Ohio State Mental Madness 2026

Fourteen competitors gathered in Columbus, Ohio, USA, on March 20, 2026, bringing an intense analytical focus to the Ohio Union at The Ohio State University. Dedicated entirely to one of the most cerebral events in the World Cube Association catalogue, Ohio State Mental Madness 2026 challenged entrants across two complete rounds of 3x3x3 Fewest Moves. The specialized speedcubing meet drew a tight field of solvers ready to scrutinize scrambles, write out solutions on paper, and seek the shortest sequence of turns to solve the classic Rubik's Cube.

The competitive narrative of the day centered on the battle at the top of the standings, where precision and efficiency dictated every placement. Chris Chi took victory with a winning average of 21.67 moves, supported by a best single of 20 moves across the contest. Chi held off a competitive challenge from Jackson Warley, who secured second place on the podium with an average of 22.33 moves. Daichi Halphen finished third with a 23.00 average, ensuring that all three podium places went to competitors representing the USA at this focused cubing competition.

Across two rounds of play, the efficiency figures remained remarkably low as the top contenders found clean insertions and streamlined skeletons. Halphen recorded a single of 21 and an average of 22.33 during the rounds, while Chi posted a single of 21 and an average of 22.67 alongside his eventual title-winning marks. Warley logged a single of 22 and an average of 22.67 moves during his attempts. These strong 3x3 results demonstrated how competitive 3x3x3 Fewest Moves has become in the 2026 speed cubing landscape.

Beyond the top three, several other participants registered notable solutions during the rounds at the Ohio Union. Luke Garrett logged a single of 25 moves and an average of 27.33 moves, while Braden Richards delivered a single of 28 moves alongside an average of 29.33 moves. Jack Bohning turned in a single of 26 and an average of 31.00, while Jack Pfeifer recorded a 28 single and a 32.67 average. Carson Miller matched that average mark with a 32.67 and a 30 single, while Keenan Darkins achieved a 35 single and 36.00 average, and Steven Wintringham posted a 35 single and a 39.67 average.

Away from the podium race, several participants achieved personal milestones that highlighted the depth of the field at Ohio State Mental Madness 2026. Dominic Burger delivered a standout performance by securing a new personal best single of 40 moves, improving upon a previous best of 50 moves to solve 20 percent faster. Zach Baruch took on the single-event schedule and earned a 4th-place finish overall, while Carson Miller captured 6th place. Ledger Ramirez worked through the scrambles to claim 7th place in the final standings.

The depth of experience continued down the roster as several seasoned competitors maximized their attempts in Columbus. Luke Garrett achieved 5th place in the event, adding another high placement to a career spanning 316 competitions. Braden Richards secured an 8th-place finish, Jack Pfeifer earned 9th place, and Jack Bohning closed out the top ten with a 10th-place result. Each of these competitors took on the single event offered at the venue, navigating the distinct time limits and rigorous notation requirements that define the discipline.

The structure of this WCA competition allowed participants to focus entirely on the nuances of standard 3x3x3 notation, block building, and optimal edge orientation. Unlike standard speed events where physical turning speed and fingertricks decide the podium, Fewest Moves tests structural knowledge of the cube within sixty-minute time caps per attempt. The two rounds provided a total of six individual scrambles, testing consistency across varying scramble difficulties throughout the single-day schedule.

With all six attempts completed and results certified, Ohio State Mental Madness 2026 concluded as a distinct showcase for pure solution efficiency in the Columbus region. The three podium finishers established the standard for the weekend, while competitors across the fourteen-person roster logged fresh personal records and high-ranking finishes. As the 2026 season moves forward, the techniques and solutions written down in Columbus reflect the ongoing evolution of Fewest Moves solving across the sport.