One-Handed Open NY 2025

A nail-biting showdown in the 5x5x5 Cube set the stage for a memorable day in Western New York, decided by an astonishing margin of just two hundredths of a second. Louis Truong captured the event title with a winning average of 1:04.09, edging out Canadian standout Andrew Mao, who finished at 1:04.11. That thrilling battle unfolded at Pittsford Community Church in Pittsford, New York, USA, as 47 dedicated puzzle enthusiasts gathered for One-Handed Open NY 2025 on June 7, 2025. Competitors made substantial journeys across state and national borders, with delegations travelling in from Canada and China to test their skills in this high-energy cubing competition.

The international journey paid off handsomely across ten packed rounds of competition. While local fans cheered on domestic talents from across the United States, foreign entrants made an indelible mark on the podium count. Out of eighteen total podium positions awarded across six distinct events, the United States collected thirteen, Canada claimed four, and China took one. The diverse entry list created an intense atmosphere where elite solvers went head-to-head across everything from classic puzzles to specialised formats.

Joey Saia emerged as the day's biggest multiple-event champion, demonstrating extraordinary versatility across multiple categories. In the tournament's namesake event, 3x3x3 One-Handed, Saia navigated three challenging rounds to take first place with a 17.03 winning average and a best single of 16.08, outpacing Lauren Phung and Evan Waters. Saia followed that success with top honours in the traditional Rubik's Cube, producing a winning average of 8.49 and a best single of 7.64 to lead the final 3x3 results ahead of Canada's Michael Mao and Waters.

Evan Waters turned in a stellar performance of his own, collecting three podium spots and claiming victory in the Clock event. Waters posted a clinical 3.51 winning average and a 3.25 single across two rounds, finishing clear of Davis Johnson and Owen Lowicki. In addition to earning silver behind Truong in the 5x5x5 Cube, Andrew Mao took two titles back across the northern border, securing the Pyraminx crown with a 2.45 average and taking first place in 3x3x3 Blindfolded with a best single of 1:34.67.

Beyond the fight for trophies, the true heart of this speedcubing gathering was visible in the remarkable breakthroughs made by emerging competitors. Charley Eucker executed one of the biggest leaps of the meet in 3x3x3 One-Handed, recording a personal best of 25.24 that slashed 47.1 percent off their previous mark. Nicholas D. Burlarley logged a 46.9 percent drop in the same event with a time of 25.90 while also making their first career attempt at 3x3x3 Blindfolded, clocking 6:25.15 for a fifth-place finish. Caleb Naeger took on 3x3x3 Blindfolded for the first time as well, logging 4:57.79 to take fourth place, while shaving 44.3 percent off their one-handed benchmark with a 23.60 mark.

The day also brought huge milestone moments for newcomers and multi-event contenders testing new waters. Samuel Murtha cut 43.4 percent off their previous one-handed best with a 40.46 finish and trimmed their Clock mark to 18.40. Maxwell Beavers delivered a massive 42.4 percent improvement in Pyraminx with a 7.55 single and tackled both 5x5x5 Cube and 3x3x3 One-Handed for the first time. Evan Cook made their official speed cubing debut by tackling four separate events, recording an opening 15.64 in the 3x3x3 Cube and a 33.10 one-handed attempt. Fellow first-timers Charles Mellon and Joshua Crandal embraced the full tournament schedule, with Mellon taking on three events including a 9.62 Pyraminx run, while Crandal secured sixth place in 3x3x3 Blindfolded.

The main event draw produced rapid times across the board as 42 competitors vied for spots in the second round of the 3x3x3 Cube. The deep field sparked a barrage of new official marks, with Layton Lin registering a 10.89 single and a 12.72 average, while Skylar Porter locked in an 11.33 single alongside a 13.67 average. Davis Johnson and Ethan Qiu each broke into the ten-second barrier, with Johnson posting a 10.18 single and Qiu recording a 10.19 single to highlight the sharp standard of play.

When the final timers stopped, One-Handed Open NY 2025 proved to be an exceptional showcase of dedication, travel commitment, and technical mastery. From the tight two-hundredths margin in the big cubes to the blindfolded triumphs and the personal milestones achieved across all six events, the 2025 WCA competition in Pittsford delivered memorable action for every solver who made the trip.