconds. Ethan George Hayes added another top placement by finishing second with a 5.75 average, while Samuel Williams took third at 6.08 seconds. Across the entire cubing competition, the medal tallies reflected broad American success with 11 podium spots alongside one podium finish for Ukraine.

Beyond the championship tier, North Idaho Newcomers 2026 served as a venue for massive personal milestones and strategic gains. Preston Mackin entered four events, setting a Skewb personal best of 6.28 seconds that was 77.7 percent faster than his previous record, while trimming his 2x2x2 Cube best to 5.02 seconds and 4x4x4 Cube best to 1:50.01. Wyatt Bruce made his first ever attempt at Skewb with an 8.49 and his first attempt at 4x4x4 Cube with 2:21.83, while cutting his 2x2x2 Cube mark by 61.4 percent down to 10.31 seconds. Deven Carroll delivered a personal best of 35.69 seconds on the 3x3x3 Cube, an improvement of 52.7 percent, alongside a first attempt of 9.59 on the 2x2x2 Cube.

Other solvers similarly capitalized on their heats to record notable career breakthroughs. Kasen Corbin logged his first attempt at 4x4x4 Cube in 1:48.51 while dropping his 2x2x2 Cube best by 46.1 percent to 4.26 seconds. Jeremiah Hicks recorded a 44 percent drop in 2x2x2 Cube down to 4.41 seconds and tackled his first 4x4x4 Cube solve in 1:41.76. Tate Brauer registered a 32.9 percent improvement for a 4.29 2x2x2 Cube best and posted his first 4x4x4 Cube time of 57.31 seconds. Caden Lane Kemper posted an 11.08 Skewb personal best, 29.7 percent faster than before, while Alexander Craig Ewert reduced his 2x2x2 Cube best by 38.2 percent to 5.90 seconds.

The diverse formats throughout the day highlighted the adaptable skill required in modern speedcubing, balancing multi-stage endurance against single-round precision. North Idaho Newcomers 2026 provided a structured platform where established solvers and progressing competitors met every cutline with determination. As the participants depart Coeur d'Alene following this WCA competition, the marks recorded across all four disciplines set a meaningful benchmark for their ongoing preparation toward the next competitive season.