NZ South Island Championship 2026

Inside the gymnasium at Shirley Boys High, the steady clatter of plastic faces turning at breakneck speed filled the air from the opening moments of the weekend. Tables lined the venue floor as timers flickered to life and scorecards began their circulation across the judging stations. For dozens of competitors gathering in Christchurch, New Zealand, the three-day gathering from April 10 to April 12 marked a major stop on the regional calendar. The atmosphere carried the distinct energy of a premier cubing competition, bringing together both seasoned veterans and nervous debutants eager to sit at an official station for the very first time.

Stepping into a WCA competition brings an entirely different pressure than practicing at home. Debutants walked up to the competition tables to place their hands on the timer pads, feeling the immediate focus that comes with an official judge watching every move. The NZ South Island Championship 2026 welcomed 59 competitors who took on a demanding schedule of 16 events spread across 35 rounds. For the newest arrivals, simply getting through those initial solves and registering official marks on the board made the trip memorable.

Among the newcomers, Kevin Sun took part in his first WCA competition, recording his first ever attempt at Pyraminx with a 9.57 solve, alongside initial marks of 22.06 in the 3x3x3 Cube and 7.33 in the 2x2x2 Cube. Alex Holton also experienced his tournament debut, registering an initial 16.04 in Pyraminx, 12.71 on the 2x2x2 Cube, and 37.40 in the 3x3x3 Cube. First-timer James Humphries logged a 7.08 Pyraminx effort, an 11.51 single on the 2x2x2 Cube, and a 45.57 in the main event, while Zac Moore rounded out the class of debutants by setting marks of 5.25 in 2x2x2, 9.11 in Pyraminx, and 23.85 on the standard puzzle.

Away from the top step of the podium, other competitors produced massive personal milestones throughout the weekend. Paula Maddigan delivered a standout performance in Skewb, setting a personal best of 11.25 seconds that shaved 57 percent off her prior standard of 26.17. Sea Ishigaki logged a remarkable 48.1 percent improvement on the 4x4x4 Cube with a 1:20.69 personal best, while Zane Longney entered seven events, making his first attempt at Megaminx with a 3:12.13 and lowering his Skewb best by 37 percent to 5.45. Jaxson Stove tackled a packed schedule of 12 events, trying the 7x7x7 Cube for the first time with a 4:34.17 and dropping his 6x6x6 Cube best by 32.9 percent down to 3:06.12.

At the sharp end of the tournament, Dwyane Ramos assembled a masterclass across multiple categories. In the headline event, Ramos secured victory in the 3x3x3 Cube by logging a blistering single solve of 4.48 seconds, leading a podium that featured Adrien Auvray Matyn in second place at 5.42 and Jasper Murray in third at 5.48 across three rounds of 59 competitors. The 3x3 results capped a weekend of heavy lifting for Ramos, who demonstrated exceptional mastery across the classic Rubik's Cube and its larger mechanical siblings.

The big cube categories belonged entirely to Ramos throughout the NZ South Island Championship 2026. In the 4x4x4 Cube, Ramos claimed first place with an average of 29.56 seconds and a best single of 22.77. Moving up to the 5x5x5 Cube, he posted a winning average of 47.33 seconds, narrowly holding off Henry Eyles who finished second with 48.20 and Murray in third at 50.78. Ramos maintained that form on the 6x6x6 Cube, winning in 1:27.64 over Eyles, before wrapping up the big cube sweep by winning the 7x7x7 Cube with an average of 2:12.82, edging out Eyles who posted 2:13.13.

Ramos added a sixth title to his tally in Skewb, averaging 2.76 seconds to lead a 31-competitor field. Other events saw varied champions emerge across the schedule. Jasper Murray secured a pair of victories, capturing the 3x3x3 One-Handed title with a winning average of 9.28 seconds and winning the Pyraminx with an average of 1.62 seconds. In the 2x2x2 Cube, Connor Johnson claimed the top spot with a rapid 1.44 average, while Adrien Auvray Matyn took the Square-1 crown with an average of 7.77 seconds. Henry Eyles earned a victory in Megaminx with a 41.23 average, and Australia's Zayd Chaudhry topped the Clock podium with an average of 4.45 seconds.

The blindfolded disciplines tested memory, precision, and nerve under strict competition conditions. Jack Maddigan claimed victory in the 3x3x3 Blindfolded event, averaging 32.53 seconds ahead of Johnson's 35.43, and added a commanding win in 3x3x3 Multi-Blind by successfully solving 19 of 21 cubes within the 1:00:00 time limit. Connor Johnson seized the 4x4x4 Blindfolded title with a winning average of 5:00.70, while Dylan Himmelfarb claimed the 5x5x5 Blindfolded victory with a best single of 9:44.71. Throughout the weekend, New Zealand competitors captured 47 podium spots, while Australian entrants took 6.

The intense days of speed cubing at Shirley Boys High concluded with personal milestones celebrating both elite champions and ambitious newcomers. From first-time competitors walking away with their first registered times to experienced solvers collecting trophies, the NZ South Island Championship 2026 provided a complete showcase of dedication and skill. As the year 2026 progresses, the solvers from Christchurch and beyond now carry fresh experience and improved personal records into the remainder of the season.