Only Cubes in ABQ 2026

Inside Saint John's United Methodist Church, the tables were set early for a full day of puzzle solving as 41 competitors assembled in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA. Warmup turns and the rhythmic click of plastic echoed through the hall on June 6, 2026, setting the stage for a busy program of six events and ten total rounds. Experienced hands quickly asserted themselves, taking control of the brackets as the community gathered to test their skills in this high-energy WCA competition.

Anthony J. Telford delivered a commanding masterclass across the larger puzzles, demonstrating the steady execution that comes from experience. In the premier 3x3x3 Cube event, which brought together 40 competitors through three rounds of action, Telford captured the title with a winning average of 8.59 seconds and a best single solve of 8.28 seconds. Daniel Mullen finished in second place with an 8.80 average, while Abdel Issa of Jordan claimed third on the podium with an 8.83 average to round out the 3x3 results on the classic Rubik's Cube.

Telford was not finished making his mark on the day, carrying his sharp form directly into the 4x4x4 Cube contest. Navigating through a field of 32 competitors in a single decisive round, he secured another gold medal with an average of 33.77 seconds and a best single of 31.14 seconds. Estevan Lujan placed second with an average of 36.02 seconds, edging out Mullen, who earned third place with a 36.11 average in a tense race for the remaining spots on the podium at Only Cubes in ABQ 2026.

Daniel Mullen put together an equally formidable campaign by securing top honors in two distinct events. In the 5x5x5 Cube, where 27 solvers took to the floor, Mullen took victory with a 1:03.30 average and a single of 1:00.88, holding off Issa, who finished second in 1:04.30, and Lujan, who placed third in 1:06.58. Mullen returned to the top step in the Square-1 competition, taking first place across two rounds with a 12.79 average ahead of Caleb Dye with 14.28 and Zachary Miller with 22.25.

The shorter formats and specialty twists delivered additional sharp contests. Alexander Wheeler claimed first place in the 2x2x2 Cube among 37 competitors, recording a 2.81 average and a 2.23 single. Mario Flores followed in second at 3.16 seconds, with Mullen collecting another podium place in third at 3.34. In Skewb, Sean Paul Dominguez took the win with a 3.85 average, just ahead of Lujan at 3.93 and TJ Kelly at 4.58, adding further depth to the speedcubing showcase.

Beyond the championship races, the event provided fertile ground for personal milestones across every tier of the field. Michael J. Nevarez shaved major time off his previous marks, recording a Skewb personal best of 8.31 seconds that was 55.4 percent faster than before, while also making his first ever attempt at 4x4x4 Cube in 1:32.89. Leon Gabrielle P. Villaraza took on six events at Only Cubes in ABQ 2026, delivering a 3x3x3 Cube personal best of 10.76 seconds that was 20.6 percent faster alongside a first attempt at Square-1 in 46.88 seconds. Jakob Luber improved his 4x4x4 Cube mark by 33.2 percent down to 1:25.67 and lowered his 3x3x3 Cube mark by 28.5 percent to 16.07 seconds. Christopher Hinkle reached a best finish of 5th in Skewb with a personal best of 3.48 seconds, an improvement of 24.7 percent, and made his first attempt at Square-1 in 56.51 seconds.

The progress continued across the venue as competitors broadened their event repertoires. Rome Sais tackled five events, recording a first ever attempt at 5x5x5 Cube of 2:39.64, a first attempt at 2x2x2 Cube of 4.71, and a first Skewb attempt of 11.17 to finish 21st. Aryan Surana took on four disciplines, posting a first attempt at 4x4x4 Cube of 1:05.48 to place 22nd alongside a first 5x5x5 Cube attempt of 3:01.72. Rishabh Nandy took part in their first WCA competition, competing in four events and earning a best finish of 15th in 5x5x5 Cube with an opening mark of 1:47.13. Emmett Vigil also made their first WCA competition appearance, trying four events and logging a 20.07 on their first 3x3x3 Cube attempt.

The single-day cubing competition demonstrated the impressive breadth of talent across the region, featuring 16 podium finishes for United States competitors and two for Jordan. With veteran solvers delivering clean routines under pressure and newer competitors expanding their event slates, Only Cubes in ABQ 2026 highlighted the enduring appeal and high standard of modern speed cubing as participants look ahead to the next phase of the competitive season.